in the news

Published March 04, 2010 11:49

This is Ilana Eydus again. After the many pleasant responses I received last month, I am eager to once again share updates from the JCRC as well as alert you to updates affecting poverty in our community and nation.

I am excited to announce that this month I, as well as Diane Fisher (your JCRC director in case you did not know), Harold Goldberg, Harry Cornbleet, and Heidi Eisips, travelled to the national JCPA plenum in Dallas Texas. As some of you may know, the JCRC is the regional member of a larger organization, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. The JCPA, focused on Israel advocacy, poverty outreach, and community relations, recently hosted its annual conference. The three day Dallas conference was a true immersion into political debate and Jewish identity.

I am proud to announce that our resolution on Sustainable Agriculture and Local Food Distribution was adopted by the National JCPA. As you may recall from my January newsletter, local food is instrumental to stimulating local economies and alleviating growing concerns of obesity and hunger in our community and throughout the nation. Our resolution calls for JCRC’s across the nation to put into practice Jewish ethical ideals and values regarding food production and consumption. Look for the resolution on the JCRC webpage, along with concrete actions you can take to participate in this effort.. In addition to this fantastic achievement, Harold was also honored to join the executive board of the national JCPA. These accomplishments are a true testament to the growth and dedication of our JCRC.

There are many aspects of the conference I can share (and will do so in further articles), but I must first stress the importance of community relations. Though many of you are affiliated with JCRC, I have encountered all too many who do not understand the mission of the JCRC. I am now here to clarify that community relations not only rouse new, provocative conversations, but bring people of all backgrounds to a common table. In a world plagued with Ahmadenajad, Greek desecrations of synagogues, and biased and unjust UN depictions, a common table between different religions, nationalities, and backgrounds is paramount to our success as a Jewish people and as a Jewish nation. We have a moral duty as Jews, Americans, neighbors, and friends, to communicate with those around us, to listen to the concerns of our faiths, and to create real bonds so that we can mutually benefit and rely on one another in years to come.

Back to all news

Recent Posts