REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2013–2015 | 5774 –5775

It is not what one says, but rather what one does, that makes all the difference in the world.

Pirke Avot (Ethics of Our Fathers) 1:17

JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF GREATER WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS • ISRAEL ADVOCACY • INTERGROUP RELATIONS • SOCIAL JUSTICEMARYLAND • VIRGINIA • WASHINGTON, D.C. • SINCE 1938

REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2013–2015 | 5774 –5775

Championing our Community: Living Jewish Values

JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF GREATER WASHINGTON

REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2013–2015 | 5774–5776

Dear Friends:

From the days when Moses made demands of the Pharaoh and then led the Hebrews out of slavery, there has always been someone willing to champion the needs and the people of the Jewish community. Today, when the American Jewish community is strong and confident enough to be its own champion, there are leaders and institutions dedicated to safeguard-ing our interests as a people and as a community.

For nearly eight decades the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Wash-ington has been the champion of the Jewish community in the Nation’s capital region. The JCRC brings together leaders from across religious denominations, political affiliations and cultural backgrounds to advocate for our shared community.

The JCRC champions the Jewish values that guide us. We defend the causes that we agree matter most. We support the vulnerable. We uphold the rights of those who need strong advocates. And we promote the needs of our own community. We champion Israel, the homeland of the largest Jewish community in the world. And we honor the experiences of those who lived through the Holocaust and mourn those who did not.

This report covers two robust years of JCRC programming. In its pages you will read about the JCRC’s role in local, regional and national government relations on behalf of the Jewish community; advocacy efforts for our legislative priorities and communal institutions; coali-tion building with other faith and ethnic groups; advocacy and education on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Israel; the tireless drive to free an unjustly imprisoned member of our community; and the upholding of our community’s commitment to Holocaust remembrance and education.

Many of these accomplishments took place under the leadership of my predecessor Joe Sandler. I share with Joe an immense pride in the JCRC’s achievements and our organiza-tion’s impact.

It is an honor to lead the JCRC as we champion the values and priorities that sustain and strengthen us as a community.

B’Shalom,

Cookie Hymer Blitz JCRC President

LETTER FROM PRESIDENT

Mission StatementThe Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington is the central public affairs and community relations arm of the organized Jewish community in our nation’s capital and surrounding region. The JCRC advocates for Jewish institutions and values, educates the community about key issues of concern, and reaches out to our neighbors to build a better world for us all. Our work advances the values of freedom, justice and democratic pluralism. The JCRC works to promote these values through four pillars of action: government relations, Israel advocacy, inter-group relations and social justice. The JCRC determines a consensus on a broad range of public policy is-sues central to Jewish conscience and concern and then publicizes those concerns to Washington area legislators and civic, public opinion, media and interfaith leaders. The JCRC also coordinates community programs to provide educational and advocacy op-portunities on priority domestic and international issues. Through this work, the JCRC promotes the interests of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and more than 100 constituent agencies, organizations and synagogues in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland.

MAIN OFFICE 6101 Executive Blvd., Suite 300 | North Bethesda, MD 20852 | (301) 770-0881VIRGINIA OFFICE 8900 Little River Turnpike | Fairfax, VA 22031 | (703) 962-9230D.C. OFFICE 1775 K Street, NW | Washington, D.C. 20006 | (202) 553-5255

[email protected] | www.jcouncil.org

Government Relations ................................................................................ 5Maryland ............................................................................................... 5Virginia ............................................................................................... 12Washington, DC .................................................................................. 15

Israel Action Center and International Affairs ........................................... 17

Holocaust Commission .............................................................................. 27

Education .................................................................................................. 31

Social Justice and Intergroup Relations .................................................... 33

Financial Review ....................................................................................... 38

Sponsors ................................................................................................... 39

Constituent Organizations ........................................................................ 41

Board of Directors, Past Presidents, Executive Committee, Staff, and Consultants ........................................... 42

Mission StatementThe Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington is the central public affairs and community relations arm of the organized Jewish community in our nation’s capital and surrounding region. The JCRC advocates for Jewish institutions and values, educates the community about key issues of concern, and reaches out to our neighbors to build a better world for us all. Our work advances the values of freedom, justice and democratic pluralism. The JCRC works to promote these values through four pillars of action: government relations, Israel advocacy, inter-group relations and social justice. The JCRC determines a consensus on a broad range of public policy is-sues central to Jewish conscience and concern and then publicizes those concerns to Washington area legislators and civic, public opinion, media and interfaith leaders. The JCRC also coordinates community programs to provide educational and advocacy op-portunities on priority domestic and international issues. Through this work, the JCRC promotes the interests of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and more than 100 constituent agencies, organizations and synagogues in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland.

MAIN OFFICE 6101 Executive Blvd., Suite 300 | North Bethesda, MD 20852 | (301) 770-0881VIRGINIA OFFICE 8900 Little River Turnpike | Fairfax, VA 22031 | (703) 962-9230D.C. OFFICE 1775 K Street, NW | Washington, D.C. 20006 | (202) 553-5255

[email protected] | www.jcouncil.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS

On December 15th, a record-breaking 20 state delegates and senators briefed a packed audience as the JCRC and JCCNV hosted the annual Northern Virginia’s Legislators’ Reception. The JCRC unveiled its advocacy agenda spotlighting religious freedom, environmental protections, and social services. Audience members asked questions ranging from environmental protections and smart growth to finding a compromise that will allow for Medicaid expansion.

Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2013–2015 5

The JCRC represents the Jewish community to elected officials in Maryland, Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. We advocate for the needs and priorities of our community and for robust funding for our region’s Jewish agencies.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS


MARYLAND COMMISSION

Parlor Meetings JCRC board members host a series of par-lor meetings each winter in preparation for the legislative session. The Jewish commu-nity presents local elected officials with our legislative agenda and hears their priorities prior to session.

Maryland Commission members Ron Glancz, Barbara Zakheim, and Harvey Reiter hosted parlor meetings in districts 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, and 39. Elected officials were supportive of our agenda for Jewish agency funding, health care, affordable housing and early childhood education.

Maryland Legislative Sessions 2014 and 2015During the ninety-day legislative session of the 2014 Maryland General Assembly, the JCRC monitored over sixty bills. Together with our partners, we secured funding for Jewish agencies to better serve the com-munity and advocated for policies impor-tant to the Jewish community.

The 2015 legislative session was the first year in a new four-year cycle. Such a year is traditionally considered a “learning” time for getting to know new faces and adjusting to new committee assignments. We had another successful year working together with our partner agencies to secure funding for much-needed projects and to advocate for critical policy items.

The JCRC’s Maryland Commission leader-ship determines the JCRC’s position on bills that impact the Jewish community.

Budget InitiativesThe JCRC helped secure the following grants:

• A $1 million capital budget grant for the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Greater Washington. These FY 2015 funds supported a renovation project to improve the JCC’s accessibility, func-tionality, and sustainability. The Center’s common areas, social hall, catering areas, art gallery, meeting rooms and classrooms were updated. An additional $500,000 grant for the JCC’s ongoing renovation project was included in the FY 2016 capital budget.

• A $225,000 FY 2015 grant and a $225,000 FY 2016 grant were approved within the Department of Aging’s budget to support “aging-in-place” programs in Montgom-ery County. These grants help seniors get the services they need to stay in their communities and specifically benefit Naturally Occurring Retirement Communi-ties (NORC’s) in Montgomery County.

• Also included in the Department of Aging’s FY 2015 and FY 2016 budgets were two $350,000 grants for the Jewish Social Services Agency (JSSA) to help meet the growing needs of aging Holocaust survivors in our area.

Thirty five individuals came out for the 2014 Securing Briefing for Northern Virginia Jewish Institutions. The day included law enforcement and Jewish security expert panels as well as smaller setting workshops and Q&A with area chiefs of police. The JCRC organizes this program every two years in partnership with the ADL and Jewish Federation. Experts from the FBI, Virginia State and local police presided in the first panel providing an overview of the current threat

6 Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2013–2015

• Two $275,000 grants approved within the Department of Business and Economic Development’s budget to support the Maryland-Israel Development Cen-ter (MIDC). MIDC investments have provided hundreds of jobs in Maryland and Israel.

The General Assembly approved the fol-lowing Bond Bills:

• A $130,000 bond bill for the Jewish Social Service Agency to modernize their Montrose Road office, which has not been updated since 1969.

• A $120,000 bond bill for the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA). These dollars will fund more energy efficient heating and cooling systems, and the replacement of all first floor single paned windows with dual pane glass.

