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April 2025

Welcome to Gesher (‘Bridge’ in Hebrew) – JCRC's monthly impact newsletter to keep you informed on our work and the challenges and opportunities before our community.

For the dead and the living, we must bear witness

By JCRC staff and participants of the JCRC Annual One Day Trip to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum

Washington D.C – April 8, 2025

photos: Ethan Roberts Photography

A chartered plane of over 180 middle, high school and college students, teachers, clergy, Jewish community professionals and lay leaders, law enforcement, National Guard members, as well as many additional community members, join us each year to visit the museum, spending an immersive day learning about the Holocaust and the dangers of unchecked hatred.

2025 Testimonials

"When people are invested in like this, they value the experience in a different way. This was a huge investment in people who may never have had the ability to do this. You gave me time to sit and bear witness - as I sat in the hall of remembrance I thought of the generosity of what had brought me to this place and the juxtaposition of that generosity in the face of the horrors of the Holocaust. It was quite a clear contrast of humanity."

Teacher, Orono Public Schools

“As we have tragically seen on October 7th 2023 in Israel and protests on the streets and campuses of America, antisemitism is still a dangerous threat. Museums such as the US Holocaust Memorial Museum are an important reminder of our past – a memorable and challenging experience. Thank you.”

Trip participant, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office

"I cannot thank you enough for including me to visit the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and the recognition you gave to me and my father, a liberator of the Buchenwald concentration camp. It was an educational and humbling experience that I shall never forget. Upon reflecting and reviewing the pictures I took at the museum and the pictures my dad took, I realized that he was there when General Eisenhower toured the camp. The people that escorted the General and the people in my dad's photographs are the same." 

Scott Stallman, trip participant

(pictured bottom left in front of photo from when his father liberated Buchenwald death camp)

More testimonials

Yom HaShoah: Holocaust Remembrance Day

Wednesday, April 23

Beth El Synagogue

6:00 PM: Zikaron BaSalon

7:00 PM: Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration

80th Anniversary of Liberation.

Register

Yom HaZikaron: Israel Memorial Day

Tuesday, April 29, 7:00-8:00 PM

Beth Jacob Congregation

Commemoration for Israel's Memorial Day

Details

Yom Ha'atzmaut: Israel Independence Day

Sunday, May 4, 2:00-5:00 PM

Minnesota JCC - Sabes Center Minneapolis

Family-friendly community celebration

Register

JCRC Annual Event featuring Dr. Mijal Bitton

Jewish Identity and Community in a Changed World

Sunday, June 8, 5:30-9:00 PM

Since October 7, American Jews have faced a transformed landscape—challenging how we see ourselves, our communities, and our future. Join JCRC and keynote speaker Dr. Mijal Bitton – a spiritual leader, community builder, and sociologist – as she explores what’s changed, what it means, and how Jews and allies can move forward together. 

Details and tickets



Advocacy Alert: Contact your MN House & MN Senate legislators to ensure Jewish representation on U of M Board of Regents

Update: The emails to legislators are working. We are hearing from them that this was not on their radar and they appreciate knowing our community's stance on this. We encourage those who have not yet contacted their representatives to do so as the selection process will likely continue through May.

Advocacy Alert: JCRC encouraged Minneapolis residents to participate in the Minneapolis DFL Caucus on April 8

JCRC applauds UofM's partnership with Jewish community

As MPR News reported yesterday, “University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham sent a letter Monday to faculty, students and staff underscoring her commitment to preventing antisemitism.”

The letter outlines “three specific initiatives: a mandatory module on antisemitism for all instructors, the inclusion of antisemitism questions in the U’s 2026 Campus Climate Survey, and the creation of a dedicated Jewish alumni network.”

JCRC welcomes these announcements: “The new president is committed in word and, I’m sure, deed to addressing antisemitism on campus. We know firsthand, she spent much time meeting with Jewish student groups,” said Executive Director Steve Hunegs.

