A Black Lives Matter sign outside the White House during a protest in the aftermath of the George Floyd killing, June 7, 2020. (Photo/JTA-Aurora Samperio-NurPhoto via Getty Images) News U.S. Over 400 Jewish groups and synagogues sign letter supporting Black Lives Matter Facebook Twitter Email SMS WhatsApp Share By Marcy Oster, JTA | June 29, 2020 More than 400 Jewish organizations and synagogues in the United States, including a number in Northern California, have signed on to a letter that asserts “unequivocally: Black Lives Matter.” The joint letter was an initiative of a diverse group of Jewish activists from across a range of religious, political, gender, and racial identities. The list of signatories — from small congregations to major Jewish organizations — represents millions of Jewish people in the United States, the organizers said in a statement. “We support the Black-led movement in this country that is calling for accountability and transparency from the government and law enforcement,” says the letter, which had its hundreds of signers within 24 hours. “We know that freedom and safety for any of us depends on the freedom and safety of all of us. “When politicians target Jewish people and blame us for problems, it leads directly to violence against us. When Black movements are undermined, it leads to more violence against Black people, including Black Jews.” The letter calls Black Lives Matters the “current day civil rights movement” in the United States. “When Jewish people join together with our neighbors across racial and religious differences, as we have in the past, we can protect each other and build the future of freedom and safety we all deserve,” the letter says. Northern California organizations that signed the letter include the San Francisco-based Jewish Community Federation, the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council, Urban Adamah, Workers Circle of Northern California, Wilderness Torah, National Council of Jewish Women of San Francisco, National Council of Jewish Women of Contra Costa, National Council of Jewish Women of Sacramento, Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay, Jewish Action Norcal, Nice Jewish Boys S.F., Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area, Be’chol Lashon, Congregation Netivot Shalom, Congregation Bet Haverim, Temple Beth El of Aptos, The Kitchen, Chochmat HaLev, Coastside Jewish Community, Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, Congregation Beth Israel Judea, Aquarian Minyan and Kehilla Community Synagogue. Marcy Oster Israel-based JTA correspondent JTA Content distributed by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency news service. Also On J. Film ‘Concerned Citizen’ tackles gentrification and race in Tel Aviv Bay Area Swastika found outside elementary school in Marin Film At SF DocFest, secrets from a Jewish mother’s hippie past Northern California Darrell Steinberg will not seek third term as Sacramento mayor Subscribe to our Newsletter Enter Email Sign Up