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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What's Next: Real Talk and Action for Racial Justice in 2019
Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Time: 7 - 8:30 PM
Place: Education Opportunity Center
555 Ellicott Street, Buffalo
(Located next to and shares an atrium with BETC @ 77 Goodell Street)
Panelists include: Erie County Majority Leader April Baskin, Rev. Mark Blue, Rabbi Jonathan Freirich, Dr. Nasir Kahn, and Richard Lipsitz
Moderated by: Judge Lisa Block Rodwin
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Restorative Justice Conference
Nina Lukin and Michal Lewis (Michal pictured 2nd from right) attended an April conference to learn about this interesting aspect of Criminal Justice Reform. Rather than doling out punishments for a broken rule, Restorative Justice holds offenders accountable in a more meaningful, positive way. The emphasis is aimed at repairing the harm by giving a voice to the person harmed and acknowledging that relationships are central to a community. Restorative models have been applied and produced positive outcomes in justice systems, families, workplaces, and neighborhoods. In schools, it has curbed negative behavior far more effectively than punishment.
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ADVOCATE - Results are in!
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Combatting Anti-Semitism
JCRC joined 54 local Jewish Community Relations Councils, 14 Natiional member agencies, and 13 other organizations in a letter to New York Times Executive Editor condemning the anti-Semitic cartoon published on April 25, 2019 in the NYT International edition. The result was an op-ed of ownership and apology.
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Secure Jewish Buffalo Fund Receives Grant
Together with the Buffalo Jewish Federation and Senator Timothy Kennedy, JCRC helped secure $100,000 from the New York State Budget for the Buffalo Jewish Federation's Secure Jewish Buffalo Fund.
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Buffalo News EditorIal
JCRC signed onto a Buffalo News Editorial to advocate for a professional advisory board to the Erie County jails.
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Federal Refugee Caucus
JCRC encouraged US Rep Brian Higgins (26-NY) to join the bi-partisan House refugee Caucus... and he did!
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Remembering Poway: Shabbat of Kindness
The Buffalo Jewish Community responded to the horrific shooting at Chabad of Poway by honoring the words of Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein. He encouraged all Jewish people to attend synagogue Friday and Saturday as a symbol of solidarity and to perform acts of kindness.
"We need to show them that terrorism and evil will never prevail," he said. "Let's fill up the synagogue; let's stand tall; let's dance together."
JCRC together with the Federation, clergy and other Jewish organizations created a resource kit to be used and re-used as a way to fill our lives with kindness.
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Fruit Belt Clean Up
Date: Friday, May 10
Start: 9 AM
Lunch: 11:15 - Noon
Festival: Noon - 2 PM
Join Roswell Park and help clean up the Fruit Belt.
Meet at School #37
295 Carlton Street, Buffalo, NY 14204
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Buffalo Open Seder
Over 74 people of other faiths, cultures and ethnicities participated in Buffalo Jewish community Seders! Members of the African-American, Atheist, American Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, Muslim, and Presbyterian community enjoyed a range of Seders across Buffalo.
Here is Michael and Julie Weinberg, Bayram and April Arman, and Rabbi Jonathan Freirich at a Seder.
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Walk with Jewish Pride of WNY
Date: Sunday, June 2, 2019
Start: 11:00 AM
Upon arrival, as an organizer for directions to the Jewish Pride of WNY group.
For more information and to register, click
HERE.
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Summer Institute for Human Rights
Registration is now open for the:
12th Annual Summer Institute for Human Rights
"Solidarity: We are Stronger Together"
July 22 - 26 | 9 AM - 3:30 PM
Erie 1 BOCES West Seneca
For incoming 9th graders to Graduating High school seniors.
Participants will be immersed in how to confront the most pressing issues of our day, including Climate Change, Women's Empowerment, LGBTQ+ Equality, Helping Refugees, Preventing Genocide, and more. Tuition is $175 (scholarships are available - no one will be turned away)
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Restorative Circle and Conferencing Practice
Date: Thursday, May 23
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Location: EJRJC Office
567 Hertel Avenue (Enter via the Grey Door on the St. Florian Side)
No prior experience is necessary!
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The Easter Bombing - Violence against Catholics and others in Sri Lanka
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It has been over 2 weeks since the stunning violence against people who pray and were innocently in hotels. Once again, the world is shattered and mourns the deaths of innocent individuals. Over 359 people were killed; 500 people were injured. Most individuals were praying during Easter services at Catholic Churches in Sri Lanka. Once again, we remember why it is critical to be involved with community relations, locally, nationally and internationally. Let us reach out to our Catholic friends, and our friends from other faiths, cultures and ethnicities and resolve to building more bridges, educate, advocate and mobilize to make WNY a more caring and civil home for everyone.
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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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