• A $55,000 bond bill for the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy (MJBHA) to complete the renovation of their track and field facilities that are used not only by the school but also by the entire com-munity.

• A $100,000 bond bill for the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes to address structural issues and maximize accessibility renovations in several group homes. These dollars will ensure that the homes remain safe and accommodating for residents as they age in place.

• A $75,000 bond bill for the Jewish Coun-cil for the Aging’s Ann L. Bronfman Cen-ter in Rockville. This bond bill will allow JCA to improve its parking lot’s safety and accessibility for those with disabilities and upgrade some of the facilities at the Misler Adult Day Center. This bill will also allow JCA to better serve the clients of the Kensington Club, which is located in the Bronfman Center and provides activi-ties, camaraderie and coping skills for people in the early stages of diagnosed memory loss.

• A $25,000 bond bill for the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy. These dol-lars will be used for additional refrigera-tion in the kitchen. The school’s food service department provides meals to summer programs for children living be-low the poverty line and to low-income seniors through partner organizations.

2014 Policy InitiativesSenate Bill 333/House Bill 307, Peace Orders and Protective Orders—Burden of ProofMaryland law previously required victims of domestic abuse to prove abuse by “clear and convincing evidence.” This bill changes the burden of proof to a “preponderance of the evidence.” Passage of this legisla-tion is a victory for justice and for victims of domestic abuse in Maryland.

Senate Bill 754/House Bill 1326, Public-Private Partnerships-Disclosure of Involvement in Deportations-RequirementsThis legislation was designed to prohibit companies from qualifying as bidders on public-private partnerships with the State of Maryland if they were involved in deporta-tions to Nazi death camps and have not compensated victims. A company bid-ding on building Metro’s Montgomery County Purple Line, Keolis, is a subsidiary of France’s national railway company. The parent company was responsible for the deportation of more than 76,000 Jews and other “undesirables” during the Holocaust. Although this bill failed to make it out of committee, the federal government has since announced an agreement with the French government that includes repara-tions to the victims of these deportations.

Senate Bill 78/House Bill 696, Criminal Law-Human Trafficking —Victims Under Age 21For nearly ten years, the JCRC has been a strong supporter of legislation to address human trafficking. This bill would have changed Maryland law to designate as minors all individuals 21 years of age or younger. This would entitle them to greater legal protection against human trafficking and further the goal of criminalizing traffick-ing and punishing perpetrators. The bill did not pass.

TOP TO BOTTOM: Montgomery County Executive Candidate Ike Leggett speak-ing to voters.

Congressman John Delaney speaking at the JCRC Rally to Protect Jewish Funerals in front of the Federal Trade Commission.


Senate Bill 332/House Bill 297, Prekindergarten Expansion Act of 2014The state will invest $4.3 million towards enrolling into prekindergarten programs an additional 1,600 children from low-income families. This will help close the achieve-ment gap and build a strong educational foundation for Maryland’s children while increasing revenue to the State Treasury. Local school systems and qualified com-munity-based providers, including private schools, will be eligible to apply for grants to expand and enhance existing half and full-day prekindergarten programs. This bill was signed into law.

Senate Bill 212/House Bill 1265, Fairness for All Marylanders ActThis law prohibits discrimination against transgendered Marylanders in employ-ment, housing, credit and public accom-modations by adding “gender identity” to existing anti-discrimination laws. This bill and similar legislation in Montgomery County help secure basic civil rights. The bill passed.

Senate Bill 331/House Bill 295, Maryland Minimum Wage Act of 2014The JCRC is committed to the Jewish value to “champion the poor and the needy,” and to ensuring that individuals who work full time can provide for their families. For the first time since 2006, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation to raise the state’s minimum wage, mandating an hourly increase from $7.25 to $10.10 by 2018. At the JCRC’s urging, the law also includes a mandatory 3.5 percent increase in the Gov-ernor’s budget every fiscal year from 2016 to 2019 for wages for developmental disability service providers. This increase is important in assuring that organizations like the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes are able to retain their employees.

Senate Bill 287/House Bill 830, Alcoholic Beverages—Shipment of Kosher Wine Sold at RetailKosher wine is essential to Jewish ritual practice. The JCRC supported this legisla-tion in order to increase access to kosher wine. Ultimately, stakeholders agreed on non-legislative efforts to achieve this goal, with a reporting requirement for legislators to assess whether the efforts are succeed-ing. We support efforts to further expand access to kosher wines for Marylanders.

Senate Bill 647/House Bill 998, Public Higher Education-Use of Funds—ProhibitionThis legislation was crafted in response to the passage of an American Studies As-sociation (ASA) resolution boycotting Israeli universities. The JCRC strongly opposes the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and con-demned the ASA’s boycott as an intolerable form of bigotry and hostility against Jews and the Jewish state. But the legislation, as drafted, would have cut funding to state universities whose faculty were members of any organization that supported BDS. This would have stifled voices within organiza-tions opposed to BDS. The JCRC and other Jewish organizations opposed the legisla-tion because it would have harmed aca-demic freedom. Instead, we supported a resolution condemning the ASA resolution as anti-Semitic and contrary to democratic values. Legislators included in the budget an amendment condemning the ASA and the boycott.


On February 4th, 45 members of the Northern Virginia Jewish community traveled to Richmond to join over 100 members of the statewide Jewish community for Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day. JCRC Virginia Commission Co-Chair Bob Budoff (seated center) with JCRC Legislative Consultant Amy York, Herschel Kanter, Michael Perel, Sheila Budoff, Bruce Waxman, and Ruth Schepper (L to R).


2015 Policy InitiativesThe Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s (DHMH) Operating Budget was at risk as a result of Governor Hogan’s proposed 2 percent across-the-board cut to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 budget.

Included in this budget item is the Devel-opmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). Loss of DDA funding would have negatively impacted the ability of organizations like the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes (JFGH) to provide high quality services to individu-als with disabilities. FY 2015 cuts previously reduced JFGH funding by $67,600. In FY 2016, a 50 percent reduction in the wage increase for direct care workers, from 3.5 percent to 1.75 percent, would have resulted in a further $119,500 reduction in funding. This would have led to high staff turnover and diverted attention from client care initiatives to recruiting and training special needs service employees. The JCRC worked with our Montgomery County legislators to restore this wage increase to 3 percent.

The DHMH budget also subsidizes Adult Day Care programs such as the Jewish Council for the Aging’s (JCA) Misler Adult Day Center. The funding comes through a grant from the Office of Health Services (OHS). The proposed budget would have eliminated the OHS grant program, and 500 low-income adults with physical and mental illnesses who are not eligible for Medicaid would have had to provide an additional $4,000 to $14,000 in individual fees. Approximately 25 percent of partici-pants at the Misler Adult Day Center are currently eligible to receive a subsidy from the grant, which amounts to over $70,000 of assistance. The JCRC’s efforts to maintain funding for the grant were successful.

Domestic Violence and Protective OrdersThe JCRC supports the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA). This session we advocated for improvements to legal protections for victims of abuse in our region.

Senate Bill 269/House Bill 225, Domestic Violence Additional ReliefThis legislation authorizes a judge issuing a final protective order to include additional relief to protect an eligible person from abuse. This bill passed.

Senate Bill 270/House Bill 390, Protective Order and Peace Order Petitions—Maryland ResidentsThis bill authorizes the filing of a protective order or peace order if the person eligible for relief is a resident of the State, regard-less of whether the alleged abuse occurred in the state. This bill passed.

Senate Bill 277/ House Bill 807, Family Law—Protective Order Petitions—Additional ReliefThis legislation would allow a judge to order a final protective order respondent to remain a specified distance away from the residence, place of employment, school, or temporary residence of a person eligible for relief. This bill stalled in committee.

Senate Bill 315/House Bill 224, Domestic Violence—2 Year Protective OrderThis bill clarifies that extensions of protec-tive orders apply to consent orders and allows a judge to extend the terms of pro-tective orders under certain circumstances. This bill passed.

Senate Bill 477/ House Bill 606, Domestic Violence—Persons Eligible for ReliefThis bill expands “persons eligible for relief” to include “an individual who has had a sexual relationship with the respon-dent within one year before filing of the petition.” This provides more protection for victims of sex crimes and dating violence. This bill passed.

ABOVE: Senator Ben Cardin, after a town hall meeting, speaking with Mayor of Gaithersburg Sidney Katz, and JCRC Board Member Debra Feuer.

BELOW: Teachers visiting the JCRC table at the Maryland Council of Social Studies (MCSS) Conference.


