Dear Frederick City Council and Mayor Michael O'Connor,

We are writing to express the concern within our local Jewish community about the recent attempts to have the City of Frederick pass a cease-fire resolution regarding the Israel-Gaza war. Our Frederick Jewish community is not a monolith. Like most communities, we embrace a diversity of ideologies, political views and religious practices. As it pertains to the Israel-Gaza war, there is also a diversity of opinion from those adamantly against a ceasefire without Hamas laying down its arms to those amenable to a humanitarian ceasefire in order to return our hostages.

We, members of the Frederick Jewish community, remain steadfast in our opposition to the proposed cease-fire resolution on an international matter that would only foster division in our Frederick community. It was for that reason that we did not approach you to ask for a condemnation of Hamas' October 7 terror attack on Israel. And it is why we encourage you to avoid making a resolution calling for a ceasefire.

We are horrified by the deaths of many innocent Palestinians in Gaza. We grieve for the Israeli hostages murdered by Hamas and pray for the remaining hostages to come home. However, our elected officials in Frederick have no influence, authority or knowledge to weigh in on international matters such as this war and the greater Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Such a resolution would have no effect on the war. The only outcome would be to further marginalize the Jewish community and erode a feeling of belonging that Jews have long felt in Frederick.

More than a year after October 7, the Jewish community in Frederick has felt vulnerable, isolated and targeted. In the aftermath of the largest massacre of Jews since Holocaust, the silence from many Frederick friends was often harder to stomach than the increased antisemitic behavior we are now accustomed to seeing in our lives or in the news. 

Hate has no place in Frederick. Yet the proposed resolution feeds upon antisemitic themes and encourages the voices in our society that are the source of so much of the current marginalization. Our Jewish community enjoys many friendships with the Muslim community in Frederick and stands with them against the recent rise in Islamophobia. We have long felt blessed to enjoy good relationships with our neighbors. We would hate to see this resolution pit different communities against one another. 

Some resolutions in other cities across the country have divided communities and exacerbated the rhetoric that has already contributed to the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia. The proposed resolution in Frederick would cause pain and potentially tangible harm to a segment of the Frederick community.

Let’s not bring that to Frederick. Let’s rise above the divisive discourse presented in this resolution and reaffirm the values of inclusivity that we all aspire for our community.

Thank you for taking the time to hear us.