San Rafael Official Takes New Role In Confronting Antisemitism

MARIN COUNTY, CA — A San Rafael councilmember has taken a leadership role in a newly formed Bay Area group that aims to confront antisemitism.

The Bay Area Network of Jewish Officials (BANJO) announced earlier this week that San Rafael Vice Mayor Rachel Kertz will serve as regional chair for the North Bay.

Kertz was among three regional chairs BANJO the group named Monday. Belmont Mayor Julia Mates and El Cerrito City Councilmember Tessa Rudnick will represent the Peninsula and East Bay communities.

The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) on Monday announced BANJO’s launch in a news release.

JCRC Bay Area is the largest collective voice of Bay Area Jews, and BANJO already includes more than 50 Jewish elected officials from all nine Bay Area counties.

The JCRC plans to host regular networking and professional development gatherings, deepen Jewish elected engagement in Bay Area government, education, and civic spaces, and serve as a trusted resource for members.

“As someone who grew up being the only Jewish kid in my class, it was hard being the sole voice of the Jewish community. Or at times not wanting to share that I was Jewish. Although as a city councilmember my experience is different, there are times that I still need to be that voice. BANJO and JCRC provide a support network that hasn’t previously existed,” Kertz said in a statement.

“As a member of BANJO we share experiences as well as challenges, discuss local, state and federal policies impacting the Jewish community and most importantly we celebrate our Jewish background.”

The group’s launch comes amid a global rise in antisemitism that includes several incidents in the Bay Area in recent months.

Flyers laced with antisemitic messaging were distributed in Marin communities February, April, July, September and November of this year.

A Petaluma man admitted earlier this year that his group was behind the distribution of antisemitic flyers in the Bay Area and beyond, The San Francisco Chronicle reports. Jon Minadeo runs Goyim TV, according to the report.

Although not a violation of the law, police said the incidents are considered “hate-motivated,” which is described as an action motivated by hate but legally protected by the First Amendment.

It was against that backdrop that local Jewish leaders felt compelled to launch BANJO, JCRC Bay Area CEO Tye Gregory said.

“When we gathered elected officials to discuss future partnerships, we found there was a need for Jewish officials to have a space to network, build skills, and speak out given the current environment, and that JCRC would be the perfect convener to do so," Gregory said in a statement.

"Leading up to today’s announcement, JCRC Bay Area held regional meetings in the North Bay, East Bay, and Peninsula.”