Jewish Community Relations Council Minnesota & The Dakotas

AS THE VOICE OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, TO PROTECT JEWISH INTERESTS & PROMOTE JEWISH IDEALS.

COMMUNITY SECURITY - SEE SCHEDULE O.COMMUNITY SECURITY - AS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS CONTINUE TO MOTIVATE COMMUNITY LEADERS TO REASSESS AND ENHANCE SECURITY PROTOCOLS, THE JCRC WORKS WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE SECURITY GUIDANCE AND TO SERVE AS THE OFFICIAL JEWISH COMMUNITY LIAISON WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE JCRC IS DEDICATED TO SAFEGUARDING THE SECURITY AND WELLBEING OF INDIVIDUALS AND JEWISH COMMUNAL INSTITUTIONS. WE PROVIDE SECURITY AND RISK ASSESSMENTS, SAFETY RESPONSE EDUCATION, AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING TO BOTH THE JEWISH AND NON-JEWISH COMMUNITIES. LOCALLY, THE JCRC HAS SEEN A STEADY RISE IN ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS REPORTED TO ITS OFFICE SINCE 2015. IN RESPONSE, THE JCRC LISTENS TO THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO TAILOR COMMON SENSE AND PRAGMATIC ACTION PLANS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF A HIGHER LEVEL OF SECURITY AND VIGILANCE. SINCE OCTOBER 2018, THE JCRC HAS HAD A FULL-TIME DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SECURITY. IN SEPTEMBER 2022, WE HIRED A SECOND FULL-TIME POSITION, A DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SECURITY.THE JCRC ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF VICTIMS OF RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION BY EDUCATING TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND BUSINESSES. THE JCRC ALSO SENSITIZES EDUCATORS AND BUSINESSES TO THE JEWISH CALENDAR. WHEN LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, OR SCHOOLS SCHEDULE EVENTS ON JEWISH HOLIDAYS, THE JCRC IS THE PLACE PEOPLE TURN TO FOR HELP. WE CONNECT WITH SCHOOLS IN MINNESOTA AND THE DAKOTAS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE ABOUT RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY AND OBSERVANCES.TO INCREASE SECURITY FOR THE ENTIRE JEWISH COMMUNITY, JCRC SECURITY HAS IMPLEMENTED A COMMUNITY SECURITY PATROL. IN ADDITION TO SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY FOR LARGE OR HIGH-PROFILE EVENTS, THIS PATROL FOCUSES ON PROVIDING DIRECTED PATROLS FOR THE JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY TO DETER CRIME AND ENSURE THE FACILITIES ARE SAFE. ALSO, THE JCRC HAS PARTNERED WITH SECURE COMMUNITY NETWORK (SCN) TO INTEGRATE A NEW INCIDENT REPORTING FORM. THIS NEW PROCESS ALLOWS REPORTED ANTISEMITIC IMMEDIATE INTELLIGENCE ANALYST FOLLOW-UP AND DETAILED REPORTING TO JCRC SECURITY.

