NASW Virginia Expresses Outrage, Offers Mental Health Services Regarding May 21 Shooting of Two Israeli Embassy Workers

The Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) stands in strong solidarity, condemnation, and deep sympathy with Jewish social workers and the wider Jewish community after the fatal shooting May 21 of two Israeli embassy staffers leaving an American Jewish Committee function at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC. 

“These murders are inexcusable acts of violence against two people who were simply living their faith through their embassy work and exercising their right to freely practice their religious beliefs,” says Executive Director Debra Riggs. “As the largest group of providers of mental and behavioral healthcare, our social workers in the Metro DC area stand ready to provide grief counseling and other therapeutic support for anyone affected by this traumatic situation. In addition, the social work profession will continue to serve at the forefront in responding to antisemitism and ethnic prejudices.” 

According to the annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which tracks incidents of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, and assault in the United States, 2024 was the fourth consecutive year when antisemitic incidents rose. Indeed, the 5% spike was the highest ever recorded (9,354 total incidents) in ADL’s 46-year history. Like prior years, states and cities with the largest Jewish populations have experienced the most incidents. More than 165,000 Jews live in Virginia, according to World Population Review.

“Such statistics and the fact that related crimes and harassment are occurring in all 50 states and DC show that high rates of antisemitism have become an ongoing reality for American Jewish communities rather than a temporary blip since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel,” says Riggs. “Despite divisive opinions among political parties on many issues, we all can and must unite around the Constitutional right to safely practice our religions, including Judaism. We express our sincere sympathies to the families and friends of the victims and will continue to work with leaders in Virginia, DC, and on the national level to develop policies and programs to significantly diminish and, ideally, eliminate religious violence and extreme biases in society and within the social work profession.”

In March, for instance, the Virginia General Assembly commended the Combat Antisemitism Movement, a global coalition “dedicated to uniting individuals and organizations from all backgrounds to confront and eliminate antisemitism in all its forms.” However, earlier in the year, a House of Delegates committee let die a proposed law that would have made it a Class 6 felony for anyone to place a swastika on private property of another person without permission or on a highway or other public place in a manner “having a direct tendency to place another person in reasonable fear or apprehension of death or bodily injury.” The latter bill may be reintroduced in the next session.

NASW and NASW Virginia have a long history fighting antisemitism, including a call to action for social workers within their professional Code of Ethics: “Social workers should act to prevent and eliminate domination of, exploitation of, and discrimination against any person, group, or class.” As a matter of principle and in line with its historical values, NASW supports an inclusive, multicultural society in which ethnic, religion and spirituality, and other cultural and social identities are valued and respected.