Program areas at JCRC
Community engagement the Council works to engage members of Boston's Jewish Community in the work of social justice through Community service and Community organizing, in partnership with other faith communities and a range of community-based nonprofits. The social justice program areas are: the Greater Boston Jewish coalition for literacy, which mobilizes hundreds of volunteers to provide weekly tutoring to elementary school children in under resourced urban elementary schools. The Council also provides holocaust programming and education, in conjunction with the new england holocaust memorial.
Israel engagement - the Council is committed to engaging with people from diverse backgrounds to foster civil dialogue and build support for israel, the national homeland of the Jewish people. The Council pursues these goals by engaging in work such as Community education, cultivating relationships throughout Greater Boston, leading study tours to israel with Community leaders and supporting national efforts through our partnerships with the Jewish Council for public affairs. Study tour participants are strategically selected influential leaders, including clergy and elected officials.
Government affairs - working together with the Massachusetts association of Jewish federations (majf), the Council brings together broad coalitions of Jewish agencies, organizations and individuals, to advocate for compassionate public policies and adequate funding to assist those most in need and improve the quality of life for all. Through successful collaborations with a variety of advocacy organizations in the broader Community, the Council multiplies its impact and the reach of its contacts and fosters and develops relationships with governmental officials at the federal, state and local levels in order to achieve policy successes in the budgetary, administrative and legislative arenas.
Immigrant and refugee support the Council takes a multi-pronged approach to stand in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors, including organizing sanctuary clusters and immigration detention accompaniment. Since september of 2021 we have been part of a comprehensive network welcoming afghan immigrants and refugees into our Community and have organized 35 congregational support teams, including 25 synagogues, in order to welcome some 200 afghan individuals and families.