The Activist
Nancy Zaretsky, Chair
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Tracey Spiegelman, Vice Chair
Carol Brick-Turin, Director
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Jacob Markey, Associate
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Volume 9, Issue 1 ∙ October 2018
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Dear Friends,
It was wonderful seeing many of you at our educational forums this month –
Decoding Florida's Ballot Initiatives
on the 12 proposed constitutional amendments and our opening JCRC meeting on the West Bank. I hope that the discussions from each evening were as thought provoking for you as they were for me.
This is an exciting time of the year, with the mid-term election just weeks away. As a reminder, our Federation, as a tax-exempt non-profit, is prohibited from engaging in electoral activity, which includes endorsing or opposing candidates at any level. However, legislative activity – like the advocacy work that our JCRC conducts in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., on both public policy and funding – is permissible. During this season, we take pride in serving as a resource for the community. Our event on Florida's ballot initiatives was a perfect example of the role we play to inform and engage the community, as is our
Election Toolkit
(linked below). Please share this toolkit with friends, family and anyone you think would benefit.
Thank you for your continued support and participation in JCRC activities. I look forward to seeing you at a program soon. By working together, we are able to affect positive change.
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Israel Education and Civil Discourse
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JCRC Opening Meeting with Robbie Gringras
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Robbie Gringras offering insight during his presentation
Noted Israel educator Robbie Gringras led off our opening meeting on October 9 with a comprehensive conversation on the West Bank. He discussed its historical context, governance and future, and gave everyone useful tools for future engagement.
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Event with The Network and AIPAC
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Evan Phillipson (left), AIPAC, listening to Amir Tibon of Haaretz
On August 2, JCRC, in partnership with The Network and AIPAC, brought in Amir Tibon, Washington correspondent for Haaretz. He spoke about current issues facing the Israelis and Palestinians and offered insight into what the future could bring.
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JCRC at Institute for Curriculum Services Training
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ICS trainer Dori Gerber offering professional guidance for teaching about Israel
In August, JCRC participated in a session of the Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS). ICS trains middle and high school teachers to teach about Israel and the Middle East and other topics in Judaism and Jewish History, using primary sources. Next month, JCRC will bring ICS to Miami to train local teachers, potentially impacting thousands of local kids each year.
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JCRC Advocates on Critical Issues in Congressional District and Regional Offices
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Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) with Jeremy Kahn
JCRC member Jeremy Kahn represented GMJF during an August 13 community-wide meeting with Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL). Jeremy underscored the issues of import to the Miami-Dade Jewish community. The congressman reiterated his support of the Jewish community and the State of Israel.
We also visited the Miami-Dade district offices of Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) and Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), and the Miami-Dade regional offices of Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), to ensure that they hear the concerns of our Jewish community.
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November 6, 2018
Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS)/JCRC Miami-Dade County Teacher Training
8:30 AM
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1:00 PM
January 16, 2019
Communitywide BDS Forum with Anti-Defamation League
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Temple Beth Shalom
February 25, 2019
JCRC Workshop with
Resetting the Table
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
GMJF
April 3-4, 2019
Washington, D.C. JCRC-Major Gifts Advocacy Mission
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Election Toolkit (Updated)
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Confused about who the candidates are in the upcoming election? Want to know upcoming dates and deadlines? Need information about the 12 ballot initiatives? Check out JCRC's Election Toolkit, updated with information for the General Election, as well as a League of Women Voters guide to the ballot initiatives.
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Decoding Florida's Ballot Initiatives
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Channel 10's Glenna Milberg with volunteer leaders at Decoding Florida's Ballot Initiatives
On October 4, JCRC co-sponsored an event at the Miami Beach Jewish Community Center with the League of Women Voters, National Council of Jewish Women, and Hadassah on the 12 ballot initiatives on the November ballot. Moderated by Glenna Milberg, this event informed the community of the positions of each of the initiatives and the consequences of voting for or against them.
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Intergroup and Interfaith Engagement
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Voter Registration Training with Women's Philanthropy
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Women's Philanthropy volunteer leaders learning how to register people to vote
JCRC joined volunteer leaders from Women's Philanthropy for another NAACP-led voter registration training session in September. We were out in the community helping to register people in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
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JCRC and Women's Philanthropy at NAACP's 30th Anniversary Freedom Fund Soiree
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From Left to Right: Murray Kossman, Ilene Kossman, Jonathan Groff, Shelley Niceley Groff, Carol Brick-Turin, Alan Brick-Turin, Nancy Zaretsky and Jacob Markey
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The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), a standing Committee of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, serves as the public policy and advocacy arm of Federation and is the instrument through which the organized Jewish community can explore and develop policies on issues affecting the community. The JCRC educates and engages the Jewish community on key international, federal, state, and local issues, builds consensus, establishes relationships and builds coalitions with ethnic, religious, governmental and civic organizations and the media, to ensure a vibrant community that is able to take positions and advocate in pursuit of social justice.
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The Mission of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation is to mobilize human and financial resources to care for those in need, strengthen Jewish life and advance the unity, values and shared purpose of the Jewish people in Miami, in Israel and around the world.
Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Stanley C. Myers Building
4200 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 576-4000
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