Senate Bill 78/House Bill 503, Rape Survivor Family Protection ActThis bill would prevent accused rapists from claiming parental rights over children that were conceived during a sexual as-sault. Current law allows a man accused of fathering a child through rape to weigh in on custody and adoption decisions. This act would protect a rape survivor and her child by excluding her accused rapist from family decision-making. The bill received media attention but did not make it out of committee.

Human TraffickingThe JCRC takes seriously its ethical respon-sibility to combat modern day slavery. Ap-proximately 27 million people around the world are enslaved. The U.S. State Depart-ment estimates 600,000-800,000 victims of trafficking in the U.S. annually, including up to 300,000 children. This heinous crime is underreported, and less than one percent of traffickers are ever convicted.

Senate Bill 521/House Bill 456, Workgroup to Study Safe Harbor Policy for Youth Victims of Human TraffickingThis legislation successfully established a workgroup to study legal protections and services for youth victims of human traffick-ing. The workgroup must report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly.

Senate Bill 904/House Bill 241, Criminal Law—Human Trafficking— Adult Victim –PenaltyThis legislation would include adult victims in the state law that governs penalties for trafficking. Adults have been especially vul-nerable to commercial sexual exploitation. This bill was withdrawn.

House Bill 905, Criminal Law, Human Trafficking—Affirmative DefenseThis bill would provide that in a prosecution for certain charges related to prostitution, it is an affirmative defense of duress if the defendant committed the act as a result of being a victim of human trafficking. This bill never received a committee vote.

Elder AbuseOne in ten adults over the age of 60 is es-timated to be a victim of elder abuse. The JCRC’s partners—the Jewish Social Service Agency, Jewish Council for Aging, Charles E. Smith Life Communities and Jewish Co-alition for Domestic Abuse collaborated on developing the ElderSAFE center to stop elder abuse and neglect in our community. Protecting our elders is of the utmost im-portance and we must be prepared to pun-ish offenders to the full extent of the law.

Senate Bill 411/House Bill 20, Crimes—Elder Abuse or Neglect—Increased PenaltiesThis bill seeks to increase the maximum imprisonment for Elder Abuse or Neglect from ten to twenty years and increase the maximum fine for a first or second degree conviction from $10,000 to $20,000. This bill did not pass a vote.

Senate Bill 412/House Bill 31, Crimes—Elder Abuse or Neglect—Restrictions on Pretrial ReleaseThis legislation would prohibit the pretrial release of a defendant charged with first or second degree elder abuse or neglect. This bill did not pass a vote.

Senate Bill 405/ House Bill 487, Maryland Education CreditThe Business Tax Credits program pro-vides businesses with a state tax credit for a portion of their donations to scholarship organizations for nonpublic school students or to innovative enrichment programs for public school students. The program would encourage new private-source scholarship funds, enabling lower-income students to attend Jewish schools. This legislation did not move beyond committee. However, in the final days of session, the Governor introduced a supplemental budget that would have allocated $5 million for partial reimbursements for financial assistance to students attending nonpublic schools. The program was not included in the budget. The JCRC will continue to support the Maryland education tax bill in future legisla-tive sessions.


TOP TO BOTTOM: Candidates Forum at Temple Rodef Shalom.

Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD) and Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Council for the Aging David Gamse at Maryland Advocacy Day in Annapolis.


Senate Bill 415/House Bill 592, State Donor Registry—Information and Methods of Registration—Clerks of Circuit Courts, Registers of Wills, and Motor Vehicle AdministrationJewish tradition allows for multiple posi-tions on organ donation. Jewish law places ultimate value on preserving human life but also prohibits desecration of a dead body. Many people consult with their Rabbis prior to deciding whether or not to be an organ donor. The JCRC appreciates the sponsor’s efforts to maintain this program as an opt-in program and ensure that all citizens who choose to sign up are well informed about organ donation and the opt-out process. The bill did not pass.

Annapolis Advocacy DayThe JCRC’s Annual Advocacy Day was held on March 10, 2015 in partnership with the Baltimore Jewish Council. Over 100 activists from Montgomery County joined more than fifty elected officials in Annapolis. Par-ticipants engaged in intimate conversations with each elected official in their Annapolis office and heard directly from the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Comptroller, and Attorney General.

Elections 2014Candidate QuestionnairePrior to Election Day, the JCRC asked candidates for Governor, Attorney General, and Montgomery County Executive five questions about their positions on issues of concern to our community. Most of the can-didates returned responses, and the JCRC informed the community of voters.

Election AnalysisThe JCRC hosted leading U.S. political analyst Bill Schneider on a conference call immediately following the elections. More than 50 community members dialed in to hear his analysis and ask questions.

Election Results On November 4th, Maryland elected Re-publican Governor Larry Hogan. The JCRC began building a relationship with Governor Elect Hogan prior to the November elec-tions and now engages him on the Jewish community’s budgetary and policy concerns. The JCRC also congratulated and began cultivating relationships with all newly elect-ed members of the Montgomery County state delegation and County Council.

Montgomery County Advocacy The JCRC advocates for and guides Jew-ish agencies throughout the Montgomery County budget process. The JCRC main-tains strong relationships and meets with the County Executive and County Council members and mobilizes our activists to be involved in local advocacy efforts. Together we advance our community’s legislative agenda and help secure vital resources our agencies need in order to serve vulnerable clients.

ABOVE RIGHT: On March 10th, the Jewish Community Relations Council partnered with the Baltimore Jewish Council for our 2015 Annapolis Advocacy Day. Governor Larry Hogan at 2015 Annapolis Advocacy Day

ABOVE: DC Mayoral Debate at Sixth and I.

ABOVE: At Large Councilmember Marc Elrich, Orthodox Union Regional Director Karen Barall, Business Development Manager at Maryland/Israel Development Center Jennifer Raskas, Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington Chief Development Officer Adam Tannen, and Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Assistant Director of Community and Global Impact Alexis Bock-Robins at the 2015 Montgomery County Advocacy Day


County CouncilThe JCRC held our ninth and tenth annual Montgomery County Advocacy Days.

In April 2014 more than 70 JCRC activists advocated for our community’s priorities:

• County Executive Isiah (Ike) Leggett’s budget recommendation of over $1 million in capital and programmatic requests for Jewish agencies;

• A 1 percent inflationary adjustment to eligible renewable contracts for services provided by nonprofits in Montgomery County;

• A plan to review the cumulative cuts to nonprofits during the recession in order to return funding for contracted services to pre-recession levels; and

• An Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) enrollment campaign.

The JCRC was delighted that the Mont-gomery County Council generously ap-proved over $1 million dollars in funding for our partner agencies to provide services for our community members.

In 2015 more than 60 activists joined us in Rockville for meetings with the Mont-gomery County Council. We successfully advocated for financing for Jewish social service agencies, nonprofit organizations of Montgomery County and the county’s most vulnerable residents.

In 2015 the JCRC secured more than $800,000 for Jewish institutions in the Mont-gomery County Executive’s Budget. Benefi-ciaries of this funding include the Charles E. Smith Life Communities, Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, Jewish Commu-nity Center of Greater Washington, Jewish Council for the Aging, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Jewish Foundation for Group Homes, Jewish Social Service Agency and the Maryland/Israel Develop-ment Center. These funds will be used to support clinical social services, employment training, senior nutrition programs, security, community transportation and economic development between Maryland and Israel.

Community Advocacy Funeral Home MergerThe JCRC played a leading role in organizing a grass roots campaign to ensure Jewish funeral home competition in Montgomery County. The initiative culminated in more than 4,000 letters and e-mails submitted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Together with the Jewish Funeral Practices Committee (JFPC) of Greater Washington, the JCRC made the case to the FTC to prevent a Service Corporation International (SCI) monopoly in Montgomery County. We hosted a town hall meeting with the FTC and more than 100 community activ-ists and organized a demonstration on the steps of the FTC in Washington, D.C. JCRC Board Member Bobby Epstein played a critical role in this campaign.

The FTC declared SCI’s acquisitions anticompetitive and forced it to give up Sagel Funeral Direction. There is no longer a monopoly of Jewish funeral services in Montgomery County.

Alef Beit Montessori SchoolThe JCRC assisted Alef Beit Montessori School in submitting a proposal to Montgomery County to find a temporary home. The tempo-rary location was in a holding school that the county uses when it needs to relocate a public school temporarily. After a year the school secured a new temporary site in Bethesda that will be its home for two years.

Security in PotomacA sign and several school busses were defaced with swastikas at a Jewish school on Seven Locks Road. This was the third anti-Semitic incident in five years on a one-mile stretch of road. The JCRC ap-proached Montgomery County Police Chief Manger and his team to find a solution to this problem. The perpetrators were caught and arrested, and the JCRC and Federation acquired and installed new security equip-ment for this area in an effort to protect against future vandalism.

