By Adam Pagnucco.
Senator Shelly Hettleman (D-Baltimore County) and Delegate Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery County) have announced the launch of the Maryland Legislative Jewish Caucus in the General Assembly. According to Hettleman and Solomon, the purposes of the caucus are to fight antisemitism and hate crimes, protect religious freedom, educate Marylanders about the Jewish community, serve as a liaison to Jewish people and celebrate Jewish culture and heritage. Hettleman and Solomon will serve as Senate and House co-chairs. The members of the caucus are:
Senator Brian Feldman (D-Montgomery)
Senator Shelly Hettleman (D-Baltimore County)
Senator Cheryl Kagan (D-Montgomery)
Senator Ariana Kelly (D-Montgomery)
Senator Ben Kramer (D-Montgomery)
Senator Karen Lewis-Young (D-Frederick)
Senator Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery)
Senator Craig Zucker (D-Montgomery)
Delegate Dalya Attar (D-Baltimore City)
Delegate Jon Cardin (D-Baltimore County)
Delegate Mark Edelson (D-Baltimore City)
Delegate Jessica Feldmark (D-Howard)
Delegate Anne Kaiser (D-Montgomery)
Delegate Aaron Kaufman (D-Montgomery)
Delegate Marc Korman (D-Montgomery)
Delegate Sandy Rosenberg (D-Baltimore City)
Delegate Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery)
Delegate Ryan Spiegel (D-Montgomery)
Delegate Dana Stein (D-Baltimore County)
Delegate Joe Vogel (D-Montgomery)
The caucus’s press release is reprinted below.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 16, 2023
Senator Shelly Hettleman
shelly.hettleman@senate.state.md.us
Delegate Jared Solomon
jared.solomon@house.state.md.us
Announcing the Launch of the Maryland Legislative Jewish Caucus
ANNAPOLIS, MD – In coordination with the presiding officers of the Maryland General Assembly, the twenty Jewish state legislators in the Maryland General Assembly announced Monday the creation of Maryland’s first ever Maryland Jewish Legislative Caucus. Senator Shelly Hettleman, D-11, Baltimore County, and Delegate Jared Solomon, D-18, Montgomery, will serve as House and Senate co-chairs of the new group.
“Having a Maryland Jewish Legislative Caucus will enable members of the General Assembly to advocate for policies important to the Jewish communities of Maryland. We look forward to working with our colleagues to advance the mission of the Caucus,” said co-Chair Shelly Hettleman.
“With antisemitic and hate incidents at record levels, the Maryland Jewish Legislative Caucus will be an important voice in the General Assembly to combat hate, collaborate with our diverse partners, and celebrate Jewish culture and heritage. We are ready to tackle these issues as we formally begin this work,” said co-Chair Jared Solomon.
The Maryland Jewish Legislative Caucus will create a structure for caucus members to advocate for the incorporation of the perspectives and needs of Jewish communities in Maryland, including:
- Combating the rising frequency of hate crimes against Jewish communities and all protected populations under the hate crimes statutes;
- Working independently and in collaboration with other Maryland General Assembly caucuses to protect and advance the civil rights and religious freedom of all;
- Improving security measures for organizations predominantly serving Jewish communities and other vulnerable communities at risk for hate-based violence;
- Celebrating Jewish culture and heritage in Maryland;
- Educating the community about the diversity and history of Maryland’s Jewish communities, which come from all corners of the world; and
- Serving as a liaison to local, statewide, and national organizations serving Jewish populations/communities.
“We must acknowledge that this is a particularly fraught moment for the Jewish community here in Maryland, nationally, and globally,” said Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson. “As the legislature pursues strategies to combat antisemitism and encourage intersectionality, I look forward to working with the newly formed Maryland Jewish Legislative Caucus in that work. Congratulations (mazel tov) to Senator Hettleman and Delegate Solomon for their recent election as co-chairs of the Caucus.”
“The State of Maryland was founded on the principles of religious freedom and tolerance. I am confident that the Maryland Jewish Legislative Caucus will uphold this legacy and work diligently to help us combat the rising hate, intolerance, and antisemitism we’ve seen in our communities,” said House Speaker Adrienne Jones.
In the coming days, the Maryland Jewish Legislative Caucus will adopt By-Laws that will form the organizational structure of the Caucus. The Caucus will be open to legislators who are Jewish and legislators who are connected to the Jewish community via the district they represent, family, or affinity will be able to join as associate members.