Critical Mission: Concerned Citizens Meet with Lawmakers About Antisemitism | Shalom Austin

Critical Mission: Concerned Citizens Meet with Lawmakers About Antisemitism

The Jewish Outlook

Mar 7, 2023

By Allison Teegardin 

On February 13, 70 people from Jewish Federations in Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Ft. Worth and El Paso convened in Austin for Jewish Communities Day at the State: Legislative Mission to Austin 2023.

The event is held every two years during the State’s legislative session as a day of advocacy and education at the capitol. Together, the group represented the more than 172,000 Jews living in Texas.

This year, the focus was on antisemitism and security. The group’s mission was to urge members of the Texas legislature to support the ask of $14 million in new state funds through a budget rider to Article 1 of General Appropriations bill to fund a Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

With the rising tide of antisemitism making this a critical mission, the Federations collectively decided to hire a lobbyist this year. This is the first time ever the Texas Jewish Federations have had a statewide lobbyist.

The all-day event included speakers sharing stories of real-life accounts of antisemitism, an overview of the 88th Texas legislature, a discussion with Texas Jewish Social Service leaders as well as a discussion about to be effective in an advocacy meeting.

Following the sessions, participants attended legislative meetings at the Capitol where they had an opportunity to meet representatives and staff members face-to-face making their case for supporting the funding.

Latest Posts

Austinites Unite at the Global Conference for Israel  

Austinites Unite at the Global Conference for Israel  

Austin Delegation at Jewish National Fund-USA’s 2024 Global Conference for Israel in Dallas Credit: Jim Woods Photography  Sixty-five Austinites were among the 2,500 proud Zionists who attended Jewish National Fund-USA’s Global Conference for Israel in Dallas, fueling...

Local Jewish Summer Camp Welcomes Israeli Campers 

Local Jewish Summer Camp Welcomes Israeli Campers 

 Campers from Israel enjoying summer camp at Camp Young Judaea. Courtesy: Frank Silberlicht  By Allison Teegardin    In the summer of 2024, Camp Young Judaea Texas embarked on an initiative that would positively change many lives forever. With the idea of offering...

TJHS Kessler Fund Aims to Reach Goal for Funding Educational Outreach

TJHS Kessler Fund Aims to Reach Goal for Funding Educational Outreach

  In July 2023, the Texas Jewish Historical Society (TJHS) established the Rabbi Jimmy Kessler Educational Outreach Fund to honor the late Rabbi Jimmy Kessler of Galveston and to further his commitment to promoting and preserving the history of Jewish experiences...