Maryland State Department of Education—Expanded Pre-schoolThe JCRC and the Orthodox Union met with local synagogue preschool directors to ad-dress ongoing challenges regarding licensing requirements in Maryland. They created a working coalition to improve licensing and the certification processes for schools and staff.


TOP TO BOTTOM: Leonard Bebchick participating in Montgomery County Maryland Advocacy Day.

Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn (D-VA), JCRC Board Members Irv Varkonyi, Steven David Stone, and Cookie Hymer Blitz.


VIRGINIA COMMISSION

Virginia ElectionsNovember 2014 introduced significant change to Northern Virginia. Congressmen Jim Moran and Frank Wolf retired and were replaced by former Lieutenant Governor and Ambassador Don Beyer and State Delegate Barbara Comstock.

Candidate Forums The JCRC met with candidates and co-hosted the following public forums:

• Candidate debate before the 8th Congressional District Primary where Congressman Beyer was selected as the Democratic nominee. Hosted with the Beth El Brotherhood.

• Candidate debate with contenders for Frank Wolf’s 10th Congressional District seat. Hosted with Temple Rodef Shalom.

• Forum for all federal candidates at Congregation Olam Tikvah.

• Gubernatorial surrogates forum that presented the views of candidates Terry McAuliffe (D-VA) and sitting Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R-VA). Hosted with Congregation Olam Tikvah.

• Forum featuring a dozen local candi-dates for the State House of Delegates and for Fairfax County sheriff. Candi-dates for treasurer and tax commis-sioner explained the responsibilities and impact of those offices. Hosted with Temple Rodef Shalom.

The JCRC encouraged the Jewish commu-nity to “Get out the Vote” via social media. We provided analysis of the positions of candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. And we offered expert analysis on the impact of the election results on our community.

At a campaign rally, a representative of gu-bernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli made a joke that many in the Jewish community found offensive. The JCRC took immediate action, releasing a statement and raising concerns in the local and national media about the insensitive joke. Mr. Cuccinelli condemned the remarks and the respon-sible official apologized. The JCRC praised Mr. Cuccinelli for his response and has since worked successfully with the party official on the issue of local primaries being held on Shabbat or Jewish holidays.

State Advocacy The JCRC advocated on issues of impor-tance to the Jewish community during the 2014 and 2015 Virginia Legislative sessions.

In 2014 we focused on defending the separation of church and state, support-ing robust funding for the Virginia Israel Advisory Board (VIAB), expanding protec-tions and funding for vulnerable Virginians, protecting our environment and promoting immigration reform.

During the 2015 session the JCRC worked to defeat a bill that would have permit-ted prayer before meetings of legislative and public bodies in violation of the First Amendment and a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision. Other successes included passage of a resolution in support of Israel, continued bi-partisan support for the Vir-ginia Israel Advisory Board, reparations for victims of the Virginia Eugenical Steriliza-tion Act of 1924 and the retention of the Attorney General’s declaration of residency status for qualifying young undocumented immigrants, enabling them to qualify for in-state tuition.

2014 Virginia Legislators’ ReceptionIn December, the JCRC hosted 20 state del-egates and senators and a packed audience for our annual Northern Virginia Legislators’ Reception at the JCC Northern Virginia. We unveiled our advocacy agenda spotlighting religious freedom, environmental protec-tions, and social services. The lawmakers expressed solidarity with our agenda and raised key issues of their own including eth-ics reform and Medicaid expansion.

Hanukkah Candle Lighting at the John A. Wilson building with District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray, and the Council of the District of Columbia.


TOP TO BOTTOM: JCRC Board Member Bob Budoff at the Israel@67 Fair

Elise Helgesen Aguilar, Federal Legislative Counsel at Americans United for Separa-tion of Church and State, speaking at the Northern Virginia Insiders Briefing.

Virginia Jewish Advocacy DayThe JCRC hosted our annual Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day in February 2014 and 2015.

More than 80 people from our community made the trip to Richmond in 2014 to join 200 other Jewish Virginians in advocating for issues that impact our community. Governor Terry McAuliffe, Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam, and Attorney General Mark Herring attended the program. JCRC activists met with more than 40 state senators and delegates from Northern Virginia to advocate on the following issues:

Upholding First Amendment Separation of Church and StateThe JCRC reviewed 17 bills impacting religious freedom in 2014. We played a key role in defeating two bills—the first would have allowed the teaching of creationism in science classes and the second would have enabled the possession of firearms on private school campuses.

We also partnered with educators, former military chaplains, Christians, Muslims, Hindus and several South Asian faith communities in opposing two bills that would have expanded school prayer and a third that would have allowed coercive sectarian prayer by military chaplains. The Governor vetoed the bills.

The Supreme Court ruled that Christian prayer is permitted in legislative invocations as long as minorities are not denigrated or denied equal participation. This embold-ened legislators who wish to reinterpret separation of church and state guidelines. The JCRC is working with a wide coalition of interfaith advocates to prevent this. We facilitated a meeting between legal experts and the Attorney General in preparation for the General Assembly. The Attorney General was receptive to our position.

Increased funding for the Virginia Israel Advisory Board (VIAB)Virginia’s FY 2015 budget increased VIAB funding from $177,000 to $200,000. This enabled VIAB to meet its mission of grow-ing Virginia-Israel business partnerships. The JCRC spearheaded the statewide ef-fort of the Jewish community to secure this increased funding.

Jewish Advocacy Day 2015 was equally suc-cessful. We began with an Insiders’ Briefing at the JCC Northern Virginia in January to inform constituents about the issues they would discuss with their legislators in Richmond. Guest speakers included former Executive Director of the ACLU of Virginia Kent Willis, Federal Legislative Counsel at Americans United for Separation of Church and State Elise Helgesen and Chairman of the Board of VIAB Mel Chaskin.

In February, 45 JCRC activists traveled to Richmond with more than 100 other Jewish Virginians. Governor McAuliffe, Lt. Gover-nor Northam, and Attorney General Her-ring welcomed the group, and participants met with 25 legislators to discuss religious freedom, the Virginia Israel Advisory Board, combating bias, voter access, Medicaid expansion and immigration reform.



Other Top IssuesIn-State Tuition for “DREAMers”The JCRC supported expanding in-state tuition to Virginia students who were brought to the Commonwealth as children by their undocumented parents. We were part of a coalition that included the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations, the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and several state universities and chambers of commerce. Leg-islation for this initiative did not make it out of committee, but our coalition secured a legal ruling allowing implementation of the Federal DREAM Act for the benefit of these students.

Funding for Victims of Forced SterilizationThe JCRC was active in an unusual partner-ship with the Christian Law Institute, the Family Foundation, and Planned Parent-hood to correct a longstanding historical wrong. We advocated for the compensa-tion of victims of forced sterilization. More than 3,000 disabled or poor Virginians suffered this fate over six decades based on so-called “scientific” theories of eugenics. Funding to compensate victims was placed in the state budget for the first time.

Advocacy for Medicaid ExpansionFor the past two years, the JCRC has advo-cated for the provision of health insurance coverage to 400,000 uninsured Virginians. The Virginia House of Delegates did not pass Medicaid expansion despite passage in the State Senate and encouragement from the Governor. In 2014 the JCRC testi-fied in favor of the expansion and issued an action alert asking our constituents to send letters to their legislators. The JCRC also hosted well-attended constituent meetings with moderate Republicans. Unfortunately, the 2014 state budget did not include Med-icaid expansion.

Anti-Trafficking & Ethics Legislation The JCRC supports strengthening law enforcement provisions on human traffick-ing. We worked with the Attorney Gen-eral’s director towards this goal. The JCRC also organized a forum with the Virginia Interfaith Center to educate our community about the warning signs of trafficking and how to respond.

Marriage AmendmentThe JCRC is a strong voice for combating bias, including our support for marriage equality for same sex couples. In 2014, we helped connect the ADL with leaders from local advocacy groups as they presented an amicus brief calling for a restrictive mar-riage amendment to be struck down. The amendment remained in force until the Supreme Court decision to legalize same sex marriage.

Voting RightsThe JCRC monitored more than 30 bills that address voter access and potential voter fraud. We monitored implementation of new voter identification requirements and helped educate the community to ensure each vote is counted. This issue is a top priority for many of our immigrant and interfaith coalition partners.

Earned Income Tax CreditThe JCRC is part of a coalition to expand the EITC in Virginia as an effective way to help low-income families escape poverty.

