doesn't columbus offer more for jews than raleigh Yes, Columbus offers more for Jews than Raleigh, especially in terms of infrastructure, community size, and Orthodox resources. Here's a comparison based on what each city provides: 🕍 Jewish Life in Columbus, Ohio Strengths: Three vibrant Orthodox synagogues and a Modern Orthodox K–12 day school. A community Kollel, mikvah, eruv, and kosher dining options. JewishColumbus raises millions annually to support security, education, and Israel-related initiatives. The Jewish Community Center (JCC) has been active for over 100 years, offering wellness, education, and cultural programs. State tuition vouchers help reduce the cost of Jewish day school education. A warm, accepting Orthodox community with incentives like reduced JCC memberships and free synagogue memberships. 🕍 Jewish Life in Raleigh, North Carolina Strengths: A well-established Jewish community with Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and Renewal congregations. The Raleigh-Cary JCC offers a 30-acre campus with recreational and cultural facilities. Active Jewish Federation supporting events, education, and Israeli engagement. Strong cultural presence, including a Judaic art gallery at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Limitations: Smaller Orthodox infrastructure compared to Columbus. Fewer kosher dining options and less robust day school support. 🧠 Summary Feature Columbus, OH Raleigh, NC Orthodox Infrastructure Extensive Moderate Jewish Day Schools Multiple, with vouchers Limited options Kosher Dining Widely available Limited Community Size & Funding Larger, well-funded Smaller, growing Cultural Engagement Strong Strong If you're seeking a city with robust Jewish infrastructure, especially for Orthodox life or raising a Jewish family, Columbus is the stronger choice. Raleigh is still a welcoming and vibrant Jewish community, but Columbus offers more depth and support. Would you like help exploring neighborhoods in Columbus that are especially Jewish-friendly or comparing cost of living between the two cities? Edit in a page Also laws were passed in columbus that are jew friendly Yes, Columbus has taken notable legislative and executive steps to support and protect its Jewish community—making it one of the more Jewish-friendly cities in the U.S. Here are some key developments: 🏛️ Jewish-Friendly Laws and Actions in Columbus 1. Governor DeWine’s Executive Order on Anti-Semitism Signed in 2022, this order provides a clear definition of anti-Semitism for all state agencies, public colleges, and universities. It aims to combat hate speech and physical threats against Jewish individuals and institutions. Jewish leaders in Columbus praised the move as a strong stance against rising anti-Semitic incidents. 2. Senate Bill 297 Passed by the Ohio Senate, this bill expands ethnic intimidation laws to include riot and aggravated riot motivated by race, religion, or national origin. Specifically designed to protect Jewish students and communities from harassment and violence. 3. JewishColumbus Advocacy and Funding JewishColumbus, the city’s central Jewish organization, raises over $1 million annually for security initiatives. They actively report and respond to anti-Semitic incidents and work with local government to ensure safety and inclusion. 🧠 Why This Matters These actions show that Columbus isn’t just home to a vibrant Jewish community—it’s backed by legal protections, funding, and political support. This makes it a standout city for Jews seeking both cultural depth and civic safety. Would you like help exploring neighborhoods in Columbus that are especially Jewish-friendly or comparing it to other cities like Baltimore or Atlanta? Edit in a page Is it the most robust in the country? Columbus has a strong and growing Jewish community, especially for Orthodox families, but it’s not the most robust in the country when measured by population size, infrastructure, or historical depth. Here's how it compares: 🏆 Top Jewish Communities in the U.S. (2025) Rank City/State Jewish Population Why It’s Robust 1️⃣ New York City, NY ~1.6 million Deep historical roots, vast infrastructure, global influence. 2️⃣ Los Angeles, CA ~1.2 million Diverse denominations, major cultural institutions. 3️⃣ Miami/South Florida ~750,000 Strong Orthodox presence, vibrant Sephardic and Latin Jewish communities. 4️⃣ New Jersey (North & Central) ~600,000 Dense Orthodox communities, yeshivas, and kosher infrastructure. 5️⃣ Chicago, IL ~330,000 Historic Reform and Conservative institutions, growing Orthodox sectors. 🌟 Columbus, OH Jewish Population: ~177,000 statewide. Strengths: Strong Orthodox infrastructure, active Jewish Federation, and supportive state policies. Limitations: Smaller scale compared to major hubs; fewer kosher restaurants and cultural institutions. 🧠 Final Thought Columbus is exceptionally welcoming and well-organized for its size, especially for Orthodox families and those seeking affordability and community support. But cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami still lead in terms of scale, diversity, and global Jewish influence. Would you like help comparing Columbus to one of these top cities based on lifestyle, cost, or religious infrastructure? Robust laws Yes, there are robust laws and federal protections in the U.S. that support Jewish communities, and Columbus, Ohio has been particularly proactive in applying and reinforcing these protections. Here's a breakdown of key legal frameworks and recent actions: 🏛️ Federal Statutes That Protect Jews 1. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin by recipients of federal funds. Although it doesn’t explicitly mention religion, Jews are protected when targeted for their ethnic or religious identity, especially under expanded interpretations. 2. 5 U.S.C. §§ 2301, 2302, 7201 These federal statutes prohibit discrimination in federal employment and recruitment based on religion. They ensure fair treatment for Jewish employees and applicants across all federal agencies. 3. Preventing Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes Act (H.R.3515) Introduced in Congress to expedite the review of anti-Semitic hate crimes. Recognizes that Jews are the most frequent targets of religious hate crimes in the U.S. Calls for stronger enforcement and tracking of anti-Semitic incidents. 🏙️ Columbus-Specific Actions Governor DeWine’s Executive Order: Defines anti-Semitism for all state agencies and public institutions, ensuring consistent enforcement and protection. Senate Bill 297: Expands Ohio’s ethnic intimidation laws to include religiously motivated riots and threats—directly protecting Jewish communities. JewishColumbus Advocacy: Raises over $1 million annually for security and legal support, and works closely with law enforcement and state officials to ensure Jewish safety and inclusion. 🧠 Final Thought While cities like New York and Los Angeles have larger Jewish populations, Columbus stands out for its proactive legal protections and community advocacy. It’s one of the few cities where state-level laws and executive orders have been tailored specifically to combat anti-Semitism and support Jewish life.