view this email as webpage

February 2026

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.

Webinar: The End of Operation Metro Surge?

What have we learned from the past two months of extraordinary federal actions in Minnesota? What are our rights and responsibilities when rule of law is threatened? And where do things stand now?

Panelists:

Bob Aronson, Past Board Chair of HIAS, JCRC board member, and retired immigration attorney

Norm Pentelovitch, President-Elect, Hennepin County Bar Association

Rabbi Jill Avrin, JCRC Director of Campus Affairs

Presented by JCRC and the Twin Cities Cardozo Society of the Minneapolis and St. Paul Jewish Federations



Moderated by Ethan Roberts, JCRC Deputy Executive Director and member of the Twin Cities Cardozo Society Steering and Program Committees

View our resource page on Operation Metro Surge

A Moment of Civic Strain. A Call to Show Up. 

JCRC invites you to join us to advocate with your state legislators during this moment of profound civic strain. By signing up you will be invited to a group meeting between your state legislators and fellow constituents in your legislative district, facilitated by JCRC.

Sign up to advocate with JCRC

Learn why your voice matters now

After return of Ran Gvili, z”l, a new chapter begins. For the first time since 2014, no Israelis — living or deceased — are being held by terror groups in Gaza.

An Open Letter from Catholic, Evangelical, and Jewish Community Leaders to Minnesota’s Federal, State, and Local Elected Officials: Promoting Peace in a Time of Conflict

A Joint Statement from Jewish Community Leadership

New Date: Conversation with Jack El-Hai, Author of The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, now the major motion picture Nuremberg

Sunday, March 1, 2:00-3:30 PM | University of St. Thomas

Free and open to the public. Hear from the author whose book was adapted to the screen as Nuremberg starring Russell Crowe and Rami Malek.

Learn more

Yom HaShoah Commemoration

Monday, April 13, 7:00 PM | Mount Zion Temple

Finding a home in America: This year's annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration will highlight the Holocaust survivor immigrant experience.

Learn more

One Day Trip to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum

April 28, 2026

Fly with us for the day to Washington DC to visit the museum.

Learn more

Save the Date: 2026 JCRC Annual Event

Sunday, June 7, 5:30 PM | Downtown Minneapolis

Now accepting nominations for the Leo Weiss Courage to Teach Award. Nominate a local educator who embodies decency, righteousness, and integrity in their devotion to teaching their students about the Holocaust.

Advocacy

National Reform Movement Leaders Conference

Rabbi Jill Avrin, JCRC Director of Campus Affairs, gave a presentation on Operation Metro Surge at the Reform movement’s Association for Reform Jewish Educators which brought 400 educators to Minneapolis. Rabbi Avrin spent the day touring URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs, and Board Chair Shelley Groff including a meeting with Rabbi Zimmerman of Temple Israel, Mayor Jacob Frey and State Senator Scott Dibble, a visit to the memorial for Alex Pretti z’’l and a tour of a high school with 86% of their population directly affected by the surge.   

Education

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Manny Gabler, a Holocaust survivor in JCRC's Speakers' Bureau, shared his story of survival at the National WWII Museum to an audience of 500. JCRC partnered with Light Up America Yellow Coalition to light up the I35 bridge and US Bank Stadium in yellow. International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The yellow lights were a visible tribute to the victims of the Holocaust.

A full circle moment: Why I was destined to work for JCRC

Julia Fromstein

Development and Operations Associate 

She's new!

photo: Ethan Roberts Photography (left)

As a kid I thought nothing of it; but looking back, I feel lucky to have been raised in a home deeply rooted in Judaism and community. 

Now I'm the Development and Operations Associate for JCRC, serving the community that raised me. Why did I choose to work at JCRC? I was destined to.

Read full column

Read

American Antizionism

Sources, Professor Shaul Kelner

Watch

How Knowing Your Story Makes You Invincible, with Noam Weissman

Ask Haviv Anything, Haviv Rettig Gur

Watch to know why the JCRC Youth Fellowship is exactly what our teens need right now.

Listen

America Betrays the Stranger

Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer

Featured media highlights

TC Jewfolk: Most American Jews Feel Less Safe, New Survey Finds
TC Jewfolk: Should Terms Associated With Holocaust Be Used In Debating ICE?

HuffPost: Opinion – Is History Repeating Itself? Holocaust-Era Violins Bring Hope — And A Warning — For Minnesota

WCCO-Bigger Than Belief: 60+ Faith Leaders Pen Open Letter to ICE, Elected Officials, Asking for Peace

WCCO: Dozens of Minnesota faith leaders sign open letter calling for changes to Operation Metro Surge

CBS: Dozens of Minnesota faith leaders sign open letter calling for changes to Operation Metro Surge

TC Jewfolk: Minneapolis Landmarks Glow Yellow for Holocaust Remembrance Day

Denver Catholic: Catholic leaders urge calm in Minneapolis, reflect on 'well-ordered' society.

OSV News: MN Catholic Conference Director, Other Faith Leaders Call For 'Off-Ramp' To Immigration Enforcement 'Crisis'

JTA: Invoking Torah, Jews are mobilizing against ICE in Minnesota

TC Jewfolk: Communal Message on Current Situation

Forward: God heard the cried of the Israelites in Egypt. Who will respond to our devastation in Minnesota?

See all coverage

follow us