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About the JCRC

The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) serves the needs of the Jewish community, both local and overseas, through community relations, government affairs, social action and advocacy.  In pursuit of these goals, and consistent with Jewish teachings and ethics, we are dedicated to improving inter-group understanding and the enhancement of a just and pluralistic society. 

As a voice of the local Jewish community, JCRC nurtures and advocates for a strong connection to the people of Israel and to Jews around the world, and commemorates and sustains the memory and lessons of the Holocaust.

In its interfaith and inter-group work, JCRC serves as a common table for airing concerns, promoting the peaceful resolution of conflicts and building coalitions among diverse members of the broader community in pursuit of common goals. Among its guiding principles is the belief that sustained efforts to promote understanding and harmony among diverse groups strengthen the Jewish community and society at large.  The pursuit of a democratic, just society, free of prejudice, discrimination, anti-Semitism and racism, fosters conditions in which the American Jewish community is secure and free to flourish.

JCRC seeks and values multiple perspectives for informed, respectful deliberation and action.

Established in 1939 as an independent non-profit organization, JCRC merged into the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia in 2003.

Executive director: Adam Kessler
Chair, 2007-2010:  Marc J. Zucker, Esq.

The JCRC functions through its policy board and three main committees:
the Community Relations Committee, Government Affairs Committee and Holocaust Awareness Committee, in addition to several subcommittees and task forces.

Multimedia

View photos

Holocaust Memorial Ceremony

Ben Franklin Parkway - April 11, 2010
View photo gallery

PM Netanyahu's Speech to the UN GA

We recommend this excellent speech by Prime Minister Netanyahu who spoke before the UN General Assembly last week.  The Prime Minister addresses, among other things, the threat imposed by Iran, the hypocrisy of the recent UN report equating Israel's action in Gaza with that of Hamas, and reconfirms Israel's desire to make peace with any Arab leader who is interested in a genuine peace. Read full text of speech

Action Alert: Iran's Uranium Facility

Last week in Vienna, representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom and France presented detailed evidence to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) demonstrating that Iran has been building a covert uranium enrichment facility near Qom for several years. The United States, Britain, France and Germany demanded that Iran allow nuclear inspectors to visit a previously-secret uranium enrichment plant, warning of new sanctions if Tehran did not comply. This announcement is significant because it adds to the longstanding concern that Iran is seeking to build nuclear weapons while consistently resisting international efforts to monitor its nuclear program.   More

Action Alert: Goldstone Report

Earlier this week a U.N. report accused both Israel and Hamas of war crimes during the conflict in Gaza last winter. The report attempts to create a moral equivalence between the actions of Israel and Hamas during the war. Read more and take action.

Take Action to Help PA's Non Profits

The lack of a state budget is hurting Pennsylvania's nonprofits and those they serve. Many nonprofits are starting to lay-off staff and cuts services.  As nonprofits begin to close their doors or cut back on services, our children, elderly and Pennsylvanians with special needs will no longer receive the services they depend upon.  Click here to find out how you can help!

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JCRC to Sponsor Program on Healthcare Reform

Because of the importance of the issue of healthcare reform and the ongoing debate on this issue, the JCRC will be hosting a program on the issue this fall.  More information will be available early in September.  In the meantime, the Jewish Council on Public Affairs (JCPA), which represents the collective voice of the American Jewish community in the Jewish community relations field, and United Jewish Communities (UJC), the umbrella organization for 157 Federations and over 400 independent Jewish communities, have crafted what they are calling Common Principles for Healthcare Reform.  Click here to read more:

Here are some recent op/ed pieces in the Jewish Exponent:
 
http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/19325/ Allyson Schwartz op/ed
http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/19209/ Exponent editorial
http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/19326/ David Edman op/ed on healthcare reform
http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/19122/ Jim Rosenstein op/ed

Constituent Members

In addition to an active group of committee and task-force volunteers and at-large delegates to its policy board, JCRC today consists of 30 constituent organizations which together represent the collectivity of voices of the organized local Jewish community.

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Media Resources
It is important that we monitor all media for anti-Israel or anti-Semitic language. Call or write to the media listed below with your pro-Israel information, opinions, etc. when appropriate. For further information, call JCRC at (215) 832-0650. more
Support Israel

‘Buy Israel’ Campaign

The JCRC is proud to co-sponsor the
‘Buy Israel’ campaign, which encourages you to bring a little bit of Israel into your home with each trip to the supermarket. 

Click here to find out more about the campaign and about where you can buy Israeli products (PDF download)

ACTION ALERTS!

(July 2009) The JCRC works in coalition with CeaseFire Pa. which is devoted to protecting our community from gun violence. JCRC thought you should see their mission statement as you read the Important and Urgent Action Alert attached here.  Please do what you can to respond today.   See Adam Kessler's cover letter here...

Past Action Alerts:
Am. Recov. & Invest. Act (Feb. 2009)
Venezuela  (Feb. 2009)
Gilad Shalit (June 2009)

JCRC Committees

Click on the links below to find out more about each committee

JCRC Reports

Click on the links below to download JCRC reports (in Word)

CONTACT JCRC WITH ANY QUESTIONS, OR TO REQUEST A SPEAKER:
2100 Arch Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA
19103-1389
Phone: 215-832-0650
Fax: 215-440-7680
akessler@philafederation.org