Are you looking to take action with the Jewish Community Relations Council?
The JCRC’s work focuses on three main areas: domestic policy and affairs, Israel and world Jewry affairs, and Holocaust education and remembrance. The JCRC looks to bring the established Jewish community together to build consensus on policies relating to various issues within these focal areas.
aBOUT jcrc cOMMITTEES
Five main committees and a handful of specialized task forces are the drivers behind the vital work being done within JCRC. These committees are:
- Community Council
- Domestic Affairs Committee
- Israel and World Jewry Affairs Committee
- Holocaust Education and Remembrance Committee
- Greater Philadelphia Israel Inter-Agency Committee
These committees connect the community with the latest happenings in Greater Philadelphia and Israel, engage in information sharing and unite the community around local and global issues, and provide strategic guidance to the JCRC’s leadership.
COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Community Council
The Community Council brings together local Jewish leadership and community representatives to inform, but not determine, the public policy positions of organizations (including the Jewish Federation and its affinity groups) in the Philadelphia Jewish community. Community Council members work together to build consensus within the Philadelphia Jewish community regarding important policy issues.
- Identify and discuss key issues of concern to the entire Jewish community of Greater Philadelphia
- Formulate public policy positions on key issues of the day in conjunction with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the national umbrella organization of JCRCs, and in consultation with the leadership of the Jewish Federation
- Meet 5 times per year with the committee
- Two year membership term that may be renewed for one additional term
- Remain knowledgeable and informed about JCRC’s mission and programs and promote JCRC to diverse constituencies, including congregations or faith communities and professional and personal spheres of influence
- Engage others through a spirit of mutual collaboration and respect
- Prepare for and attend a minimum of three Community Council meetings
- Sit on, or encourage organizational participation on, one or more of the JCRC’s standing committees
- Respond in a timely fashion to organizational communications
- Contribute a personally meaningful donation to Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
The Community Council is composed of the members of JCRC’s Leadership Committee; one volunteer officer (preferably a present or prior officer of the organization) designated by the local affiliate in the Philadelphia Jewish community, if any, of the seventeen national organizations that are members of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs; one or two lay leaders identified by each of the Federation’s affinity groups and Kehillot; and no less than ten and no more than thirty community representatives selected by the JCRC Leadership Committee.
Domestic Affairs Committee
This committee addresses issues of antisemitism, racism and bigotry, the separation of church and state, and other topics of particular concern to the five county, Greater Philadelphia region.
- Analyze the domestic policy priorities of the Jewish Federations of North American and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs
- Work with local advocacy organizations and community partners to plan educational and advocacy opportunities around critical domestic issues
- Meet 5-6 times per year with the committee
- Two year membership term that may be renewed for one additional term
- Demonstrate a personal commitment to education and advocacy on the domestic policy priorities of the Jewish Federations of North America and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, as well as other domestic issues of particular concern to the five county Philadelphia region
- Participate in planning and promoting informational programming to Jewish Federation/JCRC internal groups and to Jewish and non-Jewish groups within our community
- Become aware of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s social service programs, and its support of the work of other social service agencies in the five county area
- Engage others through a spirit of mutual collaboration and respect
- Prepare for and attend a minimum of three Committee meetings
- Participate in at least one advocacy opportunity annually, such as JCRC’s Advocacy Trip to Harrisburg, JCRC’s Advocacy Trip to Washington, D.C., or JFNA’s Disability Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C.
- Respond in a timely fashion to organizational communications
- Contribute a personally meaningful donation to Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Israel and World Jewry Affairs Committee
This committee focuses on helping the local community build a positive relationship with Israel by educating about Israel, encouraging political support for Israel, and empowering Jews and non-Jews in the Greater Philadelphia area to support Israel as the democratic nation-state of the Jewish people, with the absolute right to live in peace and security as a member of the community of nations.
- Coordinate responses to major crises and anti-Israel efforts or incidents
- Organize community-wide events that advocate its mission
- Act as a thought partner for other Israel-related organizations
- Evaluate and recommend policy for Federation regarding Israel and Israel-related international affairs
- Meet 5-6 times per year with the committee
- Two year membership term that may be renewed for one additional term
- Demonstrate a personal commitment to Israel education and advocacy
- Participate in planning and promoting informational programming to Jewish Federation/JCRC internal groups and to Jewish and non-Jewish groups within our community, including planning missions to Israel for local political leaders and non-Jewish clergy
- Become aware of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s engagement in Israel, and its support of a strong community relationship to Israel in the Philadelphia area
- Engage others through a spirit of mutual collaboration and respect
- Prepare for and attend a minimum of three Committee meetings
- Respond in a timely fashion to organizational communications
- Contribute a personally meaningful donation to Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Holocaust Education and Remembrance Committee
This committee commemorates the Holocaust by honoring the memory of those who perished and promoting an understanding of the uniqueness and magnitude of the Holocaust, its consequences and critical lessons.
- Plan community Holocaust education and remembrance programs 3-5 times a year
- Meet 4 times per year with the committee
- Two year membership term that may be renewed for two additional terms
- Demonstrate a personal commitment to Holocaust remembrance and education, to assure that all forms of antisemitism, racism and hatred of the other are not tolerated anywhere in the world
- Participate in planning and promoting the JCRC’s Holocaust education programs to Jewish Federation/JCRC internal groups and to the broader Jewish and non-Jewish communities
- Attend at least 75% of meetings
- Engage others through a spirit of mutual collaboration and respect
- Respond in a timely fashion to organizational communications
- Contribute a personally meaningful donation to Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Greater Philadelphia Israel Inter-Agency Committee
The Greater Philadelphia Israel Inter-Agency Committee harnesses the collective value of Philadelphia’s Jewish and Israeli organizations to advocate for Israel and provide united action against local manifestations of antisemitism and anti-Zionism. Due to rising levels of misinformation and propaganda related to Israel, the committee will focus its efforts primarily on outreach, dialogue and direct engagement with communities and individuals in order to combat anti-Zionism and antisemitism on a grassroots level. Please know that this committee is open to professionals only.
- Educate members of the Jewish and non-Jewish communities about Israel and discrimination and biases that are often directed at the Jewish state
- Combat misinformation and propaganda about Israel through education and outreach
- Assist young adults and our community representatives with responding to antisemitic and anti-Zionist activities
- Convene as a community to celebrate the vibrancy and importance of Israel, including Israel’s 75th anniversary year
- Meet in person quarterly to discuss local issues related to Israel
- Participate in crisis response planning calls as needed
The Greater Philadelphia Israel Inter-Agency committee is a coalition of local Jewish and Israel organizations who are committed to the welfare of Israel and support the Jewish state’s sovereign right to a secure and peaceful existence. Membership will consist of representatives from the following organizations. Each agency will be allowed one consistent representative to attend each meeting, either in person or virtually. Notes and presentations will be shared with all agencies following each meeting.
- AIPAC
- American Jewish Committee
- Anti-Defamation League
- Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia
- Consulate General of Israel in New York
- Greater Philly Hillel
- Hadassah
- Hillel at Drexel University
- Hillel at Temple University
- Hillel at the University of Pennsylvania
- Israeli American Council
- JCRC of Southern New Jersey
- Jewish National Fund
- JStreet
- Stand With Us
- Zionist Organization of America
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hOW TO jOIN A cOMMITTEE
Interested in joining a committee? Contact jcrc@jewishphilly.org or call 215.832.0652