Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)

SAFE Cincinnati Community Briefing with security experts from the FBI.

The JCRC has been staying active over the summer months organizing insightful programs for our community, engaging with pressing social issues, and delving into the upcoming 2016 elections.

As we embark on the work ahead in the year 5777, the Days of Awe encourage introspection and reflection. While it seems we are in the midst of a very tense and divisive political season, let us be a voice for civility. It is important that we take the time to reflect on the importance of cordial public discourse and respecting different viewpoints. Jewish tradition teaches that we should avoid shaming, embarrassing, and belittling one another by acting or speaking rashly in the heat of passion. At the JCRC, we encourage civic participation and activism on issues that are meaningful to you. We hope that in doing so, you engage with openness and humility as you connect with others around you.

In the spirit of civil discourse and understanding, the JCRC has been preparing to host our community-wide pre- and post-election forums, where you will have the chance to interact with candidates, listen to political conversations and breakdown the election results with experts in the field.

We continue to work persistently to foster understanding, protect our community, and build a more just society. In addition to crisis management and relationship building, we’ve been busy with a number of other activities and initiatives:

• Hosted Resetting the Table Workshop – We invited Rabbi Melissa Weintraub to host Resetting the Table, a speaking-across-conflict workshop focused on open conversations about Israel. This was part of the Jewish Council on Public Affairs’ (JCPA) civility initiative and roughly 40 Jewish communal leaders attended to share personal stories, engage in active listening, and reflect on each other’s experiences. Through various facilitation techniques, participants were able to overcome their avoidance of having difficult conversations by demonstrating understanding of others’ viewpoints.

• Security Briefing with the FBI – In partnership with SAFE Cincinnati, we presented a security briefing for the Jewish community on September 1, at the Mayerson JCC. The briefing was very informative, as Special Agent Kevin Fisk and his partner discussed various elements of terrorism both locally and abroad. Audience members were engaged in a question-answer session, and they were provided with resources to help ensure future community safety. This was just prior to the High Holidays, when security issues are on everyone’s minds. Sarah and Mark Dowd, Director of Community Security, continue to work cooperatively with law enforcement, fusion centers, and communities to be proactive about community safety and security.

• Partnered on Kids 4 Peace Summer Camp – For the first time, Kids 4 Peace kicked off their summer camp program in Cincinnati. This camp provided an opportunity for middle schoolers of different faiths to begin working together to explore religion and culture, while building bridges to understanding, and developing lifelong positive relationships. We helped advertise this interfaith camp throughout the Jewish community in addition to supporting staff with camp activities. Events were held the first week of August at Christ Church, the Islamic Center, Adath Israel Synagogue and Jewish Family Service’s Barbash Vital Support Center at Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion.

• Meeting with candidates – We have been working diligently to meet with local and state representatives to establish and further relationships. Over the past couple of months, we have met with many candidates running for office in order to share information about and connections to our Jewish community

• We endorsed the Cincinnati Public Schools/Preschool Expansion Levy – You can read our endorsement here.

• We welcomed new board members. – We are eager to begin working with our new JCRC board members, whom we had the privilege of introducing at our Annual Meeting in June. New board members are:
  • Mark Barsman, Account Executive at General Electric – Mark Barsman is an Account Executive at General Electric where he has served the company for 35 years. Mark has also been active in AIPAC and other organizations. 
  • Jared Kamrass, Principal at Rivertown Strategies – Jared Kamrass, at the young age of 25, has earned the title of Principal at Rivertown Strategies, a local political consulting firm. Having worked on several campaigns in the Cincinnati area and networked with political power players, Jared has been dubbed “the wonder kid” by Mayor Cranley and others.
  • Ben Schneider, Principal at Dov Limited – Ben Schneider is a Principal at Dov Limited, a full service real estate company. Prior to his current position, Ben practiced law with Keating Muething & Klekamp. Ben has been active at Rockwern Academy and the Jewish Federation.
  • Penny Pensak – Penny Pensak is a past president of the JCRC. Though native to New York, Penny has made a huge difference here in Cincinnati leading organizations such as the UC Health Foundation, HIPPY USA, the Children’s Defense Fund, and others.
  • Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp, Rabbi, Temple Sholom – Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp, a native of Seattle, Washington, joined Temple Sholom as Rabbi in 2010. She was named board president of Cincinnati’s Amos Project for the two-year term 2016 – 2018, leading the largest faith-based organizing body in Ohio.