The objectives of the JCRC shall be to defend and preserve the civil rights of the Jewish community, domestically and overseas, and to promote its interests in relation to the community at large.
Jewish Community Relations Council
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is a standing committee of the Jewish Federation of Florida's Gulf Coast. The JCRC’s primary purpose is to develop and carry out a unified community relations program to broadly represent the interests of the local Jewish community in Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando Counties as well as support and promote Israel advocacy and education for the local Jewish community.
The JCRC committee includes co-chairs and at-large members. Meetings are generally held quarterly, if interested, please contact Maxine Kaufman at mkaufman@jewishgulfcoast.org.
The JCRC is a member of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), serving as the representative voice of the organized American Jewish community.
Current Events
& In the News
Response to Capitol Riots
Posted: January 19, 2021
As a patriotic American, I watched the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol building in horror. As a Jewish American, and chair of the local Jewish Community Relations Council, I have been particularly horrified by the blatant antisemitic imagery that has emerged this past week, from within the mob. Camp Auschwitz and 6MWE (6 Million Wasn’t Enough) t-shirts, Neo-Nazi flags and emblems, rehashed antisemitic tropes embedded in QAnon conspiracy theories - this hatred has no place in the United States. This ideology is what led to the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, the Chabad of Poway attack, and many others. In 2019, The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) tabulated 2,107 antisemitic incidents throughout the United States. This is a 12% increase from the 1,879 incidents recorded in 2018 and marks the highest number on record since ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979.
After 9-11, we stood united against Al-Qaeda’s hatred of us. Today, we stand divided because of Americans hate directed at other Americans. As antisemitism continues to increase at alarming levels, Jewish communities in America are becoming more fearful. Whether from the far left or the far right, more needs to be done to stem the tide of this ever-increasing problem. The Jewish Community of Florida’s Gulf Coast calls on our law enforcement and elected officials to use their authority to fight this wave of violence. We also call on our fellow Americans to make a concerted effort to act more civilly and respectfully toward each other. We must be better than this.
Stuart Berger
JCRC Chair (Jewish Community Relations Council)
Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast
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Purpose & Goal
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ISSUES WE FOCUSES ON
Through its activities, the JCRC works to serve as a voice and advocate.
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In Memory of Norman
Norman Gross founded the Tampa Bay chapter of PRIMER. He worked tirelessly, writing hundreds of
letters to the editor of the Tampa Bay Times, to remove bias about Israel from the media.
He will be missed.
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How To Be An Advocate
We can help you learn how to speak out to the media or government.
Contact Us
Learn about how you can get involved with the JCRC today.
Maxine Kaufman
mkaufman@jewishgulfcoast.org
Co-Chair: Stuart Berger
Fully tax-deductible donations to support the efforts of the JCRC can be made to the Jewish Federation of Florida's Gulf Coast. For more information, contact our office. Thank you!