About JCRC
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is a standing committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. The JCRC serves as the Federation's advocacy and social action arm, engaging all segments of the Greater New Orleans Jewish community and connecting with non-Jewish individuals and groups in the region to promote Jewish values.
The work of the JCRC generally falls into three categories: anti-Semitism and Israel advocacy, social and legislative action, and community service through the Nourish program.
For more information, or to get involved, contact Aaron Bloch at aaron@jewishnola.com or 504-780-5608.
JCRC Passes Policy Resolutions on Early Childhood Care and Education & Book Banning.
April 26, 2023
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) passed the following policy resolutions at its April 24th meeting:
JCRC Issues Public Comment on Draft of Louisiana's New Social Studies Standards for Grades K-12.
February 22, 2022
The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans' Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) issued a public comment on the Louisiana Department of Education's new social studies standards for K-12. The review was done in partnership with the Institute for Curriculum Services, a non-profit dedicated to improving the accuracy of K-12 instruction and instructional materials on Jews, Judaism, Jewish history and Israel in the United States.
JCRC Issues Letter of Support for DOJ Nominee Kristen Clarke
March 15, 2021
The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans' Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) issued a formal Letter of Support for Kristen Clarke's nomination to serve as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the US Department of Justice. The letter, sent to Senator Bill Cassidy and Senator John Kennedy, highlighted Ms. Clarke's impressive career and commitment to equal justice and civil rights, and called for a swift confirmation.
JFNA Virtual Mission to Washington, D.C. (Feb 1-2, 2021)
All are welcome to join the JCRC in attending Jewish Federations of North America's (JFNA) first-ever national Jewish Virtual Mission to Washington. Communities across the United States will virtually meet with members of the new administration and bipartisan Congressional leaders to advocate for the priorities of the Jewish community. Participants will have the opportunity to fight antisemitism, ensure a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, make the case for government resources to keep communal institutions flourishing and provide for the vulnerable, such as Holocaust survivors.
The mission is free and will take place from the evening of February 1 through the evening of February 2, 2021. The registration link is jfeds.org/VirtualMissionDC.
January 8, 2021
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SEPTEMBER 9, 2020
Today, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans joined 30 other organizations as signatories on the following letter to our United States Senators, John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy, advocating for a temporary increase in federal funding for the SNAP program by 15% in the next package of coronavirus stimulus legislation:
Dear Senator Kennedy and Senator Cassidy,
As you consider additional COVID relief, we write to urge you to increase SNAP benefits by 15% for the duration of this public health crisis and economic downturn in the final relief package. This letter represents 31 Louisiana organizations who work directly with Louisianians across the state who are struggling to stay afloat throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please click here to read the entire letter.
August 2020
As one of the oldest anti-hate groups in the world, ADL has been committed to stopping the defamation of the Jewish people and securing justice and fair treatment to all for more than 100 years. For generations, it has fought all forms of bigotry and mobilized for civil rights for all marginalized communities.
Unfortunately, at a time when extremism, antisemitism, misinformation and bigotry continue to surge, some are spreading misinformation about ADL's crucial work. Sadly, these efforts divide the civil rights community at a moment when unity is needed more than ever. Rather than condemning each other, those committed to equity and justice must learn from each other. No organization is perfect -- far from it. And we can all learn to do a better job of fighting racism and bigotry. But our disagreements should not be a basis for delegitimization.
In response to this misinformation campaign, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and its Jewish Community Relations Council are both proud to Join With ADL and support its efforts to fight antisemitism, combat extremism and fight hate for good.
Greater New Orleans Jewish Community Open Letter
to the Local African-American Community
June 10, 2020
To Our African-American Brothers and Sisters in Greater New Orleans,
Our shared history holds within it moments of powerful partnership between our communities, and it also holds moments of estrangement and points of pain. In full awareness of that complicated history, and for those members of our community whose overlapping identities – Black and Jewish – connect us to each other, we write this letter to express our solidarity at this difficult time.
Please click here to read the entire letter.
The Jewish Federation / Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater New Orleans was one of over 130 signatories
to the following Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Statement of Solidarity with the Black Community:
June 2, 2020
We, the undersigned, are outraged at the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.
We stand in solidarity with the black community that have for far too long been targeted by police and have suffered rampant racism and unfair and uneven applications of the law
We call upon our government and law enforcement at the national and local levels to fully investigate and hold accountable all the involved officers and to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.
We call upon our government and law enforcement agencies at every level to institute sweeping reforms in law enforcement and criminal justice.
