Dear Friends,

The Jewish Community Center of the East Bay stands for equal rights and safety for people of all faiths and backgrounds. We view this as a moral obligation and an extension of our deepest Jewish values.

The JCC serves a diverse population and people with various points of view. We joyfully welcome our multi-faceted Jewish community, people of all religions, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, communities of color, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ community.

We are opposed to the President's recent executive order targeting immigrants, refugees, and citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations. Our Jewish tradition, much like Christianity and Islam, calls us to "welcome the stranger" - a belief echoed in the foundations of our democracy. We have ourselves been the "strangers" as immigrants, refugees, and minorities.

As Jews we are especially attuned to the importance of protecting religious freedom and innocent people. Restrictions based on ethnicity, race or nationality resonate darkly, because of our history and our ethics. To anyone targeted by prejudice or xenophobia, we offer our support. We recommit ourselves to creating cultural understanding and to celebrating the brilliant diversity of this country.

The JCC is planning more opportunities to come together for civic engagement and discourse. Please watch our calendar for dates and gatherings that interest you. Together we can discover empathy, shared values, and take action to repair the world.

L'shalom (In peace),

Amy Tobin, Chief Executive Officer

P.S. I hope you can join us and other community members at any of these upcoming events:

Raising Children in Troubling Times

With Rona Renner, parenting coach

Sunday, February 26 at 11am

Join us for resources on managing our own experiences as parents, having age-appropriate conversations with children, and ensuring our children feel safe and secure.

Immigration Briefing

With Jewish Family and Community Services of the East Bay

Sunday, March 26 at 3:30pm