About Jewish Community and Friends for Democracy

Jewish Community & Friends for Democracy is a community group of Oak Park and River Forest Democratic voters who are calling upon leaders in the Democratic party, including future members of Congress who seek to represent us, to address the appalling rise of antisemitic hate on both the Left and the Right.

We share deep concerns about the polarization on the Left and within the Democratic Party, including demonization of Zionists and Israelis, the use of hate-coded slogans, and litmus tests for inclusion of our voices in justice movements in which the Jewish community has long played a significant leading role.

We welcome partnerships that deepen understanding and build essential and inclusive relationships.

We came together in the fall of 2025 to focus immediate concern on the open Congressional seat race in our district. The candidate evaluation project we undertook is a model of citizen advocacy and engagement we hope other districts and other groups concerned about the rise of antisemitism will emulate as we work together to protect our democracy and the inclusion of Jewish and allied voices in the Democratic party's big tent.

Our Values

Our Community

We represent diverse perspectives within the Jewish community and its allies, united by our commitment to:

• Protecting the interests and safety of Jewish community members
• Supporting Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state
• Combating antisemitism in all forms, on both the Left and the Right
• Educating leaders as to the concerns of our community for the sake of protecting our Jewish and Democratic values.

Our Commitment

We are committed to transparency, fairness, and accuracy in all our evaluations. We believe that informed voting is essential to democratic participation, and we strive to provide the information our community needs to make thoughtful decisions about their votes.