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California advances bills recognizing Jewish ethnicity, bolstering community security

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Two California bills aimed at recognizing Jewish ethnicity and enhancing security for community events passed their final policy committees.
  • SB 1387 requires state data collection to include

California is advancing two bills that would recognize Jewish ethnicity in state law and expand security funding for community events.

Jewish Californians deserve the same. This bill ensures our community is neither invisible nor misrepresented in the systems that shape public health, education, and civil rights decisions.

— David BocarslyCEO of Jewish California, explaining the importance of SB 1387.

Senate Bill 1387, authored by Democratic Senator Henry Stern, aims to address the undercounting and misclassification of California's Jewish population. According to Jewish California, many US Jews identify primarily through ancestry and culture rather than religion. The bill mandates that state ethnicity data collection systems offer "Jewish" as an option, not solely as a religious identifier. "Jewish Californians deserve the same," said David Bocarsly, CEO of Jewish California. "This bill ensures our community is neither invisible nor misrepresented in the systems that shape public health, education, and civil rights decisions."

Assembly Bill 1836, sponsored by Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel and co-sponsored by Jewish California and Equality California, seeks to broaden the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Currently, funds can secure permanent facilities. AB 1836 would allow these funds to also cover off-site events, including religious observances, LGBTQ+ Pride events, cultural festivals, marches, and protests. It also aims to make nonprofits without a permanent location eligible for funding. "Our communities don't just gather behind security doors – we gather for religious holidays in the park, we demonstrate, and we host public festivals and parades," Bocarsly stated. "Vulnerable communities should not have to worry about safety when practicing our traditions in the community."

Our communities don't just gather behind security doors – we gather for religious holidays in the park, we demonstrate, and we host public festivals and parades.

— David BocarslyCEO of Jewish California, discussing the need for expanded security funding under AB 1836.

Both bills are scheduled for review by the state senate in August. If enacted, SB 1387 would make California the first state in the US to recognize Jewish identity as an ethnicity. The legislation comes amid rising concerns about hate-motivated violence.

Vulnerable communities should not have to worry about safety when practicing our traditions in the community.

— David BocarslyCEO of Jewish California, highlighting the rationale behind AB 1836.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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