JCPA Webinars July 2018 – June 2019 Response to Current Events Special Briefing on the Pittsburgh Massacre: White Nationalism and Antisemitism October 28, 2018 This briefing addressed the context of the attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue, why white nationalists so obsessed with Jews and what are the roots of this form of anti-Semitism. Also addressed are the best ways to combat it. Featuring Eric K. Ward, Executive Director, Western States Center. 2018 Election Wrap-Up and the Jewish Community November 8, 2018 The 2018 midterm elections were among the most competitive ones that have been seen in recent years. All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate are being contested. This webinar discusses the outcomes of the election, and what the results may mean for American Jews and Jewish community relations. Featuring: Jane Eisner, Editor in Chief, the Forward, Ron Kampeas, Washington Bureau Chief, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), and Stewart Ain, Staff Writer, New York Jewish Week. Moderator: Corey Shapiro, JCPA Frank Fellow. A New U.S. Approach to Gaza January 29. 2019 Co-sponsored by the Israel Policy Forum and JCPA. An interactive meeting with the lead authors of the "Ending Gaza's Perpetual Crisis" report, published in December 2018 by Brookings and Center for a New American Security (CNAS). The presentation and discussion showcased a variety of avenues for future U.S. policy to address the cycle of violence and humanitarian crises that currently characterize the Gaza Strip. Featuring: Hady Amr, Visiting Fellow, Brookings Institute, Ilan Goldberg, Director, CNAS Middle East Security Program, Dr. Natan Sachs, Director, Brookings Institute, Center for Middle East Policy. Moderator: Susie Gelman, Chair, Israel Policy Forum. U.S. Recognition of Israel's Sovereignty over the Golan Heights: Good or Bad Idea? May 22. 2019 Co-sponsored by JCPA and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington. Featuring Amb. Dennis Ross, Former Special Assistant to President Barak Obama, Counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow, The Washington Institute. JCPA’s CRCast In each webcast, JCPA’s David Bernstein interviews a special guest expert or practitioner about the most pressing topics that are affecting the Jewish community and the Community Relations field. From the rise of anti-Semitism worldwide to the U.S. Administration to the challenges facing Israel, the CRCast provides insight into not just complex issues, but practical solutions. Jews of Color and the American Jewish Community July 25 Be’chol Lashon fosters positive, pluralistic, multicultural expressions of Judaism that embrace the ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity that has characterized the Jewish people throughout history up to the present. This CRCast addresses the challenges facing Jews of Color, and how we can work to make our community more inclusive. Featuring Lacey Schwartz, Director of Outreach North America, Be’chol Lashon, and CEO, Truth Aid production company. The Jewish Role in Ending Mass Incarceration September 20, 2018 Ending mass incarceration, which inequitably impacts people of color, is the civil rights issue of our times. This CRCast discusses how the Jewish community be a significant voice in the movement to change this system. Featuring Roy Waterman, III, Criminal Justice Project Manager, Jewish Council for Public Affairs. Mainline Protestants and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Where Do We Go from Here? September 26, 2018 The Mainline Protestant churches have been a focus of Boycotts, Divestments, and Sanctions (BDS) activity for almost two decades. Learn about the lessons from the conventions in Presbyterian and Episcopal churches this past summer – and what are the next steps for the community relations field. Featuring Ethan Felson, Executive Director, Israel Action Network (IAN). The Future of America’s Immigration System October 17, 2018 Over the past year, the Administration has instituted a number of significant changes to U.S. asylum and refugee policies. This CRCast discusses the future of immigration policy in the United States and how we can we ensure sensible reform. Featuring Lee Gelert, ACLU Deputy Director National Immigrants’ Rights Project; Director, Access to the Courts’ Program. Changes in the Arab Media and New Challenges for American Jews October 31, 2018 This CRCast addresses how has the popular media in the Arab world shifted, if at all, in its attitudes toward Israel and Jews and how should American Jews react to anti-Semitism in the Arab and Muslim world, Europe, the U.S., and in the press. Featuring Yigal Carmon, President, Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). Navigating the Progressive Conversation April 24. 