Federal InitiativesThe JCRC advocates for comprehensive im-migration reform alongside several national Jewish and interfaith coalition partners. We worked with the American Jewish Commit-tee (AJC) to bring rabbis from Richmond to Washington, D.C. to meet with their con-gressman, former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R), on this issue. The JCRC also reached out to rabbis in House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s (R-VA) district in Roanoke to advocate for immigration reform.

Holocaust survivor Ruth Kohn speaking to students at Congregation Beth Emeth in Herndon, Virginia.


Local AdvocacyFairfax County The JCRC and partner agencies secured funding from the Fairfax Community Con-solidated Funding Pool. One of the initia-tives funded is a volunteer rides program for seniors in Fairfax County coordinated by the Jewish Council for the Aging and the JCC of Northern Virginia. “NV Rides” successfully began operations coordinating rides for organizations serving seniors.

The JCRC provided community input on two proposed Fairfax noise ordinances that could have negatively impacted synagogues. Eight Fairfax synagogues and Jewish agencies signed a letter that helped encourage Fairfax County to reconsider the proposed legislation, and former JCRC President Steve Gell reviewed and deliv-ered the JCRC’s testimony. The county government reconsidered the legislation and postponed further action.

Community IncidentsFirehouse PrimariesThe JCRC worked with Republican Party Chair of the 10th Congressional District John Whitbeck to allow Jewish participa-tion in the Republican Firehouse Primaries held on Saturdays.

Anti-Muslim Remarks The JCRC expressed solidarity and support to the Virginia Muslim community after Bob FitzSimmonds, a one-time aide to former State Senator Ken Cuccinelli, refused to apologize for disparaging remarks he made against Muslims, Jains and other minority faiths. Mr. FitzSimmonds was forced from his party post as a result of his remarks.

WASHINGTON, D.C. COMISSION

Candidate ForumsIn 2014, the JCRC hosted a candidate forum at the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue for the District’s Democratic primary election. More than 600 D.C. voters attended this sold-out program. Washington City Paper reporter Will Sommers moderated a discussion with all seven mayoral candidates. Topics included tax and budget policy, plans to ad-dress homelessness and workforce literacy. The JCRC’s D.C. commission leaders also met with city council candidates.

Legislative AdvocacyInterfaith Budget Advocacy The JCRC joined forces with D.C. Catholic Charities, the Downtown Cluster of Con-gregations, the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute and more than 70 other faith and non-profit partners to advocate for budget reform. The coalition called for inclusion of emer-gency housing and welfare provisions in the District’s 2014 budget and an increase in the minimum wage. The JCRC met with members of the City Council and Mayor Gray on these issues. Our efforts contributed to an increase in the minimum wage and in resources devoted to emergency housing.

Scheduling Special ElectionsIn 2013, Congress passed legislation provid-ing to the D.C. Board of Ethics and Elections greater flexibility in scheduling special elec-tions. The JCRC worked with the D.C. City Council to pass a resolution that would ensure special elections do not conflict with major religious observances or community events. We were instrumental in making sure the 2014 primary election did not conflict with Passover.


LEFT: On September 28, JCRC and Sixth & I joined forces with eight co-sponsoring synagogues and Jewish agencies to host a candidate forum before the November Elections. Over 400 individuals regis-tered to hear all the Attorney General candidates discuss their priorities for DC’s newest elected office. JCRC’s DC Co-Chair Ed Rehfeld introduces the program mod-erator - Will Sommer of City Paper.

ABOVE TOP TO BOTTOM: Community members enjoying the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington Annual Concert.

Full choir performing at the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington Annual Concert.


Affordable Housing The JCRC visited the D.C. Council in support of the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF) Baseline Funding Act. This legislation sets the groundwork for a $100 million a year invest-ment in the Trust Fund, which provides loans and grants for affordable housing construc-tion and preservation in Washington. JCRC activist Judy Gross represented our agency at a D.C. City Council Meeting where the legislation was passed unanimously. This was a joint effort with the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development.

License to Carry Pistol Act— Houses of WorshipThe JCRC joined a coalition of interfaith groups to lobby the D.C. Council in support of the License to Carry a Pistol Amendment Act of 2014. The city council unanimously passed the legislation, prohibiting con-cealed pistols within houses of worship.

DC Religious Freedom Coalition The JCRC joined DC Catholic Charities in a religious freedom coalition to advocate for weekend parking near houses of wor-ship. Sunday parking remains a concern for houses of worship.

DC Budget Coalition The JCRC participates in a budget coalition convened by the Downtown Congregation Cluster and the DC Fiscal Policy Institute. The coalition addresses income inequality and poverty. This year, we helped secure additional funding for vital services by is-suing press releases and letters to the D.C. Council and visiting the Mayor.

DC Non-Profit Consortium Payment in lieu of Taxes (PILOT) programs seek to raise revenues from tax exempt non-profits and could have negative impacts on Jewish non-profits. The JCRC joined the D.C. Non-Profit consortium to monitor these proposals, which were eventually opposed by the Mayor and D.C. Council.

Community Outreach and Programming Hanukkah in D.C.D.C. City Council Members, public officials and staff, interfaith partners and Jewish community leaders participated in a D.C. Hanukkah celebration hosted by the Mayor for the third year in a row. JCRC representa-tives also presented remarks at a separate tree lighting celebration, which included a Christmas choir alongside presentations about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

Jews United for Justice Labor SederThe JCRC co-sponsored the Jews United for Justice Labor Seder and supported the effort by printing several hundred hag-gadot for the event. The seder focused on the minimum wage and paid sick leave for service employees.

DC Police Outreach The JCRC introduced the Jewish Federa-tion’s new security director to the director of DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)’s fusion center. The JCRC’s relation-ship with DC MPD has already proved instrumental in handling incidents of anti-Semitic graffiti in the district and ensuring security for JCRC rallies in support of Israel.

Security Briefing for Jewish Institutions The JCRC hosted our biannual security briefing for Jewish agencies and syna-gogues. Together with the Jewish Fed-eration and the ADL, we host local police chiefs and FBI and intelligence officers. They briefed Jewish leaders about cur-rent threats and responses. Jewish security experts also presented during the daylong workshop, which culminated in a reception with police chiefs and officers.

JCRC Noontime Series with Council Member Kenyan McDuffieIn July, the JCRC met with Jon Mandel, Community and Business Affairs Coordina-tor for Ward 5 Council Member McDuffie. The meeting was part of our noontime series for Washington’s Jewish leadership to meet with elected officials and other community leaders.


ISRAEL AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

The JCRC’s Israel Action Center (IAC) keeps the community informed and trains and mobilizes grass-roots activists to speak out for Israel. The IAC also advocates for pro-Israel policies and media coverage.


Scholar in Residence ProgramThe IAC launched an annual Scholar in Residence program to bring top-level ex-perts to our community to engage diverse audiences.

The first Scholar in Residence was Member of Knesset Rabbi Dov Lipman. Rabbi Lipman is a Silver Spring native known for combating religious extremism and coer-cion in Israel. During a four-day visit in Sep-tember 2013 he spoke at four synagogues and community forums at the Rockville and Fairfax JCCs and gave interviews to the Washington Post and the Washington Jew-ish Week. He shared a working breakfast with the JCRC’s major donors at the Embas-sy of Israel, addressed a Jewish Federation board meeting and engaged with scholars at the Washington Institute of Near East Policy. Rabbi Lipman met with members of Congress and spoke with Christian clergy at an interfaith breakfast.

He engaged a thousand members of the community in conversations about the modern face of Israel. He focused on inclusion of the Haredi community in Israeli society, the future of secular and religious relations in the State of Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship.

The second annual Scholar in Residence visited in November 2014. Israeli Colonel (res.) Dr. Bentzi Gruber discussed the ethics of the Israel Defense Forces with more than 700 high school, college and law students, members of the Jewish and

Muslim communities, and economists and policy analysts. Col. Gruber spoke at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Sixth & I Synagogue, the World Bank, Catholic University law school, Congregation Har Shalom, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, RAND Corporation and George Mason University. He ad-dressed the strategic challenges Israel faces and the critical decisions IDF officers and soldiers must make each day to keep civil-ians out of harm’s way.

Keeping the Community Informed The IAC takes seriously its commitment to keeping our community informed about Is-rael. Through community forums, lunchtime learning sessions, conference call briefings, and special programs at the Embassy of Israel we reach thousands of community members with briefings by decision makers, analysts, diplomats and subject matter ex-perts. The JCRC also alerts the community by email when there is breaking news about Israel or Jews around the world.

