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May 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.

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 we move forward together. 



Dr. Bitton will illuminate the shifts reshaping Jewish life, highlight paths toward resilience, and offer a vision for thriving—not just surviving—in this new environment. Together, we’ll discuss how Jews and allies can foster strength and understanding, individually and societally, in a complex moment. 

JCRC Annual Event, Sunday, June 8, 5:30-9:00 PM in Downtown Minneapolis

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'A space where you don't have to shrink who you are'

Sally Abrams, Holly Brod Farber, Naomi Breazeale

Staff of JCRC Youth Fellowship for Jewish Identity & Leadership

photos: Ethan Roberts Photography

With pride and excitement three teens shared the impact of hosting a Shabbat dinner that included a deep dive into the Purim story for their mostly non-Jewish peers. Nearby another teen recounted the impact of researching the history of the North Side Jewish community and sharing that with his youth group. Three other teens recapped the impact of leading a lounge night for their youth group where they discussed the contrast between their lives as Jewish teens in the Twin Cities and those of the Israeli friends they met at Herzl Camp. 

This is just a sampling of the projects showcased by JCRC’s Youth Fellows at the Gallery Walk on May 4, the culmination of seven months of learning and growth for twenty two Jewish high school juniors and seniors from across the Twin Cities.

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JCRC Annual Event featuring Dr. Mijal Bitton

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

Jewish Identity and Community in a Changing World

Honoring Gary Tankenoff z"l and Harvey Feldman z"l

Details & Tickets



A Theological conversation following "An Act of God"

Sunday, May 18, 1:00 pm - sold out

JCRC's Holly Brod Farber will explore with Pastor Laila Barr of Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church the provocative theological questions raised in the play "An Act of God" at the Six Points Theater.

Details

Encountering Challenging People

Tuesday, May 27, 5:00-9:00 pm - near capacity

Deescalation and awareness training for ushers, greeters, shomrim/security, or anyone in public-facing positions.

Inquire

April 23, 2025 - JCRC Mourns the Passing of Pope Francis

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

Education

Yom HaShoah commemorated the 80th anniversary of liberation

"As children of WWII survivors their families veterans and liberators I recognize that it is now our responsibility to remember and to keep their stories and their sacrifices for us and for the world," said Joan Kieren pointing to her father Arno Teschendorf's uniform. She along with the children of liberator Joel Glotter and the grandchildren of survivor Wolf Hampel shared their stories (1:02) to a full sanctuary of 500 and 100 livestreaming.

Jared Shogren, Middle School Social Studies Teacher at Orono Middle School, recipient of the Leo Weiss Courage to Teach Award was recognized as an educator who goes beyond the requirements of curriculum to teach and inspire young people about the lessons of the Holocaust.

Watch Shogren's poignant acceptance speech (49:12) to which he received a standing ovation and view photos from Ethan Roberts Photography.

In North Dakota: We thank Bismarck State College where Steve Hunegs spoke at their Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration while Transfer of Memory was exhibited in the library.

Relationships

JCRC sends letter to Israeli Consul General after Minnesotan attacked by Israeli extremists in South Hebron Hills

JCRC has sent a letter to Consul General Yinam Cohen, the highest-ranking Israeli diplomat in our region. The letter affirms our enduring love for Israel and our gratitude for the Consul General’s work under immense diplomatic pressure. At the same time, it calls for urgent action to address rising lawlessness, uphold the rule of law, and protect the democratic values at the heart of Zionism.

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Relationships

IDF and MN National Guard exchange expertise

Thank you to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation for organizing the inaugural veteran exchange program between the Minnesota National Guard; IDF and Jewish American reservists.

Our meeting at the 34^th Red Bull Infantry Division headquarters with General Joe Sharkey and several of the men and women under his command was warmly received by the Red Bulls, and it was clear that the Israeli veterans, the Jewish American veterans, and the members of the National Guard and quickly created comradery and learning opportunities.

Photo: Army Staff. Sgt. Mahsima Alkamooneh

Relationships

Partnering to celebrate the Nostre Aetate

Meeting with Archbishop Hebda and Father Erich Rutten is always a pleasure. Meeting with them on the day of Pope Leo XIV's election was joyous. Meeting with our great friends to discuss details of our joint commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Nostra Aetate is a highlight of our community relations.

More details about an early November Jewish-Catholic celebratory dinner with keynote speaker Rabbi Abraham Skorka, close friend and co-author with the late Pope Francis, to follow.

Read

Testimony of Tzvi Cohen - Holocaust Survivor as he watched Hamas release hostages from Gaza.

Read more at Humans of October 7 or view at Rebuilding Israel

Tychman Shapiro Gallery,

Sabes Center Minneapolis

Exhibited through May 29

Watch

October 8 is now available on streaming.  

A documentary of the orchestrated 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. 

JCRC October 8 discussion prompts. Subsidies available to spread viewership of this important documentary beyond the Jewish community. 

Listen

Dr. Mijal Bitton, our upcoming Annual Event speaker interviews Dara Horn and Haviv Rettig Gur (our immediate past speakers) in consecutive episodes of her podcast Wondering Jews, where they discuss key topics in the scope of our work.

 

Join us on June 8 to hear more from Dr. Mijal Bitton at the JCRC Annual Event. 

Featured media highlights

Bismark Tribune: Steve Hunegs: Marking 80th anniversary of the liberation of concentration camps

WCCO - Adam and Jordana: 85 years later why Holocaust Remembrance Day is still important

TC Jewfolk: Descendants of Holocaust Survivors Share Family Stories

See all coverage

Go to Israel with JCRC! Learn more about our 2025 Israel Study Tour

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