10 Things to Know About Jews For Racial and Economic Justice

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Jews For Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) and its political action arm, The Jewish Vote, are frequently cited as representatives of the liberal New York Jewish community. However, JFREJ and its extremist policies are rejected by huge swaths of New York Jews. Citing JFREJ as proof of Jewish attitudes on any issue is tokenism and should be avoided. 

Here are 10 things you should know:

JFREJ claims a membership of 4,500 New Yorkers. This represents less than half of one percent of New York City’s 960,000 Jews. 

According to the Anti-Defamation League, JFREJ “isn’t representative in any way of the majority of the Jewish community.”

JFREJ opposed the New York City Council’s passage of resolution number 487, a bill whose only impact was to recognize End Jew Hatred Day in the City of New York. Only two of the council’s 51 members voted against the resolution. 

While serving on the city council, Brad Lander, a member of JFREJ, funneled tens of thousands of dollars from taxpayers to fund the organization. 

JFREJ has frequently called to defund the police, and states that, “We are ultimately organizing to abolish the NYPD.” According to JFREJ, “#AbolishICE must mean Abolish Prisons and Abolish Police.”

JFREJ opposed increasing funding in 2024 for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, a government initiative that supports physical security enhancements to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attack, such as synagogues, Jewish community centers and schools.

JFREJ exploits concerns about COVID to oppose legislation that would make it illegal to wear a mask to conceal one’s identity while committing a crime. 

JFREJ has repeatedly blocked traffic on New York’s roadways, causing disruptions to emergency services, increased risk of accidents, and potential harm to public safety and the economy. 

On the night of October 7th, 2023, while rockets were falling on Israeli cities and Hamas terrorists were inside of Israel, JFREJ mobilized to end defense aid to Israel.

Despite recent violent attacks on Jews all over the country, JFREJ claims politicians are using antisemitism as a “political cudgel.”