Greetings!
Just a few short weeks ago my family and I had the privilege of spending a month in Jerusalem, and it is hard to fathom how a matter of days meant the difference between our experience of touring the Old City, swimming at the beaches in Tel Aviv, or enjoying an evening food truck festival, and the experience of so many last week who were huddled in bomb shelters and holding family tight as they listened to the sounds of sirens. I know that I joined so many of you in watching the news with fear and anguish and then in holding a mixture of hope and trepidation at the news of the ceasefire. At the JCRC, we were honored to receive regular updates from the Consul General of Missouri and to be able to pass those along to you in our Israel Updates on Friday and Monday together with resources on things you could do. And we continue to monitor the situation and will share new updates as we learn them.
At the same time, our work on domestic affairs continues with exciting programming. And on September 15, make sure you do not miss "Meet the Janes", and in- person showing of the HBO Max documentary on life before Roe v. Wade, In conjunction with NCJW and many other sponsors, the program will also feature journalists Chalres Jaco and Executive Director of ProgressWoman, Stacey Newman.
And of course, see below for more on what has been happening at JCRC this week.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom,
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Maharat Rori Picker Neiss
Executive Director
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Israel Update: Operation Breaking Dawn
Israel Policy Forum
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Operation Breaking Dawn was a three-day Israeli military operation targeting Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in the Gaza Strip, lasting from the afternoon of Friday, August 5 to the night of Sunday, August 7.
It consisted of Israeli airstrikes on PIJ military and personnel targets in the Gaza Strip, to which PIJ responded by launching rockets at Israeli cities.
The goal of the operation was to weaken PIJ’s capabilities in order to prevent the terror organization from carrying out an attack against Israel, along with re-establishing Israeli deterrence. According to Israeli intelligence, PIJ was planning to use anti-tank missiles and snipers to target Israeli civilians near the Gaza border.
From Israel’s perspective, Operation Breaking Dawn succeeded.
- Israel significantly weakened PIJ, removed the imminent threat to Israeli civilians, and established deterrence.
- Hamas remained on the sidelines and the conflict did not spread to other theaters, such as the West Bank, East Jerusalem, or Israel’s mixed cities.
- Israel received rhetorical support from its allies and minimal condemnations from the international community, in contrast to previous Gaza conflicts.
- The operation was also a personal success for Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who had yet to face a security challenge and has no operational military background.
In the long term, the operation will not change the status quo around Gaza.
- While the operation was a setback for PIJ, it is expected to rebuild its capabilities.
- Hamas, also a terror organization committed to Israel’s destruction, continues to rule Gaza.
- Gaza’s nearly 2 million residents, most of whom cannot leave the Strip, continue to face overlapping humanitarian crises with no end in sight.
- Israelis near the Gaza border will continue to live in fear of rockets, missiles, and snipers, and another confrontation will inevitably come.
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Jewish Fund for Human Needs Supports Flood Relief |
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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. |
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Summer Student to Student Update |
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This summer the Student to Student senior leaders presented at Camp Cultural Leadership and told their own Jewish stories and the basics of Judaism to the Middle School students as they engaged in learning about world religions. Special thanks to Jeremy Brok and the Cultural Leadership team that helped make this important face to face meeting happen. Our teens and the students really connected and we look forward to our continued work with Cultural Leadership! Student to Student is a program of the Michael and Barbara Newmark Institute for Human Relations.
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Meet the Janes: The Heroes of Abortion Access Before Roe v. Wade
Thursday, September 15
6:30 pm CT | Ethical Society of St. Louis (directions)
Sponsored by Access Missouri, American Association of University Women, Ethical Society of St. Louis, Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis, Hadassah, MaTovu, National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis, ProgressWomen, WashU Hillel, and Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice
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In the spring of 1972, police raided an apartment on the South Side of Chicago. Seven women were arrested and charged. The accused were part of a clandestine network. Using code names, blindfolds, and safe houses to protect their identities and their work, they built an underground service for women seeking safe, affordable, illegal abortions. They called themselves Jane. Now that we live in a post-Roe world, The Janes helps us envision the enormous potential for collective action to ensure abortion access.
Prior to the screening, award-winning journalist Charles Jaco will give a brief introduction about his connection to The Janes. At the conclusion of the film, Stacey Newman of ProgressWomen will share information on how you can take action to support access to abortion.
The event is free of charge, but registration is required. There are no walk-ins. Doors will open at 6:30, the movie will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Proof of vaccination or a negative covid test within 24 hours must be shown at the door.
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Arts and Faith 2022 Concert
Sunday, September 18
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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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