As Jewish Angelenos committed to a city where we can all thrive, we at Jewish Action for Los Angeles are sharing our view on the events that took place last week at Wilshire Boulevard Temple to help people across our city better engage in dialogue about the way forward.

On December 4, demonstrators protested an event hosted at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion on the campus of Wilshire Boulevard Temple. The event, titled “Innovating Safety, Empowering Communities,” was co-hosted by the Israeli Consulate and included speakers from the Israeli police and Elbit Systems. Protestors allegedly caused property damage inside the building and used antisemitic slurs. Two individuals were arrested for battery and vandalism.

We condemn these reported incidents of harassment, hate, and vandalism, while we continue to support the right to free speech and non-violent protest. We will learn more as details continue to emerge, but based on what is already known, it’s important to keep a few perspectives in mind.

While nothing justifies violence or intimidation, we have also seen the context of the situation widely mischaracterized in a way that prevents us from having honest conversations about what went wrong and how we avoid situations like this in the future.  We cannot be surprised when a weapons manufacturer draws protests, even when speaking on a synagogue campus. Elbit Systems is a large Israeli privately run defense contractor. The company supplied weapons that Israel used to violate international law and kill Palestinian civilians in Gaza. And while the State of Israel and Israeli companies are sometimes blamed incorrectly for domestic issues unrelated to them, it’s a matter of public record that Elbit Systems has contracted with DHS and ICE for security and surveillance along the U.S.-Mexico border. We believe that when a synagogue platforms a weapons manufacturer, particularly one complicit in offensive actions against civilians, it conflicts with our values and the purpose of these sacred communal spaces. 

Jews in Los Angeles should never be held collectively responsible for the actions of the State of Israel. Even in the face of rising antisemitism, our Jewish communal institutions must resist the instinct to claim that this protest against an Israeli weapons manufacturer should be seen as an attack on all Jews. Retaining the hope for people of differing views to engage each other respectfully and successfully depends, in part, upon resisting that kind of conflation.

There has been a dramatic and disturbing increase in antisemitic attacks and incidents here and globally over the last decade, and especially since October 7, 2023. Jews are justifiably anxious about matters of personal safety in such an environment. In this unsettling time, many in our community have responded exclusively by investing in physical security, including weapons and AI. At Jewish Action for Los Angeles, our vision is to foster community safety through solidarity, mutual support, and strong relationships with our neighbors. This, we believe, will provide a more reliable path to safety and security.

Established in 2025, Jewish Action for Los Angeles is working to build a Los Angeles where Jews and all people can live in dignity, prosperity, and safety. If you share our vision, please join our community at JewishActionforLA.org and become an official member with a monthly donation of $5 or more.