|
|
|
|
We are pleased to share the latest update on the work of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas.We hope you will be a part of the exciting events, programs and initiatives we have scheduled this year. If you have any comments about this issue, please email us.
|
|
 |
|
A.J. Rosmarin
Chair, JCRC
|
Anita Zusman Eddy
Executive Director, JCRC
|
|
|  PARENT MEETINGS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES IN RICHARDSON, PLANO AND FRISCO
|
|
| Anne McCausland President, Board of Trustees Frisco ISD
|
|
| Jeremy Lyon Superintendent Frisco ISD |
|
On Tuesday, February 16, JCRC will host a meeting for families of Jewish students
in Frisco ISD public schools, to help connect Jewish families in the district, learn about the resources offered by the JCRC Education Initiative and hear from Frisco ISD administrators and leadership. The meeting will feature remarks from Anne McCausland, President of the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees, and Dr. Jeremy Lyon, Superintendent of Frisco ISD.
On Thursday, October 29, the JCRC brought together more than 35 Jewish parents with children in Richardson ISD. The program featured Kim Caston, President of the RISD Board of Trustees; Marni Kaner, President of the RISD Council of PTA's; and Dr. Kristin Byno, Executive Director of Junior High School Instruction, Operations and Leadership.
A similar program was held on Monday, November 11, for more than 25 parents of Jewish children at Frankford Middle School in Plano ISD. Featured speakers included Nancy Humphrey, President of PISD Board of Trustees, and Yoram Solomon, PISD Board trustee.
To attend the Frisco event or for more information on the JCRC Education Initiative, email us or call 214-615-5293.
|
|
JCRC HOLDS TRAININGS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
On Friday, October 30, the JCRC Education Initiative hosted several training sessions for more than 100 high-school and middle-school teachers at the Texas Council for the Social Studies Conference in Fort Worth. The sessions focused on preparing participants to teach about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in an unbiased and accurate manner.
The sessions were taught by JCRC consultant Marcy Paul. To read Marcy's report on the conference, click here.
The sessions were presented in collaboration with the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth & Tarrant County and the Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS), which provided the training materials and curriculum.
|
|
|
|
Max Chamovitz
Israel Action Network
|
ISRAEL ADVOCACY TRAININGS
Beginning this month, the JCRC will host a series of Israel Advocacy Trainings. The first session will be held Tuesday, January 19, from 5:30-9:00 pm at the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, 7800 Northaven Road.
T
he second session will be held Monday, February 1, from 5:30- 9:00 pm at the Mankoff Center for Jewish Learning, Aaron Family JCC, 7900 Northaven Road.
The sessions will be a high-level and substantive opportunity to learn best
practices and strategies for pro-Israel advocacy in our community. The trainings will be facilitated by Max Chamovitz, former AIPAC lobbyist and congressional staff member, who is currently serving as the Deputy Director of the Israel Action Network (IAN).
This is a two-part training, and we ask that participants attend both sessions. This is an opportunity for those 18 years of age and older. The trainings are complimentary, and dinner (K) will be provided.
To RSVP, email us or call 214-615-5293.
|
|
JCRC AND YAD COLLABORATE ON BDS PROGRAM
On Wednesday, November 11, the JCRC and YAD hosted over 30 young leaders for BDS and Beyond: Contemporary Threats to Israel featuring Susan Heller Pinto, Director of Middle Eastern Affairs at the Anti-Defamation League, at Intown Chabad, as part of YAD's ongoing Leadership, Education and Development Series (LEADS).
The program focused on the growing threat of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, as well as an update on the recent terrorism in Israel. The event was co-presented by Intown Chabad.
|
|
JCRC COMMEMORATES NOSTRA AETATE
On Wednesday, November 4, almost 800 people gathered
at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center  for Nostra Aetate 50 Years Later: Commemorating Jewish-Catholic Relations presented by the JCRC, in collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Dallas and the University of Dallas, with appreciation to AJC (American Jewish Committee).
The program featured a conversation between two internationally renowned experts in interfaith relations: Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious Affairs for AJC, Commander of the British Empire, former Chief Rabbi of Ireland and Papal Knighthood recipient for his work in the area of Jewish-Catholic relations; and Bishop Brian Farrell, Vatican Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Pope's personal representative on interreligious affairs. Bishop Brian Farrell is also the older brother of Bishop Kevin J. Farrell of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas.
The event was in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate, a groundbreaking proclamation issued by the Vatican in 1965 to promote healing and growth between Catholics and Jews. This document initiated a wave of interreligious dialogue and collaboration that has had enormous impact on Jewish-Catholic relations in Dallas and throughout the world.
The following day, Rabbi Rosen and Bishop Farrell reunited once again for a briefing with 25 JCRC and Jewish Federation leadership. The discussion was led by Rabbi Stefan Weinberg of the Congregation Anshai Torah. Attendees at this meeting included, among others, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas Kevin J. Farrell; Federation Board Chair Daniel J. Prescott; JCRC Chair A.J. Rosmarin; former State Senator and JCRC Advisor Florence Shapiro; Rabbi Nancy Kasten of Temple Emanu-el; Rabbi Michael Kushnick of Congregation Anshai Torah; and Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky of Congregation Shaare Tefilla. Click Here to read more.
For more information on the JCRC's interfaith work, email us
or call 214-615-5239.
|
|
JCRC FEATURES MIDDLE EAST EXPERTS FOR SERIES ON IRAN
On Tuesday, December 15, almost 100 people gathered at the Mankoff Center for Jewish Learning for  the final installment of the JCRC's three part series on Iran, Shifting Sands: Israel and an Ever-Changing Middle East featuring Ambassador James Jeffrey of the Washington Institute for Near Policy.
