As 2023 draws to a close, we are immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished at JCRC-NY over the past 12 months. However, it is impossible to ignore the weight of the challenges we have faced together as a community since October 7, and our hearts are heavy over the tragic massacre. We’ve also witnessed remarkable resilience; and while this resilience came with a very heavy price, let us reflect on the triumphs that have defined our organization the past year, even before the events of October 7. We hope you enjoy reading up on some of those highlights below.

Israel and Jewish Communal Affairs

We took members of the New York State Assembly on a study tour to Israel in February, showing them the everyday lives of Israelis and discussing the importance of Israel to the Jewish diaspora.

We hosted events celebrating Jewish culture across the globe. We saw the long awaited, in-person return of our Congressional Breakfast. We met with new ambassadors and said our bittersweet goodbyes to others.

We enjoyed the enormous success of the 2023 Celebrate Israel Parade, where over 40,000 marchers and tens of thousands of spectators showed up to celebrate Israel’s 75th anniversary.

Israel Solidarity

We took two concurrent solidarity missions to Israel to show our support alongside a diverse group of faith leaders and a group comprised of city and state elected officials.

We held two large scale rallies with attendance in the thousands, to stand in solidarity with our brethren in Israel and give our family in New York a place to mourn together. We attended and spoke at dozens more.

Security 

We joined our Representatives in demanding an end to antisemitism. We attended hate crimes training and held a conference on gun violence. We spoke at press conferences calling for greater protection of Jewish communities, and we met with those in power to discuss what our communal need for safety entails.

Our Community Security Initiative (CSI) secured hundreds of schools and faith institutions, expanded their coverage area, held dozens of online safety trainings, hosted security preparedness events, and prevented a mass shooting.

CSI also distributed security grants and direct security guard deployments to about 100 locations without guards, as well as microgrants for supplementary security guard hires for another 120-plus locations. Moreover, CSI provided funds for increased “mobile patrols” for existing Jewish security patrols (Shomrim, Shmira, Chaverim), and CSI is assisting Hillel and Jewish university students in the greater NYC Metro area to better protect themselves with safety apps and additional security guard support.

Shared Society

Our Shared Society fellowships Youthbridge, We Are All Brooklyn Fellowship Against Hate and the inaugural Bridges cohort, which included a study tour to Senegal, all inducted and graduated incredible classes full of the future leaders of New York.

We sponsored kosher community lunches for neighborhoods with large Jewish populations to get to know their neighbors and to celebrate their diversity.

We spoke on the importance of a truly shared society. We attended interfaith breakfasts, dinners, speaking engagements, and unity celebrations to continue our years of work learning about different cultures in New York, and bringing the Jewish people together with those diverse communities to combat hate and antisemitism.

As we look ahead to 2024, we are filled with optimism and a renewed commitment to creating positive change through our work. However, none of this is possible without your continued support. Your contribution, no matter the size, has the power to amplify our efforts and bring about lasting transformation. Once again, we invite you to join us this year-end in making a difference. Your donation will directly impact the betterment of our shared future.

TO DONATE, CLICK HERE.

Thank you for being an essential part of our journey,

Bennett Golub, President

Cheryl Fishbein, Chair of the Board

Noam Gilboord, Interim CEO