Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)

The primary mission of JCRC is to promote and enhance relationships between the Jewish community and the general Greater Naples community. JCRC collaborates with other groups in our community, often participating in many of their programs.

To further this goal, JCRC:

• Acts as a voice for Jewish causes and concerns in the Greater Naples area

• Supports and joins Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and religious institutions to develop and sustain constructive causes

• Provides appropriate responses to counter statements of bigotry and acts of antisemitism

• Develops educational opportunities with other religious and ethnic groups

• Works with other nonprofit organizations to deal with pertinent legislative matters

• Emphasizes attempts to foster an ongoing and beneficial relationship with the local media

• Cooperates with other Jewish Community Relations Councils throughout Florida.

JCRC membership includes representatives from Jewish organizations that serve our community as well as at-large members. This member diversity enables JCRC to represent the opinion of the Jewish community on a variety of issues.

Some of the activities JCRC participates in are:

Bill McCormick, Jeffrey Feld, Lindsey Abellard, Brittany Nguyen and NAACP President Vincent Keeys

Cultural and Educational Programming

JCRC sponsors several events during Florida Jewish History Month (January), including the annual JCRC/Friends of the Collier County Library Klezmer Revival Band Concert. JCRC also participates in, and encourages all Jewish community members to join in, the annual Martin Luther King Day Parade.

The major community event sponsored by JCRC is the annual Jewish Community Day of Learning. A variety of presenters with expertise in numerous topics share their knowledge with the attendees. The purpose of this event is to provide the opportunity for everyone in our community to learn something of interest, to connect with our Jewish heritage and to strengthen our relations with the larger Naples community.

The 6th Annual Day of Learning will be held in the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center in spring 2023. More details about this important event will be forthcoming.

Human Needs Award

For several years, the JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council) and JFGN (Jewish Federation of Greater Naples) actively acknowledged positive contributions of several nonprofit organizations in our community. Monetary awards are given each year to two small nonprofit agencies that practice “tikkun olam” — helping to repair our world. These agencies fulfill the mission of the JCRC and JFGN.

Stand Up for Justice Educator Award

Annually, this Educator Grant Award recognizes middleand high-school teachers, librarians, media specialists, guidance counselors and administrators who demonstrate outstanding, unique educational initiatives countering bigotry and bullying in the schools. The underlying purpose is for these programs to be replicated and broadly applied in the school system.

Nominees must prepare and/or implement lessons or activities of their own design or that have been adapted from other programs. Nominees should be able to show their initiative(s) had a positive influence in their school or venue. These lessons or activities should teach students to Stand Up for Justice, no matter what religious, racial, cultural or other differences exist.

A committee of experienced educators evaluates those programs submitted for consideration and selects two programs that best achieve the objectives of the program to receive monetary awards.

Catholic-Jewish Dialogue

The Catholic-Jewish Dialogue engages people of both faiths in understanding our long history and to advance the cause of mutual understanding and appreciation for our differences as well as our commonalities. To achieve these goals, the CJD plans events throughout the year, including the Kristallnacht Commemoration, films, book discussions, teen programs, interfaith weekends, Passover Seders and much more.

CJD programs scheduled for the 2023 season include: “Sin, Restitution and Guilt,” Sunday, Jan. 8 at 2:30 p.m.

Presenters are Rabbi Mark Gross of JCMI and Fr. George Ratzmann of St. William. Location: Pulte Family Life Center at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (625 111th Ave. N. Naples)

“The People in the Room, Rabbis, Nuns, Pastors, Popes and Presidents” book review with author Rabbi James Rudin, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2:30 p.m.

Rabbi Rudin will take us inside the Vatican, Camp David and all over the globe where he worked a lifetime of dialogue. The book is available on Amazon. Location: Pulte Family Life Center at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (625 111th Ave. N., Naples)

“Stolen Summer” movie presentation, Sunday, March 5, 2:30 p.m.

A poignant story of two young boys, one Catholic, the other Jewish. The Jewish one is dying and the Catholic one believes he needs to convert him so he will go to heaven. Location: St. William Ministry Center, Seagate Drive, directly across the street from Saks 5th Avenue.

For more information, please contact the CJD at cjdia logue@naples.net. CJD is a subcommittee of the JCRC of Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.

Antisemitism Task Force

The task force fulfills the function of promoting the security of Jewish organizations, religious institutions and the Jewish community. The JCRC and the Federation serve as a collection point for reporting, facilitating assistance to the victim(s) and making referrals to the appropriate agencies where corrective measures are needed. A yearly report is produced and shared with the appropriate outlets. Federation works directly with the local law enforcement agencies to handle antisemitism and hate crimes.

Legislative Activities Affecting the Jewish Community

The JCRC monitors local, state and federal legislation and its effect on the Jewish community. It works in conjunction with other JCRCs throughout Florida on state issues, and with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), the national organization for JCRCs, on federal and international issues affecting Jews throughout the nation and the world. That work includes advocacy for Israel – an activity that is the primary function of the Israel Advocacy Committee.