Volume XIII | May 2020
CONNECTIONS
Linking you to the work of creating a more civil and caring community in WNY
Powered b y t he Buffalo Jewish Federation
Co-Chairs: Deborah Goldman & Nina Lukin | Director: Mara Koven-Gelman
Buffalo JCRC's work falls into three broad areas: Social Justice, Combatting Hate and Discrimination, and Building Relationships with Ethnic, Faith, and Cultural Communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic our priority is to ensure all communities maintain their safety and remain healthy.
EDUCATE
Understanding Voting in 2020

The voting changes in NYS are dizzying. JCRC is working with its partners, Rochester JCRC, Voice Buffalo (Faith in Action) and League of Women Voters NYS to make recent changes understandable.

Buffalo JCRC recently convened a ZOOM meeting with NYS Sen. Tim Kennedy and his chief of staff, Adam Fogel. Since that meeting Gov. Cuomo issued election executive orders, here. Current absentee voting information from League of Women Voters is here .
Screening of Miss Virginia


Join National Federation of Just Communities of WNY for a special screening on Tues. May 5th at 7:00 pm (also Wed. May 6th at 3:00 pm) with the streaming of the movie "Miss Virginia" .  On Thurs. May 6th there will be a live conversation with Ms. Virginia Walden Ford whose life is portrayed in this powerful feature film.
 
More details on how you can participate, along with links to the live streaming opportunities can be found HERE .
 

ADVOCATE
Campaign for Jewish Buffalo and JCRC Joint Program:
Antisemitism and Racism in the Age of COVID-19:
Threats & Opportunities


Join JCRC and the Campaign for Jewish Buffalo to hear Stephanie Hausner, Deputy Director at IAN. She will discuss current hotspots during the pandemic, the importance of building strong relationships and concrete tools we can use now. To register for this event you need to pre-register here.
MOBILIZE/CONNECT
We are in this Together

JCRC and Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County, together with the Chinese Club of WNY gave out 1500 masks to the Jewish and general community. Yanhong Baranski of the Chinese Club of WNY offered masks to the Jewish community. The Buffalo Jewish Federation and the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies contributed 500 additional masks. JCRC included other community organizations serving areas with high rates of COVID-19. Organizations supported: Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, Buffalo Jewish Federation Apartments, area synagogues, Voice Buffalo and African-American Health Disparities Network. Read an incredible article about Yanhong, here.
Seen above (l-r): Yanhong Baranski, Mara Koven-Gelman, Pastor George Nicholas,(Lincoln Methodist) Kelly Woffond, (ECMC), Zhilin Liu (CCWNY).
Seen above (l-r) behind their masks are: Zhilin Liu (CCWNY), Matthew Stewart (JFS), Maya Koven, Irwin Gelman, Mara Koven-Gelman,(JCRC) Randi Morkisz (BJF) and Yanhong Baranski (CCWNY).


Virtual Passover of Hope with Interfaith Clergy Friends
Thursday May 7 at 7 PM

Passover Sheini is a "second" Passover that many Jews celebrate one month after the festival.

This year, please join our interfaith clergy friends who will give messages about the journey from darkness and pain to light and hope. These faith leaders participated in the Buffalo Jewish Federation trip to Israel in 2017 and will offer a one-hour gathering, open to all.

Make sure you RSVP to receive a ZOOM link, here .
JCPA and National
How is COVID-19 Impacting Minority Communities?
JCRC/JCPA Webinar Series

JCPA Is bringing together the JCRC Network with leaders of other communities to learn first-hand how the pandemic has impacted their communities. Register here .
Challenges Facing Latino Community
Tuesday, May 5 @ 2:00 PM

Claudia Ruiz, Policy Analysis Center at UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza)
Challenges Facing Asian Americans Community
Tuesday, May 12 @ 2:00 PM

Yen Marshall, National Executive Director of APAA; Haipei Shue, President, United Chinese Americans (UCA)
Challenges Facing Muslim Community
Tuesday, May 19 @ 2:00 PM

Wael Alzayat, CEO Emgage
Challenges Facing African American Community
Tuesday, May 26 @ 2:00 PM

Derrick Johnson, CEO, NAACP
For everything you need to know in Jewish Buffalo and beyond, please check out Buffalo Jewish Federation's COVID-19 Resource page .
BUFFALO JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jody Biehl
Ann Marie Carosella
Adam Fogel
Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein
Phyllis Steinberg
Dr. Theodore Steinberg