TWIN CITIES JEWISH COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM - INITIATED IN 2001, AND GENEROUSLY FUNDED BY THE MINNEAPOLIS JEWISH FEDERATION AND THE ST. PAUL JEWISH FEDERATION, THE TWIN CITIES JEWISH COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM (JGAP) REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF THE TWIN CITIES JEWISH COMMUNITY BEFORE THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, JGAP HAS SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GOVERNMENT FUNDS TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE MINNESOTANS.SPEAKERS BUREAU - OUR DEDICATED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS GAVE 303 PRESENTATIONS THIS PAST YEAR, MAKING THE JCRC SPEAKERS BUREAU ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE GRASSROOTS PROGRAMS OF ITS KIND IN THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY. OUR AUDIENCES INCLUDE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, SYNAGOGUES, AND CIVIC GROUPS. OUR WORK HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED LOCALLY, NATIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY AS A BEST PRACTICE. THE THREE PRIMARY PRESENTATIONS ARE: 1. JUDAISM ON ONE FOOT - FULFILLS THE SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARD ASKING FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THE BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF JUDAISM. TOGETHER WE WILL FOSTER UNDERSTANDING AND RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE. WE COVER THE BELIEFS, VALUES, AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS UPON WHICH THE JEWISH FAITH IS BASED. THIS PROGRAM COVERS THE COMMON ROOTS OF THE 3 ABRAHAMIC FAITHS, INTRODUCTION TO TORAH, HOLIDAYS, RITUAL OBJECTS, ETHICAL PRINCIPLES, CONNECTION TO ISRAEL, JEWISH DIVERSITY, LIFE CYCLE EVENTS, KOSHER ETC. WE TEACH THIS LIVE OR SEND A PRE-RECORDED VIDEO AND LATER JOIN STUDENTS FOR A LIVE Q & A, OR TAKE QUESTIONS AND RECORD ANOTHER VIDEO WITH ANSWERS.2. ISRAELIS - PALESTINIANS: "THE LETTERS PROJECT: CONVERSING ACROSS NARRATIVES" - A ONE-HOUR VALUES-BASED CONVERSATION USING EXCERPTS FROM THE BOOK LETTERS TO MY PALESTINIAN NEIGHBOR: WITH AN EXTENSIVE EPILOGUE OF PALESTINIAN RESPONSES BY YOSSI KLEIN HALEVI. DESIGNED FOR THOSE CLASSES ENGAGING IN A DEEP AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION ABOUT ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS. CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO FIND THEIR OWN VOICE AND COME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW PRIDE AND EMPATHY CAN INFORM CONFLICTS NEAR AND FAR. WE ALSO BRING PARTICIPANTS INTO OUR LETTERS PROJECT BY PROVIDING BOOKS AND ASSIGNING STUDENTS THE TASK OF WRITING A LETTER TO THE AUTHOR. WE THEN LEAD A FACILITATED CONVERSATION WITH STUDENTS.3. AMAZING ISRAEL: PEOPLE, PLACES, AND CULTURE - PARTICIPANTS ARE EDUCATED ABOUT A COUNTRY BRIMMING WITH BIBLICAL HISTORY AND CUTTING-EDGE INNOVATION, THE JEWISH HOMELAND THAT IS ALSO A DYNAMIC, MULTI-ETHNIC DEMOCRACY.ISRAEL EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT - THE JCRC ADVOCATES FOR PEACE AND SECURITY FOR ISRAEL THROUGH EDUCATION, CONNECTION, AND COMMUNITY ACTION. OUR STAFF, BOARD, AND VOLUNTEERS STRIVE TO FOSTER UNDERSTANDING AND CONVERSATION ABOUT ISRAEL'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ITS CHALLENGES.ISRAEL EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES INCLUDE:- ADVOCATING FOR A STRONG U.S.-ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS;- BUILDING AND SUSTAINING SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL IN NON-JEWISH COMMUNITIES;- ENSURING THAT MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE MIDDLE EAST IS FAIR AND ACCURATE;- ORGANIZING STUDY TOURS TO ISRAEL FOR MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATORS AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS;- EDUCATING, ORGANIZING AND ENERGIZING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY BY DEVELOPING AND DEEPENING TIES TO ISRAELIS; AND- COMBATTING THE BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, AND SANCTIONS MOVEMENT WHICH SEEKS TO DELEGITIMIZE ISRAEL'S EXISTENCE.JUSTICE SQUARED COMMISSION - THE JUSTICE SQUARED COMMISSION WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JCRC PUBLIC POLICY STEERING COMMITTEE TO GATHER COMMUNITY INPUT, RECOMMEND POLICY PROPOSALS TO THE PUBLIC POLICY STEERING COMMITTEE, AND EXECUTE PROGRAMMING CONSISTENT WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND PUBLIC POLICY MISSIONS. THE COMMISSION ALSO PARTNERS WITH THE JOINT RELIGIOUS LEGISLATIVE COALITION (JRLC) ON ADVOCACY INITIATIVES.

