Jewish Community Relations Council closes season with flurry of activity

By Jeff Zalasky, JCRC Chair

The primary mission of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is to promote and enhance relationships between the Jewish community and the general community of Greater Naples. JCRC participates in many programs with several groups with whom it collaborates. In support of that goal, JCRC schedules speakers on relevant issues, and sponsors and organizes activities that promote religious freedom, separation of religion from government and social justice issues. Six committees under the JCRC umbrella work extremely hard to achieve those goals. A short explanation of the focus of those committees as well as what they have done recently is provided below.

The Stand Up for Justice Committee (SUFJ)

Chaired by Beth Povlow, the SUFJ Committee considered submissions by several educators for this year’s grant. The goal of SUFJ is to be a resource for educators of any discipline, assisting them to incorporate strategies that promote understanding and respect among students and emphasize the elimination of bigotry and bullying. Potential recipients of this grant are teachers, guidance counselors, school librarians, media specialists, school psychologists and administrators.

This year, the SUFJ Committee selected five grant winners. Each was notified about their selection with a surprise visit by Beth Povlow and/or Ida Margolis, SUFJ Committee members, at the school where they work. Grant winners were invited to attend the Power of Community Celebration on March 29, 2022, where their grants were given. The two first-place grant winners received $1,500. The three honorable mention winners received a grant of $500.

The Human Needs Committee

This committee is chaired by Liz Jaffe. At the time this year’s recipients were selected, it was chaired by Judi Palay. This committee looks for nonprofit 501(C)(3) organizations that provide a service to the entire community. This is another way for Jews in Collier County, as represented by JFGN, to practice tikkun olam — “bettering the world.”

This year’s award winners were the STARability Foundation and Cultivate Abundance. The STARability Foundation provides opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead meaningful and productive lives. Cultivate Abundance addresses food needs and other livelihood challenges in lowincome, migrant farmworker communities of Southwest Florida and beyond. Both organizations received grants of $2,500 at the Power of Community Celebration and representatives of both organizations were invited to appear in person to receive their grants.

The Day of Learning Committee

Chaired by Joel Pittelman, the committee organized this year’s Day of Learning program. Dr. David Dalin spoke at Temple Shalom and, virtually, on March 22, 2022, about the eight Jewish justices that have been on the United States Supreme Court.

Dr. Dalin also discussed the Jewish background and legacies of those Jewish justices, with a particular focus on the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer. Dr. Dalin is a Senior Research Fellow at Brandeis University and is a widely published scholar of American Jewish history. His most recent book, “Jewish Justices of the Supreme Court: From Brandeis to Kagan,” is the first book on the history of the eight Jewish justices. This was a wellattended event featuring a renowned speaker.

The Catholic Jewish Dialogue Committee (CJD)

The purpose of CJD, chaired by Luba Rotstain and Martin Gauthier, is to engage Catholics and Jews in understanding our long history and to advance the cause of mutual understanding and appreciation for our differences as well as our commonalities. CJD organized a series of lectures and sponsored several events, including the annual Kristallnacht Memorial on Nov. 7, 2021, which was a huge success. On April 3, 2022, CJD brought in a national speaker, Rabbi Skorka, who spoke about his 25-year friendship with Pope Francis that began when he was a bishop in Buenos Aires and continues to this day.

The Anti-Semitism Task Force

This committee, chaired by Joel Pittelman, monitors acts of antisemitism in the Greater Naples area. If there is an incident involving antisemitic behavior, Joel is the first line of defense — the first person to act to ensure the proper authorities are notified and to help those subjected to it.

The Legislative Affairs Committee

Committee chair Betty Schwartz monitors pending legislation in area city councils, local county commissioners and at the state and federal levels. She alerts JCRC, Federation and the Jewish community to those issues she believes could have a significant impact on the Jewish community, doing her best to help reach a consensus in the Jewish community on the position we should take on significant proposed legislation.

While JCRC had its COVID-19 challenges in the 2021/2022 year, we strived to offer stimulating, informative, worthwhile programs to members of our Jewish community as well as to members not connected to the Jewish community. We look to continue what we accomplished this year and expand things even further next year.

If you get an opportunity, please thank the JCRC Committee chairs and their committee members for the work they do. They put in a lot of time and effort trying to promote your interests and building stronger ties with our non-Jewish neighbors.

We look forward to a tremendous 2022/2023 year!.