This message was echoed on Tuesday by JCRC, as well as Hillel students, staff and board members, in our meetings on Capitol Hill.

Education

October 8 film discussion surfaces main takeaway: all should see this film - now streaming

100 community members and allies gathered at JCRC for a prompted discussion on the new documentary film October 8 – a comprehensive look at the explosion of antisemitism on college campuses, social media and in the streets of America beginning the day after the October 7th attack on Israel by Hamas.

Among the theatergoers was a consensus that viewership of this film should extend beyond the Jewish community. Thanks to a generous donor, JCRC has reimbursement opportunities for those who wish to purchase a streaming of the film for this purpose. Please contact us for availability at info@minndakjcrc.org

Relationships

Director's Circle Briefing with Consul General of Israel to the Midwest, Yinam Cohen

JCRC Director's Circle and Life and Legacy donors joined us for a Middle East briefing by General Consul of Israel to the Midwest, Yinam Cohen. Along with an update on efforts to free hostages, Israeli politics and the mood in Israel, Cohen spoke of the importance of the Abraham accords in creating a pathway to a peaceful and prosperous Middle East. He also shared the Consulate's success in building relationships with diverse communities in the Midwest.

Relationships

Supporting Israel's flag football journey to the Olympics

Israel’s Men’s Flag Football team (ranked 8th in the world) and

Women’s Flag Football team (ranked 17th in the world) are on a

mission to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

On April 2, the Minnesota Vikings, JCRC, FIFL and Project Max hosted a fundraising dinner at the Minnesota Vikings Museum. Thank you to our sponsors and all who attended for an evening with Vikings Legends, Emcee Mark Rosen and the Israel Flag Football Boys U17 Team.

View paper program

Education

Book club with Author Ari Richter on his new graphic memoir

In his debut graphic memoir, Never Again Will I Visit Auschwitz: A Graphic Family Memoir of Trauma & Inheritance, New York-based artist Ari Richter weaves together two haunting stories – his grand- and great-grandparents’ imprisonment in Dachau, Buchenwald, and Auschwitz, and his own awakening to the contemporary rise of authoritarianism and the continuing crisis of antisemitism.

We thank our co-sponsor the Leo Baeck Institute for hosting this book club with the author and 75 readers who attended.

View recording

Read

Why I Am Not a Jew of Color

Sapir Journal, Mijal Bitton - our keynote speaker at this year's Annual Event. Join us on June 8.

See

A Partner Left Behind

Birnberg Fine Art Gallery,

Capp Center St. Paul

Exhibited April 10-28

Rebuilding Israel

Tychman Shapiro Gallery,

Sabes Center Minneapolis

Exhibited April 10- May 29

Listen

Joe Rogen Experience #2303 - Dave Smith & Douglas Murray

Douglas Murray on Joe Rogan's podcast

Episode 8: Alexander Yakobson on what it means to "decolonize Palestine"

Ask Haviv Anything, Haviv Rettig Gur

What Matters Now to author Dara Horn: Why Jews are the eternal scapegoat

What Matters Now, Times of Israel

Featured media highlights

MPR News: U of M president outlines efforts to combat antisemitism in wake of White House investigation

TC Jewfolk: Maple Grove Evangelical Conference Panelists Raises Questions

Mar. 3-25

TC Jewfolk: Two Perspectives on 'October 8' Documentary

TC Jewfolk: Chaotic Meeting Ends Busy Week on U Campus

TC Jewfolk: U of M Gets 'F' in New ADL Report Card

See all coverage

Featured social media #Let My People Go

Ahead of Passover, the Jewish holiday of freedom, Nina Afremov, JCRC Development and Annual Event Coordinator shares the impact of her first visit Israel in February 2025, including how it felt to be at Hostage Square watching a group of hostages released to the IDF in real time.

There are still 59 hostages remaining in Gaza captive for over 550 days. We pray and demand for their safe delivery to freedom now.

Watch Nina's interview on Instagram (3 min)

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