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March 2025

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.

The Butterfly Effect: My First Time in Israel

Nina Afremov

Development and Annual Event Coordinator 

Having spent most of my career at JCRC working during an acutely anti-Zionist climate, it felt like destiny to finally visit the Holy Land for the first time. When I commemorate my Israeli peers who died, I am reminded of my peers in the USA who call their deaths “resistance.” I think of my peers who told me I’m a religious zealot for grieving and advocating for the hostages. In Israel, though, we grieve together.

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Shanghailanders: A Dance Drama of Survival and Humanity

Sunday, March 16, 6:00 PM | Monday, March 17, 7:00 PM

Barry Family Campus (photo ID required to enter)

Explores through dance the lived experiences of Jewish refugees who escaped Nazi persecution and found shelter in Shanghai. Pre & post-show discussion with Shanghailander Holocaust survivor Manny Gabler, Choreographer Shen Pei, and Historian Dr. Sara Halpern. Hosted by Natan Paradise, U of M Director of Jewish Studies.

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Movie Club: OCTOBER 8 Film Discussion

Thursday, March 20, 2025, 6:30-8:30 PM 

Barry Family Campus (photo ID required to enter)

Watch the new documentary OCTOBER 8 playing in theaters March 13-19 and join us for a discussion about the film and what is happening today on college campuses. Dinner provided. Space is limited.

Register

Book Club: Never Again Will I Visit Auschwitz

Thursday, March 27, 2025, 1:00-2:15 PM Central Time

Virtual

JCRC and Leo Baeck Institute invite you to a virtual book club with our guest Ari Richter, author of this graphic family memoir of trauma and inheritance.

Register

Notable Jewish Women

Thursday, March 27, 2025, 6:00-7:30 PM 

Eden Prairie Central Middle School

You will hear the stories of four interesting, creative and impactful Jewish women, told by local Jewish women.

Register

One Day Trip: US Holocaust Memorial Museum

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Washington DC

Spend an immersive day learning about the Holocaust and the dangers of unchecked hatred.

Register

Yom Hashoah

Wednesday, April 23

Beth El Synagogue

6:00 pm: Zikaron BaSalon

7:00 pm: Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration

80th Anniversary of Liberation.

Register

Save the Date: JCRC Annual Event featuring Dr. Mijal Bitton

Sunday, June 8, 5:30-9:00 pm

Dr. Mijal Bitton is a spiritual leader, community builder, and sociologist. She is the co-founder and Rosh Kehilla of The Downtown Minyan in NYC and serves as Scholar in Residence at the Maimonides Fund. Dr. Bitton is also a Visiting Researcher at NYU Wagner, where she leads pioneering research on Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews in the United States.

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Antisemitism on College Campuses

83% of Jewish US college students have experienced antisemitism since October 7, a poll by ADL and Hillel International finds. From a hearing in the United States Senate on campus antisemitism to a flurry of actions from the Trump Administration, the release of the second ADL scorecard on campus antisemitism, as well as a statement from President Cunningham at the University of Minnesota preceding the decision process for disciplinary action for the takeover of Morril Hall, we’ve been busy closely monitoring and working with our campus colleagues and contacts. We are currently accepting applications for a new position: Director of Campus Affairs, which will greatly focus, expand and empower our advocacy efforts across universities of Minnesota and the Dakotas.

In theaters this week is OCTOBER 8 a documentary film on the explosion of antisemitism in US cities and college campuses. The director, Wendy Sachs, speaks in Dan Senor’s podcast episode: Why did Hollywood ghost a movie about antisemitism?. We invite those who will see the film to RSVP to join us for a group discussion of the documentary on Thursday, March 20 at JCRC.

Security

JCRC testifies in favor of Federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program

Rob Allen, JCRC Director of Community Security, testified to the Minnesota Senate's Judiciary and Public Safety Committee in support of SF734 which supplements federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program funding with state money. We thank chair Senator Ron Latz, bill sponsor Senator Bonnie Westlin, and co-testifier Temar Purdas, Chief of Security for Shiloh International Ministries. The bill was well received and so important to the safety of our community.

We are also pleased to have strong bipartisan support in the House for  HF 1821 and we look forward to a hearing being scheduled soon.  

Relationships

Consul General of Israel to the Midwest visits Fargo and Sioux Falls

Israel’s Consul General to the Midwest Yinam Cohen recently visited Fargo (Temple Beth El); and Sioux Falls (Mt. Zion Congregation) as part of meetings with new Governors Kelly Armstrong (ND) and Larry Rhoden (SD) in Bismarck and Pierre. Pictured is Temple Beth El hosting a dinner for the Consul General with community members with thanks to Bev Jacobson and JCRC board member, Jim Shaw. Also pictured is the meeting of JCRC Executive Committee member Stephen Rosenthal and Rabbi Mendel Alperowitz—Chabad Jewish Center of South Dakota—with Gov. Rhoden. (Pictures provided by Drew Swenson and the South Dakota Governor’s office.)

Education

UMD Duluth cast of Cabaret

University of Minnesota Duluth Cabaret Director Prof. Thomas Jacobson; choreographer Matthew Wagner and Prof. Rebecca Katz-Harwood—Department head for Dance & Musical Theater welcomed Steve Hunegs, JCRC Executive Director to the Marshall Performing Arts Center for a presentation to the cast on Jews & Weimar —as a means of illustrating the milieu in which the play is set.

Education

22 Schools, 2000 students

This month JCRC staff and volunteer educators presented in 22 local schools, reaching over 2,000 students with living testimony from the Holocaust and the basics of Judaism. We have added a new presentation to our speaking engagements: Making Sense of the Middle East. Browse our topics and request a speaker to your school, civic or social gathering.

Request a speaker

Read

Survey: 83% of Jewish US college students have experienced antisemitism since Oct. 7

Times of Israel, Zev Stub

Watch

OCTOBER 8

Watch this documentary film in theaters March 13-19, and join us on Thursday, March 20 for a post-film discussion about the explosion of antisemitism after 10/7 and what is happening on college campuses now.

Listen

The lost history of American Jews

Ask Haviv Anything, Haviv Rettig Gur

Last Jew Standing: The story of Israeli Jews

Ask Haviv Anything, Haviv Rettig Gur

Featured media highlights

TC Jewfolk: How One Parent's Proactive Approach Saved a Classroom from Anti-Israel Curriculum

TC Jewfolk: At Vigil For Bibas Family & Oded Lifshitz, Slain Hamas Hostages, TC Jews Gather In Shock & Anger

KARE 11: Minnesota Jewish community gathers for vigil to push for release of hostages

Plain Talk podcast: 'Try to have good speech drive out bad speech'

Star Tribune: University of Minnesota responds to antisemitism investigation by U.S. Department of Education

MPR: Trump administration launches investigation into U of M on antisemitism reports

FOX9: Antisemitism investigation at U of M, other schools by Education Department

See all coverage

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