October 6, 2020

JCPA Mourns the Lives of Two Great America Heroes — JCPA both mourns the passing of two American heroes, Congressman John Lewis and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and celebrates their lives and achievements. The leadership and impact that they have had on shaping a just and pluralistic America is highly valued and appreciated by JCPA and the community relations network.

• JCPA Mourns the Loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — Justice Ginsburg was a true hero and a champion of justice and equality. As a lawyer and advocate, she fought to change laws and policies that advanced women’s rights and equality for all.
  • To read JCPA’s full statement, click here.
  • To watch JCPA’s Special Jewish Memorial Service for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, click here.
• JCPA Mourns the Death of Congressman John Lewis: A True American Hero — Congressman John Lewis who died from cancer. He was a true hero and beacon of hope. Congressman Lewis was not only a voice for the Black community but spoke out against discrimination and hate against all people. He will be sorely missed. To read JCPA’s statement, click here.

JCPA Reiterates Civility Statement and Condemnation of White Supremacy — In the current political environment, marked by extreme polarization and inflammatory rhetoric, JCPA is sharing our 2016 Statement on Civility Around Elections, as well as excerpts from our 2018 Resolution on White Supremacy. We call upon all candidates running for elected office, as well as all Americans, to engage during this election season in a thoughtful, respectful, and civil discussion over the future direction of this country. To read the statement, click here.

The Community Relations Network Around the Country Gear Up for Candidate Education and Voter Engagement During COVID-19 — The COVID-19 pandemic has altered almost every aspect of the way we live and work—and inevitably, it will impact how we vote this November. To support the Jewish community relations councils and Jewish community around the country, JCPA produced a Candidate and Voter Education Guide 2020 and a JCPA Nonpartisan “Get Out the Vote” Resource Guide.

Webinar: Jewish Case for Voting and Civic Engagement — Civic engagement is a core American Jewish value – religious and civic. Yet, just as the COVID-19 pandemic has altered almost every aspect of the way we live and work, inevitably it will also impact how we vote this November. This webinar focused on the efforts different Jewish religious denominations are taking to promote a strong democracy and election participation during COVID-19. Click here to watch the recording.

JCPA Urges Facebook to Stop Antisemitism and Hate Online — In coordination with the #StopHateForProfit coalition, during the third anniversary of the Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, JCPA wrote a letter signed by over 90 national, state, and local Jewish organization appealing to Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook to take action to stem the growth of antisemitism, racism, violent hatred, and disinformation online. To read the letter, click here.

Click below to learn more about the #StopHateForProfit campaign:

• Taking Aim at Multiracial Democracy, Political Research Associates
• Facebook Has a Holocaust Denial Problem, ADL
• Hate, Conspiracy Theories and Advertising on Facebook, ADL

JCPA Holds JCRC Chairs Initiative Orientation — JCPA brought together 25 new JCRC Chairs for an orientation to further their knowledge and skill base around local and national community relations and ensuring their readiness to lead their unique JCRC and handle today’s current challenges.  This year, the Chairs will meet monthly to network, share best practices, and participate in continued leadership training opportunities. If you are currently a JCRC Chair who would like to participate, contact Hluftig@thejcpa.org.

2019-2020 Frank Fellows for Emerging Leaders Commencement and Launch of Alumni Program — Last year’s Frank Fellow Cohort finished their Fellowship with a commencement ceremony sharing their reflections and what they learned from the experience. Over the past year, the cohort honed leadership skills on community relations, travelled to Israel and Poland, participated in JCPA2020 national conference, and learned first-hand how to pivot during a national pandemic. With more than 50 Frank Fellow alumni in place, JCPA launched an alumni program that will meet quarterly throughout the year.

To read past issues of JCPA’s update, click here.