The discussion provided an insider's perspective on ongoing developments in the Middle East, including violence in Israel, an increasingly powerful Iran and terrorism in the West.
Those in attendance included Texas State Representative Linda Koop and staff from the offices of Texas State Senator Don Huffines and Texas State Representative Jason Villalba. Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky of Congregation Shaare Tefilla was also in attendance. The program featured welcoming remarks from Immediate Past Federation Board Chair, Cindy Sweet Moskowitz.
On Friday, November 20, more than 40 people gathered for Shalom Bayit: Uniting our Community after the Iran Nuclear Deal featuring Martin Raffel, former Senior Vice President for the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. The program focused on overcoming political divisions and moving forward as a united Jewish community, and featured remarks from Cindy Sweet Moskowitz and JCRC Executive Committee member Adam Segall.
Click here to read the Texas Jewish Post's coverage of the event.
|
JCRC HOSTS ANTI-POVERTY FORUM FOR DALLAS COMMUNITY
|
|
| Dallas City Councilmember Mark Clayton addresses crowd |
More than 25 civic and faith leaders from both Jewish and non-Jewish communities across the Greater Dallas area assembled at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center on Thursday, December 10
, for
Promoting a Healthy Dallas: The Importance of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), presented by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, as part of Anti-Poverty Coalition of Greater Dallas.
Several Jewish community leaders attended the event, including Rabbi Adam Roffman of Congregation Shearith Israel; Rabbi Nancy Kasten; current Board Chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas Daniel J. Prescott; Immediate Past Board Chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas Cindy Sweet Moskowitz; and President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, Bradley Laye.
The event served as the kick-off for a new Dallas marketing initiative promoting use of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) as a means for alleviating poverty and promoting economic vitality in the greater Dallas area. The program featured remarks by Dallas City Councilmembers Rick Callahan and Mark Clayton along with a speaker's panel.
The event comes after a successful year-long advocacy initiative by the JCRC and the Anti-Poverty Coalition, resulting in the City of Dallas releasing $200,000 to help market and promote the EITC and VITA to eligible families in Dallas.
Click here to read coverage of the article in the Texas Jewish Post. For more information on the JCRC's anti-poverty work, email us or call 214-615-5293.
If you're interested in helping to alleviate poverty in the Dallas area, check out these interesting volunteer opportunities from some of our social action partners:
January 18: Volunteer to deliver hot, nutritious meals to homebound seniors with the Dallas Coalition for Hunger Solutions. Click here for more information.
January 21: Volunteer to help count the city's homeless population with the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance. Click here for more information.
|
|
JCRC AND TYCHER PARTNER WITH AKIBA FOR COMMUNITY BOOK DRIVE
On Sunday, November 22, the JCRC Education Initiative and the Tycher Library collaborated on a program that brought Akiba Academy families together for a book drive and program in celebration of Jewish Book Month.
Throughout the month of November 2015, Jewish Book Month, Akiba Academy of Dallas conducted a book drive in which they collected more than 200 books. The books were donated to Reading Partners North Texas, an organization that provides books and tutoring to local school children reading below grade level. As a final component of the book drive, the JCRC worked with Tycher Library to bring together 35 people to assemble summer reading packets for Reading Partners North Texas to distribute to their clients.
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS
JCRC Israel Advocacy Trainings
Part 1 - Tuesday, January 19, 5:30- 9 pm, Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas
Part 2 - Monday, February 1, 5:30- 9 pm, Mankoff Center for Jewish Learning
Meeting for Jewish Families in Frisco ISD
featuring Anne McCausland, President of the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees and
Dr. Jeremy Lyon, Frisco ISD Superintendent
Tuesday, February 16, 7 pm
Private Residence
JCRC Hosts Jewish People Policy Institute
for Wexner Fellows and the Rabbinic Association of Greater Dallas
4th Annual JCRC Interfaith Seder: Welcoming the Stranger
led by Rabbi David Stern, Temple Emanu-El and Presbyter Jan Devries, Grace Presbytery
Wednesday, April 6, 7 pm (6:30 registration)
Location: Congregation Shearith Israel
Teaching About Religion in Public Schools
Panel featuring Linda K. Wertheimer, Dr. Mark Chancey and Rabbi Steve Gutow
Tuesday, April 19, 7 pm (6:30 registration)
Aaron Family Jewish Community Center
in partnership with JCC Bookfest
|
| Comments about this issue: please email JCRC at [email protected]. |
|
Thank You to our 2016 Federation Sponsors
|
Presenting Sponsors
ONE Night Pacesetter Reception
NFI
ONE Night Kick-Off
Diamond Doctor
Pacesetter Spring Series
Bank of America
The Pacesetter Event
Marsh & McClennan Agency
Known Locally as Prescott Pailet Benefits
Lion of Judah/Pomegranate Event
Cantoni
BGS Machers Series
Waldman Bros
Super Sunday I & II
Park Place Dealerships
Sponsors as of January 2016
|
Corporate Sponsors
Gold Sponsor
Kahn Mechanical Contractors
Texas Jewish Post
Silver Sponsor
Jim Beaman, Southwest Bank Mortgage
Sparkman/Hillcrest
The Weitzman Group
Bronze Sponsor
Fox Rothschild LLP
Haynes and Boone, LLP
J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Key-Whitman Eye Center
Lidji Dorey Hooper
Locke Lord
Medical City and Medical City Children's Hospital
Norton Rose Fulbright
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas/
Texas Health Resources Foundation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
