By Susie Stern
Jewish Democratic Council of America
NEW YORK — I am writing to introduce myself to the JDCA community as the new Board Chair of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA). While we had hoped to start this year with Democrats having won the White House and majorities in the Senate and House, the aftermath of the 2024 election reminds us of the wisdom of Pirkei Avot – “while we do not have to finish the work, we cannot desist from it.” The work goes on, and the need for JDCA has never been greater.
JDCA was launched in the aftermath of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in 2017, as neo-Nazis marched through the streets with tiki torches and chants of “Jews will not replace us.” We came into being with a voice rooted in Jewish and Democratic values, speaking truth to power, combating extremism, and opposing the dangerous policies of Donald Trump that are – at their core – antithetical to Jewish values.
Many of those who marched in Charlottesville were from a small town just miles away from where I grew up in East Lansing, Michigan. Today, I live in New York and understand the vast differences in the needs of the people across this country. No matter where we are from, as Jews, we are called by our tradition to lead, to defend against intolerance and bigotry, and to stand up for the most vulnerable among us.
JDCA was created to be the political home and voice of Jewish voters and advocate for issues such as democracy, the environment, the economy, reproductive rights, and support of Israel. These last 15 months since October 7 have been devastating, and we continue to call for the immediate release of all the hostages. Having been a national leader of Jewish organizations for over 30 years, I have spent a lifetime dedicated to American Jewry, Israel, and Jewish communities around the world, and I look forward to building on this experience as Chair of JDCA along with all of you.
Today, as Donald Trump returns to the White House, we stand ready to continue to advocate for issues of importance to Jewish voters. We will continue our work to engage with and support Democrats who share our values and work to defeat Republicans who threaten our community, freedoms, and democracy. JDCA will also continue to ensure the Democratic Party and the vast majority of Democrats align with the vast majority of American Jews.
Following in the large footsteps of our founding Board Chair of seven years, Hon. Ron Klein, is a great privilege and honor. Ron created and built this organization from the ground up, along with a remarkable group of leaders across the country, including our Board of Directors, New Leadership Council, state chapters, staff, and so many of you. Last year was one of remarkable growth for JDCA – with more than 65,000 of you joining our events – and we look forward to building on that momentum and growth in this critically important new year and beyond.
I am honored to hold this role and look forward to working with you to continue to build the strength of this community and movement.
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Susie Stern is the Board Chair of the Jewish Democratic Council of America