JCRC’s Inaugural Scholar-In-Residence Member of Knesset Rabbi Dov Lipman speaking at a reception at the Embassy of Israel.

In the fall of 2014, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Israel Action Center at the JCRC welcomed 14 10th, 11th, and 12th graders from all Jewish denominations from Northern Virginia to our 2nd Israel Engagement Fellowship.


Middle East Forums The Israel Action Center hosted the follow-ing community forums:

Environmentalism as a Pathway to PeaceIsraeli and Palestinian Directors of Friends of the Earth Middle East Gidon Bromberg and Nader al-Khateeb addressed hydro-politics and sustainable regional develop-ment as contributing factors to lasting peace in the Middle East.

Israel and the Next Generation: The Pew Study Results and Successful Models of Young Israel EngagementPew Religion researcher Alan Cooperman, AIPAC Leadership Development director Jonathan Kessler, and community shlicha Pnina Agenyahu discussed best practices for connecting young people to Israel in light of the Pew research study about American Jews.

Challenges in a Disintegrating Middle East: Israel’s National Security Director of the National Security Studies Center at the University of Haifa and visit-ing professor at Georgetown University Dan Scheuftan discussed regional threats to Israel, U.S. support for Israel and the strength of the Israeli population. Cohosted by Magen David Sephardic Congregation.

It’s in Our Hands: A Proposal for an Israeli Political InitiativeMember of Knesset Omer Barlev discussed his recent political initiative to ensure that Israel remains a strong, independent, secure and democratic Jewish state. Co-hosted by Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation and the JCC of Northern Virginia.

An Evening with Ambassador Gideon Meir: International Media Coverage of Israel During ConflictAmbassador Meir shared lessons he learned as an Israeli diplomat about Israel’s portrayal in the international media, the peace process and the relationship be-tween secular and religious communities in Israel. Moderated by JTA Washington Bureau Chief Ron Kampeas.

Israel at 66: Spies and Secret Defenders CBS News Correspondent Dan Raviv and Israeli Journalist Yossi Melman presented an inside look at how Israel defends itself against danger. The two leading experts on Israeli intelligence discussed covert operations and the sabotaging of Iran’s nuclear aspirations.

The Relationship between Israel and AzerbaijanIsrael’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Rafi Harpaz and Azerbaijani Ambassador to the United States Elin Suleymanov addressed the strategic importance of strong Israeli, American, and Azerbaijani ties. Cospon-sored by AJC.

Canada’s Support for IsraelThe Canadian Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission Denis Stevens discussed Canada’s support for Israel, the status of the holy sites and Canada’s commitment to combating anti-Semitism. Cosponsored by Temple Sinai.

Peace in the Middle East: How Do We Overcome the Psychological Barriers? Professors Ira Weiss and Sahar Khamis, Rabbi Uri Topolosky and Imam Mohamad Bashar Arafat analyzed the psychological factors perpetuating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how to overcome them. Mod-erated by Daniel Spiro and cosponsored by Har Tzeon Agudath Achim and the Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society of Washington.

TOP TO BOTTOM: Colonel (Res.) Dr. Bentzi Gruber spent three days (Nov 3-5, 2014) touring the Greater Washington Area as our Scholar in Residence speaking to more than 700 members of our community exploring the moral and legal aspects of the war on terror including Operation Protective Edge and how the IDF applies ethics in real time during combat making life and death deci-sions in a matter of seconds.

JCRC Executive Director Ron Halber, Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Scholar-In-Residence Member of Knesset Rabbi Dov Lipman.

Senior Research Fellow in Russian and Eurasian Studies and International Energy Policy at The Heritage Foundation, Ariel Cohen, Ph.D speaking on The Undeclared Russian-Ukrainian War: What Should the Jewish Communities Do? At the JCRC Annual Meeting.


Brown Bag Lunch SeriesThe JCRC, together with the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, hosts a lunch series chaired by former JCRC President Harvey Reiter and hosted by the law firm Stinson Leonard Street. Six pro-grams featured Israel-related topics.

Israel’s Natural Gas Discoveries— A Game Changer for the Middle East?With Bill Mogel, an internationally recog-nized energy lawyer, author and lecturer who is engaged in a natural gas project in Israel

The NSA Surveillance Program: Legal DilemmasWith Katherine Stern, Senior Counsel, Constitution Project Rule of Law Program

Our Soldiers Speak: How Democracies Fight Terrorism Within the Rule of Law: The Israeli ExperienceWith Colonel Eli Bar-On, Deputy Military Advocate General, Israel Defense Forces

Israel’s Security Challenges in a Disintegrating Middle EastWith Dr. Dan Schueftan, Director, National Securities Study Center, University of Haifa

Israel and American Academia: What is All the Fuss About? With Oren Marmorstein, Counselor for Pub-lic and Academic Affairs, Embassy of Israel

Brown Bag Lunch with Giora RommMajor General Giora Romm, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel, re-flected on his experiences as a POW in 1967 and his participation in the Yom Kippur War.

Lunch & Learn Discussions

Counter-Terrorism at the UN: A Legal Insider’s Perspective The first and only Israeli expert of the United Nations Security Council, Dr. David Scharia spoke to more than 70 people about the UN’s role in global counter-terror-ism. Cohosted by American Friends of Tel Aviv University and JCRC Board Member Ron Glancz.

The Extraordinary Relationship between Azerbaijan and IsraelDirector of Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company Rauf Mammadov discussed the company’s role as Israel’s largest oil supplier. Co-spon-sored by the JCCNV.

Conference Call Series The IAC provides timely analysis by top journalists, analysts and diplomats. We reached more than 1,500 people with the following briefings.

Egypt in Crisis with David Schenker, director of the Arab Politics program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Middle East Update: An Analysis of the Restarted Peace Process with founding editor of the Times of Israel David Horowitz

The Re-Starting of the Middle East Peace Process with Minister of Public Diplomacy at the Embassy of Israel Noam Katz

The Unfolding Situation in Syria: Global Implications with Executive Director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy Robert Satloff

The Iran Nuclear Deal: Implications for U.S.-Israel Relations with Wilson Center expert Aaron David Miller

The Implications of Suspended Peace Talks with Minister of Public Diplomacy at the Embassy of Israel Noam Katz

The Blame Game - An Analysis of the Collapse of the Peace Talks with Wilson Center expert Aaron David Miller

The Rising Tide of Global Anti-Semitism with the AJC’s Rabbi Andrew Baker.


CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Middle East Forum - Iran: The Nuclear Threat and Im-plications for the Greater Middle East with panelists Congressman Eliot Engel, 16th District, New York, Ranking Member House Foreign Affairs Committee; Congressman Ted Deutch, 21st District, Florida, Senior Member, House Foreign Affairs Commit-tee; Michael Singh, Managing Director, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Nathan Carleton, Communications Direc-tor, United Against Nuclear Iran.

Participants in the Israel Teen Engagement Fellowship, co-sponsored by the JCRC and The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

Middle East Forum with Dr. Dan Schueftan, Director of the National Security Studies Center at the University of Haifa and the Goldman Visiting Professor at the Depart-ment of Government, Georgetown Univer-sity: Challenges in a Disintegrating Middle East: Thoughts on Israel’s National Security.


Preventing a Nuclear Armed IranThe JCRC maintains community focus on the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. We hosted community forums and organized advocacy and educational campaigns.

Community Education We hosted three Middle East forums to discuss the threat Iran poses to Israel and the United States.

In 2014 the IAC hosted Rep. Elliott Engel (D-NY), Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Chairman of the Middle East Sub-Committee of the House Foreign Relations Committee, representatives from United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI) and senior policy analysts for community forums.

Other educational initiatives included:

Iran’s Nuclear Program: Actions Speak Louder than WordsAmbassador Dennis Ross addressed more than 200 community members about the threat Iran poses to the United States and Israel.

Georgia on My Mind: How Iran uses the Caucasus to Evade SanctionsDr. Emanuele Ottolenghi discussed the role of proxies, middlemen and enablers who help the Iranian regime evade U.S. sanctions. Co-sponsored by Magen David Sephardic Congregation.

Former IAC Director Arielle Poleg pub-lished a well-received op-ed in the Wash-ington Jewish Week calling for grass-roots activists to urge their elected officials to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.

Embassy Briefings

The Future of Israel’s Economy: Technology, Natural Gas & the Labor MarketThe JCRC hosted an exclusive leadership breakfast at the Embassy of Israel. Econo-mist Pinchas Landau discussed the growing impact of Israel’s energy sector after the discovery of natural gas, Israel’s shift from “start-up nation” to a country with a vibrant tech sector, and the demographic challeng-es affecting the Israeli labor market.

