The Oregon Food Bank's longstanding relationship with several local Jewish organizations has apparently fallen apart after the Oregon Food Bank made a statement about the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
In a letter issued Friday, Jewish organizations, including five synagogues and several nonprofits, said they would withhold any financial support for the Oregon Food Bank until the bank retracts a statement that strongly criticized the Israeli military's operations in Gaza.
“Anti-Semitism is on the rise in our country and in our communities,” the letter states, “and in our view, the false accusations made here only serve to further fan the flames of hatred towards Jewish people.”
The letter comes amid growing pressure for public institutions around the world, including universities, businesses and nonprofits, to take a stance on the war.
The empty interior of the temple of Congregation Beth Israel in Portland, Oregon. The congregation is one of five synagogues that withdrew their support from the Oregon Food Bank after it issued a statement condemning Israeli military violence in Gaza.
Courtesy of Congregation Beth Israel
Dozens of demonstrations took place at Oregon universities last month, with students demanding divestment from companies that do business with the Israeli government.
The food bank issued a statement in April condemning the violence perpetrated by Israeli forces against Palestinians, particularly aid workers, as well as the killing of more than 1,200 civilians by Hamas on October 7 and the rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia across the Pacific Northwest.
“We remain committed to addressing the root causes of hunger and are working within our sphere of influence to strategically dismantle the systems that perpetuate hunger and poverty,” the food bank said in a statement.
In a written statement to OPB, Food Bank president Susanna Morgan said this was the organization's first move toward an international conflict and that the situation in Gaza is linked to the organization's broader work to eradicate hunger.
“War and violence are the root causes of hunger,” Morgan wrote to OPB.
The war statement drew strong backlash from the Food Bank, particularly from Jewish groups that signed it, who said it had taken a “one-sided” approach to a complex international issue and had not gone far enough in condemning Hamas.
“We were really shocked and appalled,” said Rabbi Michael Kahana of Congregation Beth Israel, one of the synagogues that signed the petition. “We felt that the statement misrepresented the situation, demonized Israel and presented a very one-sided approach.”
Kahana said the congregation has been a financial supporter of the food bank since it was founded in 1982, holding annual fundraisers around the holidays. Going forward, the synagogue plans to redirect those funds to other organizations.
Morgan disputed claims that the food bank issued false accusations, telling OPB that its original statement “reflects reality and the information came from reliable domestic and international sources.”
The Oregon Food Bank also consulted with community groups, including the Oregon Jewish Federation, before releasing the letter, she said.
Bob Hollenstein, director of community relations for the Jewish Federation of Oregon, said the federation had expressed concerns before the food bank's statement, but that the situation hasn't changed much since the conversation.
“What we would prefer is for organizations like food banks not to make statements,” Hollenstein said. “That doesn't help us at all.”
The food bank told OPB that it had received new donations and support following the statement about Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, but acknowledged that it had alienated some in the Jewish community.
As for whether the widening gap between the groups can be bridged, Kahana isn't optimistic.
“It's very difficult to turn back the clock. The damage has already been done,” he said.
