Linking you to the work of creating a more civil and caring community in WNY
Co-Chairs: Nina Lukin & Dr. Ted Steinberg | Director: Mara Koven-Gelman
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Buffalo JCRC's work falls into three broad areas: Social Justice, Combatting Hate and Discrimination, and Building Relationships with Ethnic, Faith, and Cultural Communities.
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Building Cultural Awareness
The JCRC (representative members from Jewish community organizations) starts its important work by increasing its cultural competencies. The first meetings is a facilitated workshop by the National Federation of Just Communities.
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Preparing for U.S. Census - 4.1.20
June 6, 2019
3 PM
Jacqueline Vito LoRusso Alumni & Visitor Center
Buffalo State College
667 Grant Street | Buffalo
A proper Census is critical to a democratic society as state a
nd local funds are distributed based on population size. So
cial and health services rely on this data for planning and delivery. Every person is important when advocating for funding.
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You can read more about Rabbi Jonathan Sack's commentary Torah portion Bamidbar in the book of Numbers (Devarim). He speaks about the importance and integrity of counting each individual, not just a population.
CLICK HERE!
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Iftar Dinners
The month of Ramadan, a time of prayer, reflection and community, has just ended (May 5 - June 4). Muslims complete daylight fasting, eating before sun up and after sun down. Meals with family and friends (Iftar) are traditional. Members of the Jewish community were invited to several Iftar dinners throughout greater Buffalo. Ramadan Kareem!
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The Iftar dinners were held approximately a month after several members of the Muslim community participated in Passover Seders throughout the Jewish community. It has been a wonderful Spring, learning about each other's rituals and customs.
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Erie County Board Hearing
Hon. April Baskin presented her bill (encouraged by JCRC) to create a EC Jail Professional Advisory Board on May 29, which was atteneded by 75 people.
Nan Haynes, professor emerita, University at Buffalo School of Law, served on the now defunct Erie County Community Corrections Advisory Board. Nan says of the recent hearing, "Erie County needs this law, and I fully expect the Legislature will enact it. With the Corrections Specialist Board, our county will join communities across our nation who understand civilian overseers humanizes everyone - prisoners and staff - and make jails safer and more human."
The vote is set for June 20.
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JCRC meets Buffalo City Council Member
Following JCRC best practices and priorities, we met with Joel Feroleto (Delaware District) and Rasheed Wyatt (University District) seen here at the end of May. JCRC executive committee member Deborah Goldman, Jewish Family Service past chair Larry Rubin, and Mara Koven-Gelman discussed issues important to the Jewish community: Security, Addressing hate and intolerance, and Building relationships with those from other faiths, cultures and ethnicities.
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SAVE THE DATE
Valentino Dixon exhibit and criminal justice event at Burchfield Penney Arts Center
Exhibition PREVIEW takes place on
Thursday, October 10, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Exhibition OPENING on Friday, October 11 and on view through Sunday, March 29.
Valentino Dixon is a Buffalo artist who served 27 years for a crime he did not commit.
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TONIGHT - June 4: What's Next?
A community conversation about the rise of hate, racism and intolerance.
An impressive panel of clergy, politicians and community organizers will discuss what our communities are planning to stem the rise of hate.
June 4
7 - 8:30 PM
Educational Opportunity Center
555 Ellicott Street
Partners include: Buffalo JCRC, Jewish Family Service, NAACP, National Federation of Just Communities, Temple Beth Zion, and WNY Area Labor Federation.
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National Messages about
Standing Up to Anti-Semitism
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Calling out bias when it appears in the New York Times
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By David Bernstein
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I did not grow up in New York City, but, like so many American Jews, I grew up reading The New York Times. The Times has long served as the “hometown paper of American Jewry.” It is the newspaper we love and, in our vulnerability to its perceived influence on public opinion, love to hate."
Read the full article
HERE
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ARTICLE FROM EJEWISH PHILANTHROPY
Why Communities must Change
Everything
to Combat Antisemitism
By Jackie Congedo, Cincinnati JCRC and David Bernstein, JCPA CEO
How best to transform Jewish communities to address antisemitism on the left and on the right. Read the full article
HERE
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FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE CIN
CINNATI JCRC
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Cincinnati JCRC recently had a Regional Summit on Anti-Semitism and Hate, Driving out the Darkness. Click below to see videos from the summit and learn from experts on combating antisemitism and all forms of minority hate.
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BUFFALO JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
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Jody Biehl
Hadar Borden
Deborah Goldman
Rabbi Alex Lazarus Klein
Margery Nobel
Phyllis Steinberg
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