INTRODUCTION: NJCRAC Joint Program plan 1994-1995

As the planning and coordinating body for the organized Jewish community in the area of public affairs, the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council (NJCRAC) represents a unique partnership of 117 local and 13 national agencies throughout the United States. NJCRAC member agencies represent the broadest range of political and social thought in the organized Jewish community, yet they are linked by a dual commitment to safeguarding the rights of Jews and assuring the vitality of the United States' pluralist democracy. The NJCRAC partnership brings together both national and local perspectives in the formulation of consensus positions and approaches on national issues.

Jewish Continuity and Public Affairs
The unique character of American democratic, voluntary pluralism, underpinned by the Bill of Rights, has enabled the diverse ethnic, religious and nationality groups that comprise American society to cultivate their own distinctiveness, while fully participating in attempting to shape the American democratic system from the perspective of their particular value systems. At the same time, their members as individuals are fully integrated into American society. Collectively, the field of Jewish community relations has played a major role in achieving this reality.

The nature of American society has encouraged the creative expression of Jewish values in a free and open society. It has enabled American Jews as Jews to join together to act upon the social justice imperatives of Judaism and Jewish history and to translate them into the universal values of America. In doing so, it has deepened their understanding of Jewish values and Jewish life. It has heightened their own sense of Jewishness and their identity with other Jews.

American Jewish activism reflects the essence of the Judaic concept of "mitzvot", to act upon commandments. Jewish understanding and commitment come not only from formal education, which is vital, but from acting on what is learned, in this case the performance of the social justice commandments of Judaism. From such action grows receptivity to acting on other commandments of Judaism. Critical to Jews playing such a role in the public affairs arena have been the organizational structures that define the field of Jewish community relations. Through these Jewish vehicles, they have acted consciously, deliberately and openly as Jews on the vital issues of American life; they have addressed them, as Heine would say, with a "Jewish accent." This is a unique contribution the field of Jewish community relations makes to Jewish continuity.

Thus, in the coming years, the field of Jewish community relations is challenged to broaden its constituencies not only to achieve the goals of its agenda but to strengthen Jewish continuity. Special emphasis should be placed on reaching out to the many Jews who are responsive to the social justice agenda set forth in the NJCRAC Joint Program Plan but are currently marginal in their involvement in Jewish life. That they will be receptive to the public affairs agenda is reflected in opinion polls and voting behavior which demonstrate that American Jews overwhelmingly have a profound interest in Social issues. The critical element is to provide the Jewish vehicles through which they can act as Jews. That is a critical role of the field of Jewish community relations.

The Overview gives special emphasis on a highly selective basis to those urgent, over-riding concerns which call for the allocation of substantial resources by the entire network of national and local agencies comprising the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council. All of the priorities of the field of Jewish community relations are set forth more comprehensively in the balance of the Joint Program Plan. They all warrant action in the year ahead by national and local agencies.