Category Archives: Newsletter

HoCoJAG August Newsletter

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HoCoJAG is entering its next phase with a clear focus: strengthening our political influence, expanding community relationships, developing future leaders, and giving members more ways to get involved.

Strengthening HoCoJAG

We are pleased to welcome Fern Babkes to the HoCoJAG Board of Directors. Fern brings decades of experience in Jewish advocacy and antisemitism education to HoCoJAG as well as strong relationships with other Jewish advocacy groups.

The Board has also begun work on a two-year strategic plan focused on turning HoCoJAG’s growth into sustained impact. Priorities include:

  • Candidate research, endorsements and voter education
  • Recruiting and developing future candidates
  • Monitoring legislation and providing testimony
  • Building stronger relationships with elected officials
  • Expanding alliances across the Jewish community and with other communities
  • Antisemitism education
  • Youth political engagement and internships
  • More opportunities for members to participate directly in HoCoJAG’s work

Building Relationships That Matter

This month, HoCoJAG met with Rabbi Greenspan of Beth Shalom to discuss opportunities to work together on antisemitism education and community programming. HoCoJAG met with Chabad leadership and offered congratulations to Chabad for its 40th anniversary serving the Jewish community of Howard County. HoCoJAG continues to build alliances within the Jewish community including leaders at StandWithUs and with leaders in the Hindu community including CoHNA and other groups whose values and goals are aligned. 

We also continue to build relationships with elected officials and their offices. When their actions raise concerns, we engage directly. That includes recent conversations regarding Rep. Sarah Elfreth and her positions on several Israel-related issues. HoCoJAG will continue engaging elected officials constructively while evaluating our support based on their actions.

Activating Members

One of our biggest priorities is creating more concrete ways for members to participate.

That could mean helping research legislation or candidates, attending government meetings, supporting endorsed candidates, building synagogue relationships, helping with events, recruiting new members, or contributing professional skills.

HoCoJAG has grown because people stepped forward. Our next stage depends on even more members doing the same.

**More opportunities to get involved are coming soon.**

Passing the Torch. Continuing the Mission.

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HoCoJAG is entering a new chapter.

After helping lead the organization through its formative years, Trevor is passing the torch to David.

Trevor helped build HoCoJAG into a strong and credible voice for Howard County’s Jewish community. Under his leadership, HoCoJAG has advocated for Jewish students and families, engaged elected officials and community leaders, documented antisemitism, and refused to allow the concerns of Jewish residents to be dismissed or ignored.

We are grateful to Trevor for the time, determination, and leadership he has given to this organization and will continue to contribute.

David assumes leadership at a time when HoCoJAG’s mission remains as necessary as ever.

The leadership is changing.

The mission is not.

The Work Continues

HoCoJAG continues to support Jewish families, document incidents of antisemitism, engage public officials, and advocate for meaningful change.

Much of that work happens quietly.

Not every incident can or should be shared publicly. Families may need assistance while also protecting their privacy and safety, particularly when children are involved.

HoCoJAG helps families document what occurred, identify appropriate resources, communicate with institutions and authorities, and ensure their concerns are taken seriously.

The details may remain private.

The need for this work does not.

February 2026 Newsletter

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The Data Is Clear — and So Is the Moment

As we move deeper into 2026, recent reporting and on-the-ground incidents in Howard County point to a troubling reality.

Recent Howard County Police Department (HCPD) hate-bias reporting shows that Jewish residents are the most frequently targeted group in Howard County on a per-capita basis, surpassing every other protected class. This isn’t a perception problem. It’s a measurable reality.

At the same time, we are seeing something equally troubling:
language, symbols, and political positions appearing locally that normalize or excuse hostility toward Jews.

This is how antisemitism operates in real life — often indirectly, and often without being named as such. It shows up as:

  • Double standards applied to Jews that are not applied to any other group
  • Demonizing language about Jews that would be unacceptable if aimed at any other community
  • Political symbols and messaging targeting Jews appearing in schools, parks, and public spaces
  • Failure by leaders and institutions to respond with the same urgency shown for other groups

These patterns are not new. What is new is how openly they are appearing in local politics, schools, and public spaces — and how quickly they spread when left unchallenged.

