Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine

Your Community. Your Place.

As a combined Jewish Federation, Jewish Community Center and Jewish Family Services program, the JCA is here to be a resource for the entire Southern Maine community.

Thanks to the dedication of our staff and the unwavering support of our network, the JCA impacts our community in many ways. Working with an array of organizations and local congregations, we function as the hub of Jewish programming in Southern Maine.

Community Relations Council

Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)

Are you interested in community relations work on behalf of the Jewish Community Alliance (JCA)? The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is accepting new members!

The new JCRC is born of the belief that in a post-10/7 world, relationships are everything. While JCA regularly makes statements on our social media, in our newsletter, and to media organizations, the JCRC is invested in community relations: building bridges across faith and cultural lines in order to combat antisemitism and promote understanding of Jewish issues and the Jewish story. In short, we prioritize relationships over press releases, and we believe that hearts and minds are won in conversations and events that bring people together. Here are a few testimonials from our community-centered approach:

“Listening to all the points about Jewish history helped me remember what my parents used to tell me about Orang Jahudi (Malay for “Jewish people”) and their fight for freedom! My learning of the history of the Jewish people was much more important than the food. My heart was full that night.” —Indonesian community member on the JCRC’s Jewish-Asian Friendship Dinner.

"Minority groups like the Tutsis or others, it’s good for us to support Jewish people. Our people have many similar values: we discuss issues, we support our communities strongly, we don’t eat pork. If I see Jewish people in the community, I see my brother or sister, even if I don’t know them." —Paul Niyonizigiye, from a JCRC spotlight featuring non-Jewish allies.

The new JCRC consists of three volunteer committees that assist JCRC leadership, including JCRC Director Zach Schwartz, in their mission of bridge-building and combating antisemitism. These committees include a Government Advocacy Committee, Intercultural Corps, and K-12 Advocacy Group.

JCRC Platform

The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine is the largest Jewish organization in the state; however, Maine’s Jewish community is diverse, and while we all care about fighting hatred and antisemitism, we may not always agree on the best way to unite against it. Therefore, we want to make clear the JCRC platform and values, which represent many, but not all, Jewish Mainers. They can be distilled into two major points:

• First and foremost, we stand united against antisemitism and hatred against Jewish people in Maine, and everywhere across the world.
• Secondly, we oppose any measure that unfairly demonizes, delegitimizes, or applies a double standard to the state of Israel, such as BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction); our members hold a wide range of beliefs on Israeli issues, yet we unequivocally support Israel’s right to exist.

How to Join

The JCRC is open to all community members (Jewish and non-Jewish) who are interested in our work and aligned with our platform. Members are welcome to join one, two, or all three committees. All JCRC members receive:

• Specialized training sessions from renowned local experts and national organizations such as the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Jews of Color Initiative, and Jewish Federations for North America
• Quarterly lunches provided by the JCA to celebrate wins
• Member perks such as books, invitations to JCA and other cultural events, and more
• A community of like-minded individuals across demographic lines who are united in our mission to build bridges and pioneer the future of Jewish community relations work!
  

Government Advocacy Committee

This group builds relationships with the elected officials that represent them and other governmental leaders on behalf of the JCRC. Examples of work that committee members would do include meeting with their local State Representatives or city councilors, writing letters in favor or opposition to a bill, and receiving specialized, non-public briefings on antisemitic incidents in Maine.

Intercultural Corps

This group builds friendship with other communities and faiths, working to see our communities flourish together. Examples of work that the committee members would do include attending other cultures’ festivals/celebrations/commemorations as representatives of the JCRC, volunteering for other communities during their times of need, or participating in cross-cultural exchange programs that promote learning between Jews and non-Jews.

K-12 Advocacy

This group supports Jewish students and educators in Maine’s schools. Examples of work that the committee members may do include meeting with school administrators on Jewish issues, communicating with schools about observance of Jewish holidays, or recommending Jewish perspectives in curricula.

We will continue to update the JCA website about the work of the JCRC—stay tuned!

Zach Schwartz, Director, Jewish Community Relations Council

Mandy Levine, Chair, Jewish Community Relations Council

Leslie Kirby, CEO, Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine

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