Israeli-Arab Economic DevelopmentThe IAC hosted an Embassy briefing with Aiman Saif, Director of the Economic De-velopment of the Arab, Druze and Circas-sian Sectors in the Israeli Prime Minister’s office. Cosponsored by The Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation, the Greater Washington Forum on Israeli Arab Issues, AJC, the Jewish Federation, and the Wash-ington D.C. Jewish Community Center.

ABOVE TOP TO BOTTOM: Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett speaking at the Stand Strong for Israel Rally.

Beth Joshua Congregation Rabbi Uri Topolosky with JCRC Executive Ron Halber at the Stand Strong for Israel Rally.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington CEO Steve Rakitt speaking at the Stand Strong for Israel Rally.

RIGHT: Deputy Head of Mission Reuven Azar, supporting the Stand Strong for Israel Rally.


ABOVE TOP TO BOTTOM: Middle East Forum at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia on Iran: The Nuclear Threat and Implications for the Greater Middle East with David Ibsen, Executive Director, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) and Emanuele Ottolenghi, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Middle East Forum at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington: Israel and the Next Generation: The Pew Study Results and Successful Models of Young Israel Engagement with Alan Cooperman, Director of Religion Research, Pew Research Center; Jonathan Kessler, Leadership Development Director, AIPAC; Pnina Agenyahu, Senior Shlicha for Israel Engagement, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington; and Avi West, Senior Education Officer, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

Legislative Advocacy Hundreds of community activists used JCRC Action Alerts to urge Congress to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.

• They thanked our Senators for voting in favor of Senate Resolution 65, bipartisan legislation reaffirming support for the full implementation and strength-ened enforcement of sanctions.

• JCRC activists thanked members of Congress who supported House Resolution 850, a comprehensive sanc-tions bill to increase pressure on Iran by strengthening existing sanctions, further limiting oil exports, and targeting human rights violators.

• IAC advocates contacted our Sena-tors in support of Senate Resolution 1881, the Nuclear Weapons Free Iran Act of 2013, to strengthen diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons. We thanked the reso-lution’s co-sponsors and urged others to sign on. The leadership of the JCRC and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington also sent a joint letter to Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) urging them to sup-port this important legislation. This bill was introduced in the Senate but did not come to a vote.

• Prior to the announcement of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015, the JCRC met with Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) to discuss the Jewish community’s priorities regarding a nuclear agreement with Iran. The JCRC reluctantly took a position against the proposed deal.


Israel Education and Synagogue Initiatives In 2013 the IAC introduced a series of educational programs dedicated to Israel advocacy. The following successful initiatives have become annual offerings of the JCRC.

• A four-part adult education course about Israel’s image, foreign relations, advocacy and politics. The inaugural sold-out course took place at the JCC Northern Virginia and was taught by former IAC Director Arielle Poleg and JCRC Board Member Bob Budoff.

• An Israel Engagement Fellowship program for teens, a joint program of the JCRC and the Jewish Federation. The fellowship offers evening classes and guest lecturers to a cohort of tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade students of all Jewish denominations from Mary-land, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. The teens discuss their connection to Israel and learn how to be savvy con-sumers of media. They study advocacy and social media skills and prepare for pro-Israel leadership roles on campus. The program culminates in a special evening with diplomats at the Embassy of Israel. Fellowship alumni return to their communities to lead peer discus-sions and programs about Israel.

• The IAC has trained three cohorts of Is-rael Engagement Fellows, including one track in Northern Virginia. More than 50 teens have completed the program.

The IAC visits synagogues in our region to update members about current events in Is-rael and provide advocacy training. The JCRC

• Briefed and trained more than 200 com-munity activists at Shaare Tefila Congre-gation in Olney, Maryland;

• Taught a targeted advocacy class at Temple Shalom; and

• Taught Israel advocacy to middle and high school students at Temple Shalom and B’nai Shalom of Olney.

ABOVE: Participants in the third cohort of the Israel Engagement Fellowship for Teens

LEFT: an attentive crowd listening to speakers Dan Raviv And Yossi Melman.


Israeli Elections The IAC kept the Washington community engaged in the March 2015 elections in Israel.

The Alep-Bet of Israel’s 2015 ElectionsIAC Director Noa Meir and Community shli-cha Pnina Agenyahu described the political process, key parties, leading candidates and issues facing Israeli voters to 50 mem-bers of Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase.

Election Night Real Time AnalysisThe IAC gave more than 100 community members a glimpse into the Israeli cam-paigns followed by an analysis of initial re-sults with Neri Zilber, journalist and visiting scholar at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

JCRC and JFGW Staff Lunch and Learn On Election Day the IAC and Federation presented at an informative lunch session for Jewish communal professionals.

Post Election Briefings The IAC briefed conservative Rabbis and Hillel International professionals on the im-plications of the election results at Congre-gation Beth El, Bethesda.

The IAC briefed 25 participants of the JCCNV’s Adult Outreach Program on the Israeli elections at Beth El Hebrew Congregation.

The JCRC co-sponsored two screenings of Crossing the Line 2: The New Face of Anti-Semitism on Campus. The film explores the rise of anti-Israel activity and anti-Semitism on North American university campuses. Film director Shoshana Palatnik spoke after the screenings. Co-sponsored by Jerusalem U, the Israeli House and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington.

IAC Director Noa Meir gave guest lectures about The Media as the Third Party to the Conflict at two media classes at the University of Maryland. She also spoke about Jewish schools’ engagement with Israel at the national Jewish Educators Assembly at the University of Maryland.

ABOVE (BOTH): Thank you to the 1,000 members of our Greater Washington Community who joined us in Washington, DC on Thursday, July 17th to Stand Strong For Israel.

RIGHT: Visiting Scholar at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Neri Zilber offering analysis of Israeli Election Day results


ABOVE TOP TO BOTTOM: Dr. Mark Strauss, Holocaust survivor, speaking to students at Rocky Run Middle School, at their annual “The Latest Generation Meets the Greatest Generation” program.

Israel Action Center Director Noa Meir at the Maryland Israel at 66 celebration

Monitoring and Combating Anti-Israel ActivityThe JCRC is committed to fighting anti-Isra-el activity in academia and our community.

American Public Health AssociationThe IAC mobilized against a one-sided American Public Health Association (APHA) resolution calling for “Improved Health in Palestinian Occupied Territories.” We urged JCRC board members to identify APHA members willing to speak out against the inaccurate resolution. We worked with the Israel Action Network of the JCPA/JFNA to encourage APHA members reject this reso-lution. The resolution was defeated.

George Mason UniversityThe IAC supported the Jewish community at George Mason University (GMU) in the face of BDS campaigns. The IAC provided strategic guidance and resources to GMU Hillel and the university administration when anti-Israel activists targeted winter commencement speaker and major GMU donor, Israeli philanthropist Shari Arison.

American Studies AssociationWhen the American Studies Association (ASA) called a vote to boycott Israel, the IAC and other community organizations quickly mobilized activists to contact their alma maters urging rejection of the boycott and withdrawal from the ASA. More than 250 academic institutions in North America, including all major universities in the Greater Washington area, publicly rejected the boycott. Six universities withdrew their ASA membership, twelve more denied being members, and the independent edi-torial boards of eight university newspapers condemned the boycott.

Modern Language AssociationThe Modern Language Association (MLA) defeated an anti-Israel resolution at their 2014 annual meeting. The IAC and the Israel Action Network organized university leadership and faculty to vote against the resolution and mobilize their own networks to do the same.

Israel Fest in VirginiaThe Jewish Federation’s Israel Fest in Virginia was targeted on social media by a small but vocal group of Palestinians. The JCRC helped ensure adequate security and a measured response.

Israeli Culture through FilmGreater Washington Forum on Israeli Arab IssuesAs a founding member of the steering committee of the Greater Washington Forum on Israeli Arab Issues (GWFIAI), the JCRC co-sponsored the GWFIAI’s fourth and fifth annual Community Education Days. Hundreds of community members attended the programs to learn about civic equality in the Jewish state.

The 2014 program was run in conjunction with the Washington, D.C. Jewish Film Fes-tival. The GWFIAI held two screenings and panel discussions exploring the daily lives and challenges of Arab citizens of Israel.

The 2015 program featured keynote speak-er Dr. Dalia Fadila, President of Al-Qasemi College of Engineering and Science. Dr. Fadila was joined by American University (AU) Scholar Dan Arbell and JDC’s director of Arab Society and Infrastructure Safa Gar. The day included the DC premiere of Danc-ing Arabs, a film adaption of autobiograph-ical novels by popular Israeli-Arab writer Sayed Kashua. IAC Director Noa Meir mod-erated a post-screening panel featuring AU Scholar Daniel Munayer, a Palestinian-Israeli Christian, and Maram Masawri, former head of the Early Childhood Education Depart-ment at Al Qasemi College in Israel.


