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:

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 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 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.

Human Needs Award

For several years, the JCRC and JFGN (Jewish Federation of Greater Naples) have 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 middle- and 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

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

“Uncomfortable Conversations with a Catholic and a Jew”

Sunday, Jan. 26, 2:30 p.m. at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center

This program presented by Lawrence Hermalyn, JD and Deacon Dick Surrusco offers a supportive environment and a dialogue approach to the lived experiences of Catholics and Jews. Our presenters are CJD members who will share and discuss their experiences as a Catholic and a Jew. Our table discussions will provide the audience an opportunity to speak from their lived experience as an individual, a spouse, a parent, a grandparent, and a member of a faith community.

“The Assisi Underground”

Sunday, Feb. 23, 2:30 p.m. at St. Williams Catholic Church

“The Assisi Underground” is a 1985 American Italian film made for television, written and directed by Alexander Ramati. It is an adaptation of his 1978 novel, “The Assisi Underground: The Priest who Rescued Jews,” which is based on a true-life account by Father Rufino Niccacci of events surrounding the Assisi Network, an effort to hide 300 Jews in the town of Assisi, Italy during World War II.

“The Sunflower: On the Possibility and Limits of Forgiveness”

Sunday, March 2, 2:30 p.m. at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center

Readers & Thinkers Book Review

This book by Simon Wiesenthal is about a Nazi soldier who, on his deathbed, asks forgiveness from a Jew, in this case Wiesenthal, for horrendous atrocities he committed against Jews during the Holocaust. This presents a moral and ethical dilemma for Wiesenthal.

After walking away from the soldier, he asks “What would you have done?” “The Sunflower” presents responses to that question from clergy and spiritual leaders, Holocaust survivors, professors and historians. During the program we will discuss exactly that.

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 when 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 and Overseas Committee.