2019 Jewish community relations leaders must increasingly engage in intersectional spaces, addressing challenging topics such as the Palestinian-Israel conflict, anti-Semitism, and complicated power dynamics among community groups. This CRCast addresses how can we represent both our particular interests and the broader set of issues we care about in such spaces. Featuring Nancy K. Kaufman, Chief Executive Officer, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW). State of Religious Pluralism in Israel May 15, 2019 Religious pluralism has been a sticking point in Israel-Diaspora relations. Disagreements over the status of the Kotel, recognizing non-Orthodox rabbis, and the status of converts are constantly in play. This CRCast discusses the current status of these issues and the threats and opportunities moving forward. Featuring Orly Erez-Likhovski, Legal Department Director, Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC). Managing Ideological Polarization Inside the Jewish Community May 22, 2019 Discourse among American Jews has become more polarized in recent years. Issues ranging from the Iran deal, to Israel, to how to define and respond to anti-Semitism have divided our community. This CRCast discusses how can we manage these tensions and keep people together amid differences. Featuring Rabbi David Stern, Senior Rabbi, Temple Emanu-El, Dallas, Texas. Are Jews Being Excluded from Social Justice Coalitions? June 5, 2019 Jewish social justice activists on and off campus have reported that they have been required to “check their Zionism at the door.” Two JCRC directors—one who infamously had been asked to leave the Chicago Dyke March in March 2017, and another with experience in ensuring Jewish participation in intersectional circles—share their stories and strategies. Featuring Jackie Congedo, Director, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and Laurel Grauer, Director, Community Relations and Israel Affairs, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS Our Faith, Our Vote: Learn How to get Involved in the 2018 Elections July 11, 2018 Co-sponsored by Presbyterian Church, JCPA, Islamic Relief USA, Emgage USA, National African American Clergy Network, Skinner Leadership Institute, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Friends Committee on National Legislation, United Church of Christ This webinar explained how to set up a voter registration drive, best practices for engaging candidates on key issues, voter protection efforts, how to ensure all votes are counted, and shared examples of what other faith organizations and communities prepared during this election cycle. Reut Report on Community Relations April 5 and 12, 2019 The Reut Group, after studying efforts in the United States to delegitimize Israel, produced an independent report at the end of 2018 that concluded that the community relations field is the American Jewish success story and maintains a key role in uniting communities and creating coalitions to advance Jewish communal interests and values. As a result of these findings, a Reut led strategic planning with JCPA and JCRC leadership resulted in a strategic framework. Featuring Gidi Grinstein, Executive Director, Reut (April 5) and Rabbi Doug Kahn. Broadtent Consulting (April 12). "Black-Jewish Relations: Then and Now" -- a JCPA Civil Rights Mission 2019 Primer April 11, 2019 On the eve of the first anniversary of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) led a civil rights mission on April 28 – 20 to Atlanta and Alabama. This was part of the organization’s efforts to re-engage the Jewish communities in current day civil rights efforts. The trip wascomprised of 54 Jewish leaders in the community relations field from 13 States around the country. To provide a frame and foundational knowledge base for participants, this program focused on the history of the Jewish community during the civil rights movement and about the current state of our relationship looking toward the future. Featuring: Bruce Turnbull, Co-Chair, JCPA Criminal Justice Initiative and Rabbi Shai Held, Rosh Yeshiva Chair in Jewish, Thought at Mechon Hadar. Israeli-Palestinian Issue The Future of Israeli Palestinian Relations, Part I June 6, 2019 The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to rage. What are the opportunities and threats to move forward in resolving the conflict? David Halperin and Michael Koplow of the Israel Policy Forum break down what annexation is, how it impacts the larger Israel conversation in America, and ways to engage with your community about this complex topic. The Future of Israeli-Palestinian Relations, Part 2 June 19, 2019 The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues unabated. This