The Synagogue Council of Massachusetts is an umbrella organization of synagogues in Massachusetts, which has a long history of coordinating pro-Israel events as well as "missions to Israel" for MA residents. Presently, the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts collaborates with the Israeli-American Council Boston and the Consulate General of Israel to New England to maintain the "Israel Resource Forum," which according to IAC Boston "serves to connect Synagogue leaders who serve on Israel related committees with each other, and with key organizations and resources in the community."
The Synagogue Council has repeatedly expressed its strong commitment to Israel and Israeli nationalism/settler-colonialism. It celebrates Israel's so-called "independence day" – obviously making no mention of the Nakba and the atrocities resulting from the formation of the Israeli state – and uses the opportunity to smear the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. For example, in an April 19, 2018 statement, the Synagogue Council's executive director wrote: "Today, on the 5th of Iyyar, we mark the 70th year of Medinat Yisrael, the modern State of Israel, and look forward to the next stage in the life of our homeland," but that "closer to home, resurgent anti-Semitism and the contagion of BDS casts a shadow on our festivities."
By falsely equating Jewishness with zionism – and by pretending it can speak on behalf of all Jews in support for the settler-colony known as "Israel" – the Synagogue Council marginalizes anti-colonial and anti-zionist Jews. Its propaganda erases all those Jews who see Israel's formation as harmful not just for non-Jewish Palestinians but also for Jews. Thus, in addition to normalizing Israeli settler-colonialism and anti-Palestinian racism, organizations like the Synagogue Council perpetuate a myth that is fundamentally racist against Jews: the myth that says all Jews cheer for Israel and are complicit in its destructive, colonial projects.
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From fiscal years 2007-2020, Combined Jewish Philanthropies funneled $1,812,279 from its donors to the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts.
The Synagogue Council of Massachusetts is a member organization of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Boston.
Based on available tax filings, the Joseph and Rae Gann Charitable Foundation has donated at least $18,060 to the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts.
Kraft Family Philanthropies donated $7,300 to the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts from FY04-FY15.
The Synagogue Council of Massachusetts collaborates with the Israeli-American Council Boston as well as the Consulate General of Israel to New England to maintain the "Israel Resource Forum," which according to IAC Boston "serves to connect Synagogue leaders who serve on Israel related committees with each other, and with key organizations and resources in the community."
The Synagogue Council of Massachusetts collaborates with the Consulate General of Israel to New England and the Israeli-American Council Boston to run the "Israel Resource Forum." According to IAC Boston, the Israel Resource Forum "serves to connect Synagogue leaders who serve on Israel related committees with each other, and with key organizations and resources in the community."