TOLERANCE MINNESOTA & HOLOCAUST EDUCATION - SEE SCHEDULE O. TOLERANCE MINNESOTA & HOLOCAUST EDUCATION - THE JCRC HOLOCAUST EDUCATION PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHT THE NEED TO EDUCATE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DISCRIMINATION, INCLUDING ANTISEMITISM, AS POTENTIAL SIGNS OF DEEPER HATRED AND SOCIAL PATHOLOGY. THE STORIES OF MINNESOTA HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS HELP DELIVER THIS EDUCATIONAL MESSAGE. EDUCATOR TRAINING IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MISSION, AND WE OFFER TWO VITAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:THE POWER OF PLACE 2024 JCRC EDUCATOR EUROPEAN SUMMER INSTITUTEIN OUR WORLD TODAY, WE FEEL IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT TEACHERS VISIT AUTHENTIC, HISTORIC SITES WHERE THE HOLOCAUST HAPPENED; TO EXPERIENCE THE "POWER OF PLACE." THE INAUGURAL THE POWER OF PLACE TOUR TOOK PLACE IN 2023 AND WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS. THE 2024 JCRC EUROPEAN TOUR WILL DEEPEN PARTICIPANT'S UNDERSTANDING OF WWII AND THE HOLOCAUST WITH FOCUSED TIME EXAMINING CURRICULUM AND RESOURCES. THE PROGRAM DESIGN WILL ENGAGE THE RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP OF LEADERS IN THE FIELD OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, HISTORICAL THINKING, AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES. 2024 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: THE CITY OF WARSAW AND THE WARSAW GHETTO REMNANTS, TREBLINKA MUSEUM (FORMER KILLING CENTER IN NAZI-OCCUPIED POLAND), JEWISH HISTORICAL INSTITUTE EMANUEL RINGELBLUM ARCHIVE, ABISKI VILLA (ORIGINAL VILLA FROM "THE ZOO KEEPER'S WIFE"), POLIN MUSEUM OF JEWISH HISTORY, LODZ; THE CITY OF BERLIN FEATURING CHECKPOINT CHARLIE, REICHSTAG, TOPOGRAPHY OF TERROR, WANNSEE HOUSE (WHERE NAZI LEADERS MET TO DISCUSS "THE FINAL SOLUTION"), SACHSENHAUSEN CONCENTRATION CAMP MEMORIAL SITE, KINDERTRANSPORT MEMORIAL, BERLIN JEWISH MUSEUM; AND THE JEWISH QUARTER AND THE TEREZIN MEMORIAL AND GHETTO MUSEUM IN THE CITY OF PRAGUE.HOLOCAUST EDUCATORS COHORTTHE JCRC OFFERS FREE ZOOM CLASSES FOR TEACHERS TEACHING MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (GRADES 6-12). THE OBJECTIVE OF THESE EIGHT CLASSES IS TO HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND HOW AND WHY THE HOLOCAUST HAPPENED. COHORT PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE NINE CURATED PRIMARY RESOURCE PACKETS WITH GOOGLE SLIDE DECKS FOR TEACHER INSTRUCTION, ALONG WITH STUDENT HANDOUTS AND WORKSHEETS. THE NINE PACKETS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING CLASS TOPICS: EUROPEAN JEWISH LIFE BEFORE WWII AND THE HOLOCAUST; ANTISEMITISM; RISE OF NAZISM; THE POWER OF PROPAGANDA; COLLABORATION & COMPLICITY IN THE HOLOCAUST; CHALLENGES OF ESCAPE; WANNSEE CONFERENCE AND "THE FINAL SOLUTION; RESCUE & RESISTANCE; AND AFTERMATH OF WWII AND THE HOLOCAUST. CEU CREDITS ARE GIVEN, AND EACH LESSON ALIGNS WITH MINNESOTA SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS.OUR PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:TRANSFER OF MEMORY TRANSFER OF MEMORY IS A TRAVELING PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION THAT INCORPORATES LOCAL PROGRAMMING INITIATIVES TO BRING THE STORIES OF MINNESOTA HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS TO LIFE. THIS EXHIBIT