HoCoJAG exists to address exactly this moment.

Right now, we are:

  • Meeting directly with candidates ahead of the June primaries
  • Vetting rhetoric, positions, and public records
  • Educating elected officials and staff using primary sources and civil rights law
  • Preparing community members to ask informed, direct questions

Why the primaries matter:

In Howard County, the Democratic primary is the election. If we wait until after June, the decisions will already be made.

Save the Date: February 22

Please join us on February 22 at 9:30am for our next members-only meeting.  

You’ll learn:

  • What the data actually shows about antisemitism in Howard County
  • What we’ve already done — quietly and strategically
  • What’s coming next as the primaries approach
  • How you can help, in ways that fit your comfort level

This is about clarity, preparation, and refusing to let others define what is “acceptable” when it comes to Jewish safety.

More details soon. Click here to join HoCoJAG. 

HCPD Hate-Bias Incidents: What the Data Shows in Howard County

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HoCoJAG reviewed hate-bias incident data published by the Howard County Police Department (HCPD), compiled from HCPD records pulled January 14, 2025 (covering 2024) and January 23, 2026 (covering 2025).

Howard County Has a Hate Problem

Howard County likes to think of itself as welcoming. The police data tells a harder truth: reported hate-bias incidents are not rare here — and the Jewish community is hit disproportionately.

When you account for population size, Jews show the highest per-capita rate of reported hate-bias incidents among the groups tracked in this dataset. That is not a talking point. It’s a warning sign.

This is a community safety issue that HoCoJAG continues to address with the schools, the County Council, and State Legislators. 

What you can do

If you experience or witness a hate-bias incident, report it to HCPD. If you want Howard County to respond seriously, join HoCoJAG—because communities don’t get safer by hoping.

Source: Howard County Police Department hate-bias incident records compiled by HoCoJAG (2024–2025).

FAQ

What is this data?

This page summarizes reported hate-bias incidents recorded by the Howard County Police Department (HCPD) and compiled by HoCoJAG into a spreadsheet for easier analysis.

What is a “hate-bias incident”?

A hate-bias incident is an incident reported to police that includes indicators the incident may have been motivated by bias (for example, slurs, symbols, targeting tied to identity, or other bias indicators documented in a report). It is not the same thing as a criminal conviction, and it may include a range of behaviors from harassment and threats to property damage or assault.

Does this prove intent or motive in every case?

No. Police datasets like this reflect reported incidents with documented bias indicators. They can show patterns of targeting across a community, but they don’t establish motive beyond doubt in each individual incident.

Does this include everything that happens?

No. Like all bias reporting, this is limited to what is reported and recorded. Many incidents are never reported, and communities can differ in reporting behavior. That’s a limitation of every police-based dataset—not a reason to ignore the pattern.

Why do you use “per capita” rates?

Because raw counts can mislead. Communities vary in size. Per-capita rates help show disproportionate impact—whether a group is being targeted at a higher rate relative to its population.

January 2026 Newsletter

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Happy New Year

As we begin 2026, one thing is clear: this year matters.

The upcoming primaries will shape the leadership of Howard County, and the stakes for the Jewish community are real.

We are already seeing candidates step forward whose rhetoric and positions are openly hostile to Jews. This isn’t theoretical, and it isn’t something we can afford to ignore or address after the fact. Preparation now is essential.

That’s where HoCoJAG comes in — and where we need you.

Over the coming months, we will be:

  • Vetting candidates at every level
  • Meeting directly with those running for office
  • Hosting candidate meet-and-greets so our community can ask questions and hear clearly where candidates stand

This work takes people, time, and engagement from our community.

Save the Date: February 22

Please mark your calendar for our February 22 HoCoJAG members-only meeting.
At this meeting, you’ll hear:

  • What we’ve already been doing behind the scenes
  • What’s coming next as the primaries approach
  • How you can support this work — whether through time, outreach, or resources

If we want leaders who take antisemitism seriously and understand the responsibility of public office, we have to show up, stay organized, and make our voices heard.

More details to come — but for now, save the date and stay engaged.

Join HoCoJAG!