August 2024

Welcome to Gesher (‘Bridge’ in Hebrew) – JCRC's monthly impact newsletter to keep you informed on our work and the challenges and opportunities before our community. Whether you're a long-time JCRC supporter or just discovering our work, we are excited to share our passion for building bridges from the Jewish people to the diverse communities across Minnesota and the Dakotas. Thank you for joining us on this meaningful journey!

Our fiscal year ends August 31. Support our work before the year ends.

We're hiring! Join our team: Engagement and Data Manager

JCRC Staff Column

Photo: Sami Rahamim helps clear brush at Kibbutz Holit as part of Minneapolis Jewish Federation’s Tikvatenu II Volunteer & Solidarity Mission on July 2, 2024.

Stepping up for Israel

Sami Rahamim

Director of Communications and Community Affairs

What does it mean to “step up for Israel”?

The Hebrew word Yisrael carries three distinct meanings: Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel), Medinat Yisrael (State of Israel), and Am Yisrael (People of Israel).

I recently returned from 24 remarkable days in Israel. Breathing the air of Eretz Yisrael, wrestling with the complex and contradictory realities of Medinat Yisrael, and connecting with the beauty, diversity, pain, and resolve of Am Yisrael was exactly the medicine I needed.

I am honored to share two (of many) stories that inspired me this trip, of individuals who have stepped up for their communities – for Israel – and whose courage and leadership should inspire us all.

Statements

JCRC applauds Gov. Tim Walz' pro-Israel record, stalwart friendship with Jewish community

Read our statement | View media coverage

As the consensus public affairs voice of the Jewish community we were in the media more this past year than ever before!

Support our work before August 31

Upcoming Events

MN JCC Community Safety Day

Sunday, August 11, 1:00 - 5:00 pm

Capp Center, St. Paul

Details and childcare registration

Vote! Primary Election

Tuesday, August 13

How to vote in the primary | Find your polling place

JCRC Annual Meeting with Ambassador Dennis Ross

Wednesday, September 18, 7:00-8:30 pm

Adath Jeshurun Congregation

October 7 Community Memorial Service

Monday, October 7, evening

Location TBA

Trending Now

One big thing we're focused on

Photo: Presenters Scott Littky, Sam Goldberg, Kristin Thompson, and Susie Greenberg

JCRC hosts a first-of-its-kind 'Teaching About the Holocaust' symposium in South Dakota

Led by Susie Greenberg, JCRC's Director of Holocaust Education, we partnered with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Harrisburg School District, to create a unique Holocaust education professional development symposium for educators from 11 South Dakota school districts.

Highlights included:

A school leadership roundtable on antisemitism facilitated by Ethan Roberts, JCRC Deputy Executive Director
An introduction to "Collaboration and Complicity in the Holocaust" taught by Kristin Thompson, Founding Director of Humanus Network who plans and co-leads Power of Place on behalf of JCRC
Additional sessions were facilitated by Sam Goldberg, Director of Education at HERC Center, Milwaukee, Scott Littky, Exec. Dir. at Institute for Holocaust Education in Omaha and Christina Chavarria, Program Coordinator for Holocaust Education at USHMM.

All participants received instructional resources to support their teaching efforts.

See full agenda and presenters

View media coverage on Dakota News Now

Power of Place application of interest for Holocaust educators

Witness Holocaust history as you tour Europe with JCRC

Building Bridges

Recent impact highlights from JCRC

Security

4,000 visits to safeguard the Jewish community

Shortly after the October 7 massacre, our security team launched the new Community Security Patrol Initiative. Our licensed private security personnel

conduct patrols, respond to incidents and secure events. Since the beginning of the calendar year, the patrol cars have made over 4,000 individual visits to institutions and have conducted scores of security assessments.

Join JCRC at MN JCC Community Safety Day

Education

Connecting with Jewish teens at Herzl Camp

JCRC educators Sally Abrams and Sami Rahamim visited Herzl Camp to facilitate sessions with rising 9th and 10th graders on Jewish identity. Campers reflected a sense of relief to be at camp amongst their Jewish peers who understand them and away from their phones with hateful social media. They felt empowered by what they learned at camp about Israel and the friendships they can rely on for support. We appreciate our partnership with Herzl Camp in educating our youth.

Coming soon: JCRC Youth Fellowship for Jewish Identity and Leadership.

Bridging the Gap

Top additions to our Resource Page for understanding and addressing the Israel-Hamas war

Read

Who's Afraid of Josh Shapiro?

The Atlantic, Yair Rosenberg

Watch

Breaking Down the Majdal Shams Massacre

I24 News English, Natasha Kirtchuk

Listen

Gov. Tim Walz on 'The Jews are Tired' Podcast

TC Jewfolk, 2020 interview

JCRC in the Media

Media coverage that includes the consensus public affairs voice of the Jewish community

Featured media highlights

On Walz:

TC Jewfolk: Now VP Candidate, Gov. Walz Has Long History With Jewish Community

Jerusalem Post: Minnesota Jewish leaders highlight VP pick Tim Walz's commitment to community, Israel

Forward: Minnesota's Jews celebrate as their 'mensch' Gov. Tim Walz enters the national spotlight

JTA: Tim Walz wrote a master's thesis on Holocaust education, just as his own school's approach drew criticism

Fox News: Where does Tim Walz stand on Israel?

On Shapiro:

Star Tribune: St. Paul council president calls Pa. governor a ‘hardcore Zionist,’ says Kamala Harris shouldn’t pick him

TC Jewfolk: St. Paul Council President: No 'Hardcore Zionist' As Harris VP Pick

The Media Line: Jewish Democrats Feel Shapiro Shunned for Pro-Israel Stance, but Find Favor in Walz

See all coverage

A note from our Executive Director, Steve Hunegs

Dear Friends,

Be like Max. Be like Leon.

In this case, it’s Max Lowenthal, z’l’ and Leon Frankel, z’l’. Both were Minnesotans. Both were instrumental in the birth of Israel.

Max was a White House assistant whose eloquent and compelling arguments helped convince Harry Truman to recognize Israel. Leon—a highly decorated WWll Naval Aviator—flew as a Mahalnik pilot (foreign volunteer) in Israel’s 101 Squadron which played a critical role in saving Israel during the early, desperate days of the War of Independence. Whether behind the scenes or the throttle, all was needed in May, 1948.

Seventy six years later, JCRC with our community partners is standing with Israel and against antisemitism during these ten long months. Some of our efforts are described above. Your generous support provides the means for all that we do. Please contribute and let us all honor the legacy of Max and Leon.

Thank you!