Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)
JCRC Quarterly Recap: April
Dear friends,
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus, who first said, “change is the only constant,” probably had a lot of gray hair. Change is rarely easy and often uncomfortable. Beyond it being the great inevitable, it is also the truest source of opportunity. Change forces us to evaluate; it reminds us of who we are at our core. It provides a space to rededicate ourselves to what is working and to rethink what isn’t.
It is in that richly paradoxical spirit of change that I’m writing you today as your new JCRC Director. After a career in journalism that spanned three states, and time spent with the Federation in strategic communication, I am humbled to have the opportunity to lead the JCRC during a time of great change and challenge — when our work of ensuring the safety and security of our community and that of our friends and neighbors is so critical. We face certain difficulties; chief among them will be holding true to our values while finding space to respectfully listen to those who think differently.
Our JCRC is well positioned to meet these challenges. The work we now embark on together is the newest chapter of the organization’s rich 78-year history, which includes standing up to the great antisemitic threats of the 1930s, fighting for justice during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and advocating for Israel and the rights of Jewish people around the world through the present day. I am fortunate to inherit the legacy of those who’ve come before me — JCRC leaders, both lay and professional, who have advanced our mission through decades of ups and downs. It is their great work that has prepared us to meet the steep challenges of today.
As our world changes, we are also taking steps to adapt. With unprecedented polarization threatening the fabric of our communities, we must do a better job building understanding by providing context and prioritizing transparency. Over the last several months, we’ve been busy crafting processes that will guide our voice and action during these turbulent times. We’ve also revisited our bylaws and revised them with an emphasis on diversity in order to ensure credibility and representation. We are excited to use our blog and social media accounts in new ways to better share the JCRC’s evolving story with you and the Greater Cincinnati community.
At the same time, I’m asking that you reach out and share your story with me. Navigating these uncharted waters will take collective passion and persistence. I look forward to getting to know each of you and to partnering with you as we write the JCRC’s next chapter together.
I hope you share my excitement at this opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the important work of modeling civility, fighting antisemitism, and creating a more just society for all.
I invite you to read more about the JCRC’s work over the past few months below.
Sincerely,
Jackie Congedo
Director
JCRC
From the Director’s Desk
SAFE Cincinnati Breakfast Briefing: JCRC helped convene Jewish community leaders for a breakfast briefing and discussion about the recent increase in hate crimes. SAFE Cincinnati partnered with the Cincinnati Fusion Center, which brings together local, regional, and federal law enforcement to prevent terrorism and related crime; and Special Agent in Charge of the Cincinnati FBI Office, Angela Byers. The briefing included an update on the next phase of SAFE Cincinnati, input on community safety needs, and a question-and-answer session.
Speaker Dr. Mordechai Kedar: In February, we hosted Dr. Mordechai Kedar in partnership with ARISE Israel, Chabad, and the evangelical community to speak about Trump, Putin, Israel, and the Middle East. Dr. Kedar is renown for his Palestinian Emirates Plan, which is based on the Arab sociology of tribalism in Gaza, Judea, and Samaria; and which seeks to establish eight city-states in the areas of Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Jericho, Tul-Karm, Kalkilya, the Arab part of Hebron, and the Gaza strip. Local residents would become citizens of these eight independent countries.
Israelity Speaker Series
Yad B’Yad (Hand in Hand). We helped facilitate the Yad B’Yad program that brought in Noa Yammer and Mohamad Marzouk to speak about their multicultural school of Arab and Jewish children. The programs focused on how to build a shared society through education and life-skill-building. Their programs at UC and the JCC were an inspirational illustration of hope in the most difficult circumstances and highlighted how Arabs and Jews can thrive and learn how to live together.
Roots of Peace is an initiative led by a joint Palestinian and Israeli committee based in the West Bank to foster a grassroots movement of understanding, nonviolence, and transformation. Rabbi Schlesinger and Antwan Saca, a settler rabbi and Palestinian activist respectively, work within the heart of the conflict. They shift hatred and suspicion towards trust, empathy, and mutual support. Their stories were powerful and informative and spoke to the need to acknowledge the experiences, fears, and truths on both sides of the conflict. They encouraged attendees to have more open and honest conversations, listen to one another, and contribute to solutions that bring hope and prosperity for all people.
Combatting Antisemitism and Religious Intolerance In Our Community: In partnership with AJC and many other faith and community agencies; JCRC took part in hosting Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, Rabbi Noam Marans (AJC Director of Interreligious and Intergroup Relations), Benjamin Glassman (U.S. Attorney Southern District of Ohio), Dr. Dana Gregory Griffith (Annual Adjunct Assistant Professor UC), and Captain Michael Hartzler (Director, Greater Cincinnati Fusion Center Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office), to speak about combatting hate in our community. The large audience was diverse ethnically and religiously, and AJC gave them action steps they can take to combat antisemitism and religious intolerance in their own circles and communities.
