Volume X | February 2020
CONNECTIONS
Linking you to the work of creating a more civil and caring community in WNY
Powered b y t he Buffalo Jewish Federation
Co-Chairs: Deborah Goldman & Nina Lukin | Director: Mara Koven-Gelman
Buffalo JCRC's work falls into three broad areas: Social Justice, Combatting Hate and Discrimination, and Building Relationships with Ethnic, Faith, and Cultural Communities.
EDUCATE

Jewish Response to Climate Change

In honor of Tu B’Shevat (February 10 th ), Sara Schultz, chair of an interfaith climate justice subcommittee Sierra Club Niagara Group shares how Jewish text reminds us of the importance of caring for our earth and air.

Read more and become involved HERE

Climate Justice - Sara Schultz
Martin Luther King Jr Program
DRIVING WHILE BLACK
By Dr. Gretchen Sorin
Event reviewed by Nina Lukin

I attended a lecture by Dr. Gretchen Sullivan Sorin who explained how the car changed African American lives physically and metaphorically. Journey/mobility was the key to democracy (in a sense) when you consider the travel from Africa to the New World, from the South to the North, from slavery to freedom, and eventually to 'true citizenship'.

Read more HERE.
ADVOCATE
NYS Majority Leader Crystal People-Stokes to lead Trip to Israel

Buffalo Jewish Federation CEO Rob Goldberg Buffalo, JCRC’s Deborah Goldman and National Federation of Just Communities’ Lana Benatovich met with the Leader before her mid-February trip. They brought travel gifts and tzedakah (dollar bills) to give to needy in Israel. This custom ensures a safe passage, making the traveler a “Shaliach Mitzvah” (emissary of a righteous deed.) We look forward to debriefing with the Leader upon her return!

MOBILIZE - Get Involved
Ensuring Safety in all parts of the Buffalo Jewish Community
at two January Meetings
January 23
Buffalo Jewish Federation, through Susan DeMari, Jewish Buffalo's Community Security Coordinator, recently convened a meeting of the Orthodox community and all levels of the law enforcement. The goal was to discuss steps to improve safety and security in Buffalo, after violent attacks on the Orthodox community in NYC and Monsey, NJ. 

January 7
JCRC convened a meeting with Jewish communal organizations and synagogues/temples to address responses to antisemitic incidents (not involving law enforcement). Over 20 people attended and discussed best practices and centralized reaction. Among the outcomes of the meeting are to create an online hate incident page, map community assets around addressing hate/antisemitism and perform outreach to schools to offer resources and programs on combating antisemitism.   


Time to Register to Vote


Registered to vote here.

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NATIONAL NEWS
JCPA 2020

JCPA Annual Conference ( consisting of 125 member JCRCs) is February 8-11 in Washington DC. Deborah Goldman is a newly appointed delegate, representing Buffalo on this national body. She and director, Mara Koven-Gelman will be attending the meeting. A focus of this meeting will be creating a toolkit for JCRCs to address increase in antisemitism and hate. Keynote is Deborah Lipstadt. Read more here .

BUFFALO JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jody Biehl
Ann Marie Carosella
Adam Fogel
Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein
Phyllis Steinberg
Dr. Theodore Steinberg