We pledge to join forces with the black community and other Americans to see through these changes to law enforcement, end systemic racism, and work for a more just American society.
Never Again Education Act
The JCRC is proud to report that as of May 13, 2020, both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate have overwhelmingly passed - and on a bipartisan basis - the Never Again Education Act (H.R. 943 / S. 2085), which would provide $10 million over five years to fund Holocaust education in American schools!
As part of an effort led by the Jewish Federations of North America and Hadassah, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans was one of over 300 organizations from every state to have signed on to this letter to the House in April 2019 advocating for the bill’s passage.
Both Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-L.A., and Rep. Steve Scalise, R-L.A., voted in favor in the House, and in the Senate the bill passed by unanimous consent. Thank you to our members of Congress for supporting this important effort!
The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans is one of over 650 Jewish organizations and leaders that signed on to the following national statement, which was sent to members of Congress, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, and the Administration for Community Living:
Jewish Community Statement Calling for Expanded Access to Nutrition Assistance Due to Coronavirus Crisis
Led by National Council of Jewish Women and MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
March 18, 2020
The coronavirus crisis is not only a national health pandemic, but a time of urgent concern for those who are most vulnerable in our country; those at economic risk are facing dire consequences right now. On behalf of the undersigned Jewish clergy and organizations, we call on the Administration and Congress to work together to increase and expand access to federal nutrition assistance for food insecure Americans in the wake of the coronavirus crisis (COVID-19). Our Jewish texts and traditions command us again and again to feed the hungry, care for the poor, and safeguard those who are most vulnerable — to not "harden [our] heart[s] or shut [our] hand[s] against [our] poor brethren" in need (Deuteronomy 15:7). This has never been more important than now.
Please click here to read the entire statement.
ADL South Central & the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans release joint statement on the arrest of Cane Zander Brown
March 11, 2020 --
On March 10, 2020, an arrest was made in Jefferson Parish of a man allegedly responsible for the anti-Semitic vandalism at the Northshore Jewish Congregation in September 2018. This arrest is the culmination of over a year of work by multiple law enforcement agencies, led by the Mandeville Police Department, and the arrest includes both hate crimes and criminal damage to property charges.
Please click here to read the entire statement.
Older Americans Act / TIME for Holocaust Survivors Act
The JCRC is proud to report that in early March, both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act. The legislation makes notable improvements in the delivery of home- and community-based services for seniors, while notably also incorporating provisions from the Trauma-Informed Modernization of Eldercare (TIME) for Holocaust Survivors Act.
The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans is one of over 300 national, state, and local organizations from every state in the country that signed on to this letter to U.S. Senators in June 2019 in support of the TIME Act.
Doing Business in Israel: Politics, the Economy & the Upcoming Elections
April 1, 2019
Approximately 75 people attended a reception and panel discussion at the Port of New Orleans on how politics in Israel and economics intersect, with a special focus on the April 2019 election in Israel. Moderated by Fox 8's Lee Zurik, the panel featured Ambassador Yoram Ettinger (former Minister for Congressional Affairs at Israel's Embassy in Washington), Dr. Leonary Ray (Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Louisiana State University), Rabbi Reuven Spolter (Director of the Israel Ministry for Diaspora Affairs' Amiel BaKehila program), and Guy Tessler (President of Connexx: America Israel Business Connector).
Thanks to our co-sponsors: Bank Leumi, the Port of New Orleans, and the World Trade Center New Orleans.
Trade, Water, and Economic Development: A Debrief on Louisiana's Partnership with Israel
January 28, 2019
On January 28, 2019 the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans was delighted to collaborate with a number of community organizations for a special evening on trade and economic development with Governor John Bel Edwards. Hosted by the University of New Orleans, the event followed Gov. Edwards’ trip to Israel last fall, and featured the Governor discussing both his travel experience and his vision for the trade partnership between Louisiana and Israel in the future.
The Governor’s remarks were preceded by a panel discussion featuring Commissioner of the Division of Administration for the State of Louisiana, Jay Dardenne; President and CEO of The Water Institute of the Gulf, Justin Ehrenwerth; and Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for the Port of New Orleans, Robert Landry.
Special thanks to our co-sponsors: ADL, AIPAC, GNO, Inc., Israel's Consulate General to the Southwest United States, National Council of Jewish Women: Greater New Orleans Section, the New Orleans Business Alliance, the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, the Port of New Orleans, Tulane University, and the World Trade Center New Orleans.
