Dear Cheryl,

This is my final week as Communications Associate at JCRC. I share this news with sadness for the end of this chapter, excitement for what's next, and, most of all, gratitude for my time with this incredible organization.

I moved to St. Louis and began working at JCRC a year and a half ago, hoping to connect to the local Jewish community, strengthen the ties between my social justice values and my Judaism, and, most of all, to make some money while completing my Master's degree! I expected this work to be a side hustle, a job to support me in my studies. Little did I know it would be one of the most impactful parts of my St. Louis experience.

I quickly realized my talented co-workers offered incredible learning opportunities. I absorbed leadership skills, diplomacy, empowerment tools, and compassion from my time spent with my colleagues. I was able to participate in the development of JCRC's theory of change and take part in the challenge of articulating the vast array of actions this organization takes to work towards a vibrant and secure Jewish community in a thriving and just St. Louis region. At JCRC, I fell into not just a supportive work environment, but a team that cared about my personal, professional, and spiritual development.

From left to right: Phyllis Markus, Flint Fowler, Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh, June McAllister Fowler, and Connie Flachs on the Jewish African American trip to D.C.

JCRC's work also made me fall in love with St. Louis. I immediately noticed the strength and diversity that exists within the Jewish community here. I am proud to be a part of a community that debates amongst itself, engages on issues ranging from racial justice to immigration reform, and shows up to advocate on a local, state, and national level. Through JCRC's relationship-building and partnerships, I've also seen that many other communities in this region fight for what they believe in and work tirelessly to build partnerships for a better St. Louis.

It's easy to look at St. Louis from an outside perspective and say "It's not what it used to be." It's easy to see the sharp population decline and the legacy of segregation and the vacant buildings. These things are all a part of our region's history, but this viewpoint does not capture the people on the ground caring for each other, investing in growth, and visioning a region where everybody can thrive.

My work with JCRC has made me want to stay in this city and remain a part of the fabric of people doing this important work. As I transition into a role with Washington University, I'll have the opportunity to prevent and treat eating disorders in Missouri adolescents by helping expand the Body U program to schools throughout the state. I will use what I've learned about communications, advocacy, and relationship building as I step into new responsibilities.

Connie Flachs at the Aurelia Konrad Charitable Foundation Community Seder.

I have not met you all, but I hope to in the future, as I stay involved with the Jewish and broader St. Louis community. You may see me at the Showing Up Program, practicing skills to have challenging conversations around Israel and antisemitism. I may see you in the halls of the Capitol in Jefferson City. We may run into each other transporting donations for Winter Outreach. I plan to stay an active member of this community, and I thank JCRC for helping me to find my place here in St. Louis.

Shabbat Shalom,

Connie Flachs

Communications Associate

What you absolutely need to know. Find all the information below.

donate

Winter Outreach

January-February | More Information

join

Showing Up: Tools and Skills to Have Challenging Conversations

February-March | Apply Here

travel

Interfaith Trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories

7.24.23 | Register Here

Happy Hanukkah from JCRC

Special thanks to Emma Wallace for joining our video. Student to Student Alumnus Emma is currently interning in the Communications Department at The Jewish Federation. She has great memories of being in the program and has now passed on her legacy to her sister Katie Wallace who is a junior and new leader in our program now!

Celebrating Leadership

From left to right: Tammy Arnow, Anna Shabsin, Mont Levy

Congratulation to Tammy Arnow and Anna Shabsin who recently completed the Levy Fellows representing JCRC. Levy Fellows is a new board leadership program through the Jewish Federation of St. Louis' Millstone Leadership Initiatives.

Showing Up: Tools and Skills to Have Challenging Conversations

Sponsored by Jewish Federation of St. Louis, Jewish Community Relations Council and in partnership with Project Shema.

JCRC is excited to be co-sponsoring this learning opportunity with the Jewish Federation. Please share this opportunity with other who may be interested.

Interfaith Trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories

JCRC is excited to partner with two churches, Grace United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, for interfaith trip of Jews and Christians to Israel and the Palestinian Territories to see the Holy Land through the eyes of the other and learn more about the intersection of faith and politics in the region. The ten-day trip will take place from July 24-August 2, 2023. To register for the trip, sign up here. For more information, contact Rori at rpickerneiss@jcrcstl.org. 

Winter Outreach

January 1 - February 28

Help people experiencing homelessness in St. Louis stay warm through the winter by donating coats, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, socks, underwear, blankets, towels, washcloths, boots, men’s hoodies, and men’s sweatshirts. Donations can be dropped off at any location on this website.

This drive is organized by the Rabbi Robert P. Jacobs Jewish Fund for Human Needs, a joint project of St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association and the Jewish Community Relations Council in St. Louis and all donations will go to TheBridge, a MerryStarkey Charitable Endeavor.

Save the Date! MLK Community Event

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

7 pm | St. Louis Jewish Community Center Staenberg Family Complex

Author Jessica Nordell will discuss her new book, The End of Bias-A Beginning: How we eliminate unconscious bias and create a more just world. After the presentation, there will be an audience Q&A.

International Institute Winter Donation Drive

Wednesday, December 28

10 am - 3 pm | 3401 Arsenal St. (directions)

With Christmas day just around the corner, now is a great time to donate for the International Institute's incoming families in 2023. All items can be dropped off at the International Institute's garage, located off of Louisiana and Pestalozzi. Donations will also be accepted at the gym entrance.

If you cannot donate on 12.28, please visit the wishlists on the website, which have items that can be purchased and shipped directly to the Insitute.

St. Louis Jewish Community Blood Drive 

Sunday, January 8

10 am - 4 pm | Congregation Young Israel (directions)

Appointment recommended. Click the button above to schedule an appointment. You can use sponsor code 11448. Thank you for your participation in this life-saving Chesed. For more information or to schedule an appointment online, call (800) 747-5401

Lunar New Year 2023

Sunday, January 15

1 - 4 pm | St. Mary's High School (directions)

Interfaith Tours at the Saint Louis Art Museum

Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm

Friday 10 am - 9 pm

Arts & Faith St. Louis is pleased to announce that the Saint Louis Art Museum is resuming Interfaith Tours at the museum, after a hiatus during the pandemic. The tours can be scheduled by emailing kbratkowski@thesheldon.org. Interfaith Tours at the Saint Louis Art Museum are led by two volunteer docents of different faiths, with a maximum of 16 participants. Two visitor groups of diverse faith groups are paired together for the customized tour. The tour demonstrates common elements of global faith traditions in art produced through the ages. The tours were initiated by the Saint Louis Art Museum in 2017 in collaboration with Arts & Faith St. Louis and the Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis. In October 2019, SLAM docents and staff presented the Interfaith Tour program at the National Docent Symposium in Washington, D.C. as a model for other communities to create partnerships with community organizations.