Greetings!
As we prepare to celebrate the holiday of Passover, I reflect on this past year. We have seen a drastic and painful rise in antisemitism across the country, a severe decrease in civility and civil discourse, threats against voting rights and democratic practices, and growing partisan divides within our community and our region. And in the face of it all, we have seen growing partnerships—and when we have needed to call our faith and political partners to stand together with our Jewish community in the face of hate, the positive response was overwhelming.
Because one of the central lessons of Passover is that the journey to liberation is not one that can happen alone, but one that must happen together.
Thank you for being with us on this journey. We are so grateful to all of you for your support, your passion, your bravery, your dedication, and your vision of a Jewish community that is stronger together. Indeed, we are only stronger because of all of you.
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Deborah Price
Board Chair
Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis
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A Reflection from Noah Kleinlehrer |
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I write today with great excitement and hope for the future. On April 4th, 2022, House Bill 2000, otherwise known as the Holocaust Education Bill, passed nearly unanimously in the Missouri House of Representatives. Over the past two years, I have been so thankful to the JCRC Newmark Institute’s Student to Student Program, which has allowed me to present to students the importance of empathy through stories of the Holocaust. With those opportunities and the ones that have allowed me to testify within the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate, I truly believe as I graduate High School, I leave St. Louis and Missouri a more empathetic and active community.
The success of the Holocaust Education Bill so far has brought into perspective this larger idea we are all fighting for. That is a society where we are all accepted no matter who we are, where we come from, how we identify, what religion we are, and so much more. It has also reminded me of the importance of being an active contributor to our community.
The passing of this bill in the Missouri House of Representatives has brought to light the power of bipartisan cooperation to work towards a greater cause. I have spoken to my high school classmates many times about political participation, whether it be writing letters to State Senators about supporting the Holocaust Bill, advocating for the importance of voting and being registered to vote, or knowing their representatives. I call upon them to be the change because we as the people in our great democracy are the change. One person does have the power to make a difference. We determine how we create, change, and discuss our laws.
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Today, I turn the lessons that I have taught teenagers in high school to the community: how can we be more politically and socially active in our communities? The largest threat to society today is apathy, and I encourage all people to be aware and engaged in local, regional, and national politics. There is no action too small, and every bit of your time and energy that you dedicate to improving your community helps.
Best,
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Noah Kleinlehrer
Student to Student Leader 2020-22
*An extended version of Noah’s Reflection is available here.
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Community Seder
Tuesday, April 26
5 - 6:30 pm | JCC Arts & Education Building
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JCRC staff have been busy this week making preparations for the Aurelia Konrad Community Seder. There are a few seats still available and we hope you will join us in sharing our Passover tradition with the interfaith community. The program will also be live-streamed via Facebook. You can find it on the JCRC’s Facebook page beginning at 5 pm. |
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Tzedek Awards
Tuesday, May 24
5 pm | United Hebrew Congregation
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The JCRC Tzedek Awards Ceremony is a yearly event that brings together the Jewish, intergroup, and interfaith communities in St. Louis to celebrate our ongoing relationships. Three awards are also given to recognize outstanding members of the community whose work embodies the mission of the JCRC and strengthens the region as a whole.
We will be honoring Rabbi Howard Kaplansky with the Batya Abramson Goldstein Legacy Award; Rev. Roderick Burton with the Norman Stack Community Relations Awards; and Dan Friedman with the Newmark Emerging Leader Award; and offering special recognition to Senator Jill Schupp as she completes her service in the Missouri General Assembly.
We are actively soliciting Tzedek Program sponsors. If you would like more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jennifer Swanson. |
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Four Rabbis: Unlimited Opinions |
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Rori participated this week in the monthly Four Rabbi’s program. This program regularly has over 100 people attending. You can register for next month's program by clicking here.
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Student to Student Weekly Highlight
Student to Student is a program of the Newmark Institute
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This #GiveSTLDay we're raising money for Student to Student to continue combatting antisemitism! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to stay up to date on our campaign and make sure to bookmark the donation page: https://www.givestlday.org/jcrcSTS
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This week Student to Student leaders went to three different schools to give 12 presentations and share about the upcoming holiday of Passover. Special thanks to Nadav for sharing his Tefillin (phylacteries) with the juniors students of Chaminade. All of our students shared a mock wedding to encapsulate the idea of the bride and groom having an “open home” with support from the entire community. Everyone enjoyed learning about Jewish traditions, books, and our personal stories! We wish everyone a Chag Sameach (Happy Holiday!) and we even taught the students these words! |
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Antisemitism Uncovered: The Myth of Disloyalty |
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With antisemitism at the highest level we’ve seen in decades, we must do everything we can to remind the public about its dangers — including the threats we continue to face from enduring antisemitic tropes. ADL is releasing one new video a week in this seven-part series about the pernicious myths that have spread for centuries and still fuel anti-Jewish hate today. To read more, check out ADL's Antisemitism Uncovered: A Guide to Old Myths in a New Era.
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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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