Jewish leaders build up local grassroots organizing to counter radical forces in politics

American Jewish leaders are shifting their political strategy from a focus on Congress toward grassroots organizing at the local level, responding to what they describe as growing antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric across the political spectrum.

Traditionally, the American Jewish establishment concentrated on electing pro-Israel lawmakers to Congress and, to a lesser extent, educating state and local officials about Jewish issues. Now, a new model is emerging, with activists organizing around school boards, city councils and statehouses. These groups emerged largely after October 7, 2023, when municipal governments became a new battleground in Israeli-Palestinian disputes, with anti-Israel rhetoric frequently veering into antisemitic commentary at city halls and state legislatures.

"All of these groups are starting to pop up because we realize that the infrastructure that the community has had in the past isn't enough and isn't working," Said Stefanie Clarke, a Colorado-based political strategist who co-founded the Colorado Jewish Action Alliance.

Tax-exempt nonprofits cannot engage directly in politics, but a growing consensus holds that the apolitical approach historically adopted by Jewish philanthropic institutions is insufficient to address current partisan divisions. In cities including Atlanta, Denver and Pittsburgh, new grassroots initiatives have launched. The San Francisco Jewish Community Relations Council created Bay Area Jewish Action as an affiliated but independent advocacy organization.

"We are seeing an increasingly unhinged and violent-prone mob challenging elected officials for standing with the Jewish community, and so there is a risk in standing with us, however unacceptable that reality is," Said Tyler Gregory, CEO of the San Francisco JCRC and executive director of BAJA. "We need to be able to do more than just verbally say thank you in a situation like that."

These groups operate differently depending on location. BAJA, operating in the Democratic-leaning Bay Area, supports only Democrats through a donor network and candidate forums. Colorado Jewish Action Alliance endorsed a bipartisan mix of candidates in primaries. Pittsburgh's Beacon Coalition spent the past year recruiting moderate Democrats to run for local party positions, resulting in forty aligned Democrats winning neighborhood seats with outsized influence on party endorsements.

"Part of our theory of change is that you cannot meet the moment by just showing up in an election cycle and trying to get messaging out there," Said Jeremy Kazzaz, founder of the Beacon Coalition. "It requires people on the ground, and it requires conversations going all the time."

Georgia Solidarity Network, based in Atlanta, focuses on educating state legislators about the Jewish community. Co-founder Alli Medof noted that many legislators lack familiarity with Jewish constituents and concerns.

The groups are independently created and funded locally, but are beginning to connect with each other. Schusterman Family Philanthropies convened activists from the emerging local Jewish political ecosystem this year. The foundation's senior director for U.S. Jewish grantmaking, David Rittberg, said he is "deeply concerned about the rise in extremism that's playing out in local politics."

New York Solidarity Network, formed in 2022 after the Democratic Socialists of America pressured candidates to pledge not to travel to Israel, has become an advisory resource. Its founding executive director, Sara Forman, emphasizes that financial contributions alone are insufficient. "DSA has been incredibly successful at organizing community and at making people feel like they are part of something," Forman said. "I think in the Jewish community, having local organizations mimic some of the same practices of DSA is a good thing. Make people feel included. Make people feel like their voice counts."

"You can't build something inorganically. There has to be a reason for people to want to come out and attend events, and want to knock on doors and make phone calls and organize their synagogues," Forman added. "Check-writing isn't what's going to make the difference here."

This approach differs from AIPAC's recent federal-level strategy of high-dollar fundraising. Third Way, a centrist Democratic group, is working with local organizations for the first time in its history, providing a grant to the Beacon Coalition.

"I think the overlap between folks who are concerned about fighting illiberalism, extremism, antisemitism and virulent anti-Zionism deeply intersects with those of us who want to strengthen moderate factions on both sides of the aisle, in particular for us on the Democratic side," Said Third Way President Jon Cowan. "A lot of folks are coming to realize that those fights deeply overlap."

Most of these groups frame their mission around Jewish safety and security rather than Israel policy specifically. "We are about Jewish safety, security and engagement in civil life. We really don't talk about Israel other than how the rhetoric around it endangers our community," Said Mindy Miller, co-founder of the Colorado group.

Critics have attempted to characterize the groups as mini-AIPACs, accusations organizers reject. "It's a lot of boogeyman-ing, just name calling," Said Kazzaz. Mostly, though, local politicians have responded with curiosity rather than hostility, the activists report.