HAS REACHED OVER 200,000 PEOPLE SINCE 2011. IT HAS TRAVELED TO OVER 68 SITES SINCE ITS INCEPTION, RECEIVING MORE THAN TWO MILLION MEDIA IMPRESSIONS. THESE MEDIA IMPRESSIONS INCLUDE TELEVISION COVERAGE, RADIO SHOWS, BLOGS, AND NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, ALL SPEAKING TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF AN UNCHECKED METASTASIS OF HATRED.HOLOCAUST EDUCATION SPEAKERS BUREAU:GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN WHO ARE DESCENDANTS OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS ARE PART OF OUR SPEAKERS BUREAU AND HAVE FORMED A GROUP CALLED GENERATIONS AFTER MN, WHOSE MISSION IS TO ENSURE A COMMUNITY FOR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS WHERE WE CAN SAFEGUARD THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTING, REMEMBERING AND SHARING OUR COLLECTIVE AND INDIVIDUAL HISTORIES, TEACH PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS ABOUT INTOLERANCE AND INDIFFERENCE, AND INSPIRE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND RESPECT. THIS GROUP JOINS OUR OTHER SPEAKERS AND PROVIDES PRESENTATIONS IN SCHOOLS ACROSS MINNESOTA AND THE DAKOTAS EDUCATING AUDIENCES ABOUT PREJUDICE, HATE, AND DISCRIMINATION. OTHER HOLOCAUST EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE: ONGOING HOLOCAUST EDUCATION EDUCATOR SEMINARS; THE ANNUAL TWIN CITIES YOM HASHOAH COMMEMORATION; THE ANNUAL TRIP TO THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON D.C.; AND COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH TOPICS THAT INCLUDE ANTISEMITISM, CROSS CULTURAL RELATIONS, AND HOLOCAUST HISTORY.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS - SCHEDULE O.COMMUNITY RELATIONS - AS THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS VOICE OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF MINNESOTA AND THE DAKOTAS CONNECTS THE JEWISH COMMUNITIES OF MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA WITH THE BROADER NON-JEWISH COMMUNITIES. THIS COMMUNITY RELATIONS WORK IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH OUR PROGRAM AREAS OF FIGHTING ANTISEMITISM AND PREJUDICE, FOSTERING UNDERSTANDING ABOUT ISRAEL, PROVIDING HOLOCAUST EDUCATION, AS WELL AS PROMOTING TOLERANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. FOR EXAMPLE, EACH YEAR THE JCRC PROVIDES HUNDREDS OF FREE PRESENTATIONS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER NON-JEWISH CIVIC GROUPS ON ISRAEL, JUDAISM, SECURITY, ANTISEMITISM, AND THE LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST. SIMILARLY, THROUGH OUR ANNUAL TRIP TO THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE JCRC PROVIDES AN ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE IN TEACHING THE IMPORTANCE OF TOLERANCE AND REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST. LIKEWISE, OUR DELEGATIONS TO ISRAEL BRING TOGETHER STATE LEGISLATORS AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM LARGELY OUTSIDE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FOR A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EDUCATIONAL AND TRAVEL OPPORTUNITY. FINALLY, THE JCRC IS PROUD TO BE THE JEWISH REPRESENTATIVE WITHIN THE JOINT RELIGIOUS LEGISLATIVE COALITION (JRLC) WHERE WE COME TOGETHER WITH OUR CATHOLIC, PROTESTANT, AND MUSLIM COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO WORK FOR THE COMMON GOOD.