In reflecting on Monday’s Council meeting, my first thought is how wonderful it was to be back in person. There is something about shaking someone's hand that I have so missed in the last several years, and this meeting was the perfect way to welcome our new Council members and say goodbye to some good friends who are rotating off the Council. Our Zoom hybrid technology allowed us to have over 40 members in attendance. Rori gave a lovely D’var Torah to begin the meeting and we welcomed JCRC’s new program manager, Elyse Picker.

As the new Chair of the Policy Committee, I was excited about the group's interest in engaging in our policy discussion. I, along with JCRC staff Cheryl and Connie, reviewed the issues we predict will be most pressing in the coming legislative session. These included separation of church and state, healthcare, gun violence and gun rights, and LGBTQ rights. However, we know we as advocates must have ‘bent knees’ and remain ready to pivot – it’s impossible to accurately predict what will get the most attention in session!

 

That’s why we also solicited the opinion of our council members on the issues most important to them. In this coming year, JCRC will consider our predictions along with Council members’ priorities as we choose where to focus our staff energy and organizational resources. The Policy Committee can also consider drafting new policies; as Board Secretary Dan Friedman succinctly stated, JCRC cannot take action on issues unless we have a policy in place.

 

I hope this week’s meeting whet your appetites about what issues could be in front of us this year. There is hard work ahead, but we’re looking forward to deepening the strength of our team of our Board, Council, and community members to advocate for JCRC’s policies. Looking forward to the year together, hearing the varied opinions in the group, and learning from one another.

JCRC Policy Committee Chair

A short time ago, the IDF attacked targets of the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. This is an operation aimed at removing a concrete threat to the citizens of the State of Israel and surrounding Gaza and harming terrorists and their emissaries. Operational cooperation of the IDF, the intelligence agencies and the Shin Bet.

Following the IDF operation in the Gaza Strip, the Prime Minister will enter a security situation assessment torch, together with Defense Minister Benny Gantz, at 6:30 pm in Kirya in Tel Aviv.

Read more of the Consul General's message by clicking the button below.

The JCRC Council meet in person on Monday for the first time since March 2020. The meeting was held in hybrid format, about half in person and half via Zoom. The Council adopted a slate of new officers, board members, and Council At Large Members.

We say a fond farewell to Rick Abrams, who has served on the JCRC board for more than a decade in numerous roles including Development Chair and Vice Chair. We also say thank you to departing Council At Large Members Amy Hammerman and Becky Goldstein.

We congratulate two incoming JCRC Board Members, Sally Altman and Laura Horwitz. Both have served on the JCRC Council and we are delighted to be adding their expertise to our Board.

And we welcome four new At Large Council Members, Jenifer Newmark, Dana Silverblatt, Patrick Thimangu, and Richard Wolkowitz.

The Jewish Fund for Human Needs, a program of JCRC and the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, was featured in the Jewish Light for providing assistance to ArchCity Defenders and the Little Bit Foundation. Click the button above to read the full article.

Elyse Picker is thrilled to be joining the JCRC staff and looks forward to bringing her range of experiences to the organization. Elyse has worked in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors, primarily in project management and education. Most recently, Elyse has been the PJ Our Way Parent Connector for the St. Louis region, creating opportunities for tweens to engage with each other and to form connections between parents of tweens. Prior to that, she served as the co-director of Kol Rinah Early Childhood Center for five years, where she helped increase enrollment, improve staff benefits and establish more opportunities for family engagement. Although not a native of St. Louis, Elyse has lived here now for over a decade with her husband and thinks it’s a great place to be raising their three children.

JCRC Staff Connie (pictured left) and Cheryl both completed a shift as an Election Protection Volunteer this past Tuesday. As volunteers, they stood outside polling places to hand out voter protection hotline information, make sure voters were at the right polling place, and report any problems preventing registered voters from casting a ballot. Volunteers will also be needed in the upcoming November elections. Stay updated on volunteer opportunities from Missouri Voter Protection Coalition by texting MOVPC to 66866 or clicking here to subscribe to emails.

Sunday, September 18

4 pm CT | Sheldon Concert Hall (directions)