Greetings!
Every morning I am motivated by one of the lines of the mission statement of Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS):
More than ever our nation needs responsible men and women who can meet the challenges of this world with confidence and embrace all its people with compassion.
This simple, yet complex statement packs a punch. Is it our time? Now? I still have my AP Macroeconomics test to study for! Yet, each morning, I attempt to power through the daunting tasks that usually dictate the lives of high schoolers: completing homework, sports, or whatever else life throws the way of an unexpecting 17-year-old. What has been the center of my life, however, is the passion that fuels my life, my very existence. For the past two years, I have advocated for Holocaust Education, and most recently, the current Holocaust Education Bill circulating in the Missouri House of Representatives. Additionally, through the Student to Student Program of the Newmark Institute, I have engaged in additional outreach to continue my efforts. Most recently, on my trips to Christian Brothers College High and Chaminade.
Senior year brings a lot of emotions: sadness, anger, frustration, joy, and sometimes, all of them together. But, the one that I recall the most potent, was a sense of emptiness. I would be leaving St. Louis for college in just over a year and a half. What could I do to ensure that all of the hard work that I had done would leave an imprint on my community and my state forever? I had lectured at more than a dozen schools and one university. I had advocated for combating antisemitism and Holocaust awareness. What would this all mean once I was gone?
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Letter writer and Student to Student (a program of the Newmark Institute) group leader Noah Kleinlehrer testifies in support of HB 2000 at Jeff City this past Tuesday.
Inspired by the recent passage of legislation in Colorado and many other states (22 at the current moment), I decided to attempt to mandate Holocaust education in the state of Missouri. Well…that's easier said than done. The first thing I did was contact my history teacher and the History and Social Sciences Chair at MICDS, Ms. Carla Federman. After a long, but exciting discussion, I began to direct focus as to how I would be able to find support for such a compelling, yet painful subject. Eventually, I found my way to Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham, where we combined efforts and found solace in Representative Adam Schwadron of St. Charles.
Many months later, with many hours of work and outreach, I found myself within the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City before the Emerging Issues Committee.
“Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, thank you for your time here today…”
Over the next hour, supporters of our bill testified on why Holocaust Education is important for Missouri. Mainly, the horrifying facts that show antisemitism's virulence and viability.
To quote a line from my testimony before the committee, “We set a powerful precedent by being here today, and it begins right here, right now…It is time that we stop saying we can, and that we start saying we will…Let’s make ‘Never Again’ a reality…”
Yours respectfully,
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Noah Kleinlehrer
Noah is a senior at the Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS) and a group leader in Student to Student, a program of the Newmark Institute. He plays baseball, is an avid skier, and is a counselor at Camp Ramot Amoona. He intends to study Political Science and International Affairs with a focus in Asia and the Middle East at George Washington University in the Fall.
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Begins at the 1 hour, 8 minute mark |
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The coalition of Jewish and Interfaith leaders that testified Tuesday afternoon in support of HB 2000, Rep. Schwadron’s bill on Holocaust Education.
JCRC was well represented in Jefferson City this week.
On Monday,
- Cheryl provided testimony in opposition to bill HB 1724, which would enable discrimination in student groups, while maintaining access to student fees paid by all students.
- In addition, she was pleased to support the CROWN Act, sponsored by Rep. Proudie and Rep. Dogan.
On Tuesday,
On Wednesday,
- Cheryl was pleased to be a guest on The Rod Chapel show, a public access TV show in Jefferson City hosted by Rod Chapel, president of the Missouri State NAACP. A link to the show is not yet available.
- And finally, on Wednesday afternoon, JCRC provided testimony against changes proposed to the Initiative Petition and Constitutional Amendment process in the state of Missouri.
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Cheryl Adelstein and Rod Chapel of the Missouri NAACP, taping the Rod Chapel Show.
We anticipate being well represented in Jefferson City next week, when SB 666, a bill referred to as “Shoot First” is heard. This is a new version of “Stand Your Ground” legislation. We are proud to be working with the NAACP and clergy from throughout this state as well as other groups to speak up against this bill. We will try to live stream the hearing and will certainly live stream the press conference that is planned after the hearing. Here are the talking points in opposition to the bill. If you wish to go to Jefferson City to submit testimony or show your support, contact Cheryl. |
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JCPA Holds Delegate Assembly |
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The Jewish Council for Public Affairs, chaired by our own David Bohm, held a Delegate Assembly this week. JCRC was represented by Board Member Nancy Solomon Desloge. The meeting featured a presentation on the 2022 National Priorities in the Jewish community relations field as well as JCPA Racial Justice Platform. Click here for links to watch the many presentations given.
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On any social media platform, post the above graphic (right-click to download).
Include the hashtag #stlfightsantisemitism
Share how you commit to fighting antisemitism in 2022, or share one of these facts about the rise of antisemitism in the United States:
- The United States recorded more than 2,100 acts of assault, vandalism, and harassment in 2019, an increase of 12 percent over the previous year.
- In 2018, 4.2 million antisemitic tweets were shared or re-shared on Twitter over a 12-month period.
- Nearly four in ten Jews report changing their behavior for fear of being identified as Jewish.
- 30% of Jewish students experience antisemitism on campus, and 79% of those students said it happened to them more than once.
- 57 percent of all religiously-motivated hate crimes were against Jews.
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Citizen Initiative Petition
Wednesday, February 16
7:30 pm | Virtual
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Winter Outreach Donation Drive
Now - February 15
Throughout St. Louis City and County
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Do you have extra coats, jackets, winter clothes, toiletries, blankets, pillows, hats scarves, gloves, or boots? Folks experiencing homelessness in St. Louis need help to stay warm this winter. Drop off new and gently used items at the following participating organizations and they will be donated to pop-up shelters throughout North St. Louis:
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Women's Voices Program
Beyond Bathrooms: The Painful Story of Transgender Discrimination
Thursday, February 10
7 pm | Virtual
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The Missouri legislature is once again considering a variety of proposals designed to stigmatize transgender kids, making it difficult for them to access school restrooms and participate in sporting activities. Other proposals would prohibit parents and physicians from using widely accepted medical procedures to support these vulnerable young people. The cumulative effect is to feed growing prejudice and harassment of trans people across the state.
A panel of experts and parents will help us sort out the language of gender and sexual preference and understand the scientific basis of gender and the impact of various therapies. They will spell out the physical and emotional toll these legislative attacks and prejudice can take on gender-nonconforming kids.
You’ll come away with an enhanced knowledge of the issues and the arguments, as well as ways to share this important information with friends, acquaintances and your elected representatives.
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Lift Every Voice
Mondays, January 10, 17, 24, 31
7 - 8:30pm | Virtual
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Join the Archdiocesan Office of Racial Harmony for four sessions working through Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” one of the most important documents of the Civil Rights Era. Registration is required.
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Did You Miss A Recent Program? |
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You can click here to watch recordings of JCRC's recent programs on our YouTube channel.
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