More than 100 community members joined the JCRC and The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington on March 17th, as we celebrated Israel’s democracy on the day of its 2015 elections. We offered a peek into the Israeli parties and campaigns with Noa Meir and Pnina Agenyahu.


Film Screenings The JCRC brought Israeli films and learning opportunities to the community in part-nership with the Washington Jewish Film Festival.

• The IAC sponsored two screenings and panel discussions about Beneath The Helmet: From High School to the Home Front, a story about five Israeli soldiers. Community shlicha Pnina Agenyahu and three former IDF soldiers discussed IDF service and values with more than 250 program attendees. Hosted at the DCJCC and the JCC NV and cosponsored by George Mason Uni-versity Hillel and Friends of the IDF.

• The IAC introduced Israeli film Apples From the Desert at American University’s theatre. IAC director Noa Meir reflected on the intersection of the ultra-religious and the secular in Israel.

• The JCRC presented the movie Any-where Else at the JCC GW, followed by a panel discussion with IAC Director Noa Meir, community shlicha Pnina Ag-enyahu and Lihi Shavit Sagui, director of cultural affairs at the Embassy of Israel.

• More than 150 community members attended a screening of the Oscar nomi-nated film Precious Life at the JCC GW. Filmmaker Shlomi Eldar spoke about the film’s theme of friendship in impossible circumstances. Cosponsored by the Em-bassy of Israel, Israeli House Washington, Israel Scouts and The Jewish Federation.

Legislative Advocacy: The U.S.-Israel RelationshipThe JCRC encourages our elected officials in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. to support legislation in favor of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. Thousands of activists heeded our calls to action and wrote to their members of Congress about legislation that supports Israel and the global Jewish people.

Action Alerts• IAC activists encouraged and thanked

their senators for voting in favor of the 2014 Omnibus Spending Bill spear-headed by Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski. The bill was signed into law, providing for security assistance, financ-ing for several defense cooperation projects, and $235.3 million in funding for Israel’s Iron Dome Missile Defense System.

• In 2013, a Federal appeals court declared unconstitutional a U.S. law permitting American citizens born in Jerusalem to list “Israel” on their passports. More than 150 activists used the IAC’s automated system to urge the President to allow Jerusalem-born ap-plicants to list Israel as the birth country on their passports. The case lost at the Supreme Court.

• JCRC activists thanked the Virginia House and Senate for passing resolu-tions recognizing the close ties between Virginia and Israel and recognizing Israel’s 65th Anniversary of Statehood.

In Memory of Eyal, Gilad, and Naftali Z’’L

Bring Back Our Boys VigilThe IAC held a vigil outside the Embassy of Israel to express solidarity with the families of teenagers Eyal Yifrah, z”l, Gilad Shaer, z”l, and Naftali Frenkel, z”l, who were kid-napped and killed in the West Bank. More than 250 people held signs and sang to show their support.

Speakers included Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer, Members of Congress, local Rab-bis and a Presbyterian Minister and JCRC Director Ron Halber.

ABOVE TOP TO BOTTOM: Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer ties a yellow ribbon around a tree outside the Embassy of Israel at the Bring Back Our Boys Rally.

Over 250 members of the Greater Washington Jewish community chanted, waved signs and withstood the brutal heat in front of the Israeli Embassy in D.C. on June 18th to show their support for the three Israeli teenagers who were kidnapped June 12th.

Israel Ambassador Ron Dermer, Congress-man Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL)

RIGHT: Community members at the Bring Back Our Boys Rally at the Embassy of Israel.


Memorial ServiceThe JCRC hosted a memorial service at B’nai Israel Congregation in Rockville for the three teens. More than 1,200 com-munity members of all ages gathered to grieve. Speakers at the service included Rabbi Michael Safra, Rabbi Uri Topolosky, JCRC President Cookie Hymer Blitz, Fed-eration President Liza Levy, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Israel Reuven Azar, Reverend Lynn Strauss of Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, and IAC Director Noa Meir.

More than a dozen rabbis joined Rabbi Safra to say Kaddish for the murdered boys. The memorial concluded with the singing of Hatikvah, a message of hope.

The vigil and memorial were widely sup-ported and co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation, a dozen local and national Jew-ish and Israeli organizations and two-dozen area synagogues.

Operation Protective EdgeDuring Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014, the JCRC organized com-munity support for Israel. A dedicated web-page with resources and action items and multiple email and social media updates kept constituents informed. IAC programs included:

• Conference call briefings for more than 450 community members with

• IDF Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner;

• Member of Knesset Rabbi Dov Lipman;

• Council on Foreign Relations Scholar Elliott Abrams; and

• Minister for Public Diplomacy at the Embassy of Israel Ilan Sztulman.

• A briefing on “The Current Situation in Israel” with Noam Katz, outgoing Minister of Public Diplomacy at the Embassy of Israel. Hosted at Adas Israel Congregation.

• An interfaith briefing for non-Jewish clergy cohosted by AJC.

• Participation in a Muslim-Jewish Prayer Vigil hosted by Congregations Sha’are Shalom, Beth Chaverim and the All-Dulles Area Muslim Society.

• The JCRC’s “Stand Strong for Israel Rally,” co-sponsored by more than 75

synagogues and community and nation-al organizations. With less than 48 hours notice, more than 1,000 people rallied in support of Israel. Speakers included local Rabbis; Israeli and Canadian dip-lomats and parliamentarians; leaders of the JCRC, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the Jewish Federa-tion, American Friends of Lubavitch and EMET; interfaith leaders; Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett; scholars; and members of Congress.

• Mobilization of the IAC’s communica-tions group to engage local media, including responding to speakers on the Diane Rehm show.

• Together with Jewish organizations from across the country, we sent 500 leaders to the National Leadership Assembly in Washington. Activists heard from National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Speaker of the House John Boehner, Maryland Senator Ben Cardin, and Com-munity Shlicha Pnina Agenyahu. JCRC President Cookie Hymer Blitz introduced Senator Cardin at the program, and the JCRC played a critical role in coordinat-ing event security.

• A JCRC action alert called on constitu-ents to thank Congress for their support for Israel and press for $225 million in emergency funding for the Iron Dome Missile Defense System. IAC activists sent 6,650 letters to Congress, effec-tively turning the tide of letters received by our elected officials from a 6:1 anti-Israel ratio to an overwhelming pro-Israel presence. Congress subsequently passed funding for Iron Dome.

• An appreciation dinner for the families of the 55 Lone Soldiers from our region serving in Israel. Co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation and Friends of the IDF. The JCRC also facilitated the pub-lication in Tablet Magazine of a letter from one of our area’s Lone Soldiers detailing his experiences during the operation.

• Coordination with local law enforcement agencies to increase security at regional Jewish institutions.

On August 28th, our Israel Action Center presented Operation Protective Edge and Israel Advocacy to the communities of Shaare Tefila Congregation, Tikvat Israel Congregation and Synagogue B’nai Shalom of Olney. Noa Meir, Director of the Israel Action Center, presented an update on the situation in Israel and strategies on how best to advocate for the Jewish nation. A wonderful crowd attended and we really appreciate all the support.


ABOVE TOP TO BOTTOM: Twelve hundred community members of all ages gathered together on July 1st at a community-wide memorial service at Congregation B’nai Israel in Rockville to honor the lives of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel who were kidnapped and murdered. The service was organized by the JCRC and Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

JCRC Pres. Cookie Hymer Blitz speaking at the memorial service.


Community Engagement and Celebration

Partners in Innovation: A Showcase of Maryland/ Israel Development Center The JCRC hosted a table at the Showcase, which featured Israeli companies and high-tech and trade partners in Maryland.

Buy Israel The IAC sent out a Hanukkah email with links to Israeli products urging constituents to buy holidays gifts from Israel to support the Israeli economy.

Celebrating Israel at 66For the first time, the IAC hosted booths at the Rockville and Fairfax Israel Festivals organized by the Jewish Federation and our local JCCs.

Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’AtzmautThe JCRC and The Jewish Federation hosted a ceremony commemorating Israeli Memorial Day and Independence Day. The program was attended by the Jew-ish Women’s Renaissance Project, Camp Moshe, and members of the Washington-Baltimore Rabbinical Assembly.

Advocacy and Freedom for Alan GrossMaryland resident Alan Gross was incarcer-ated after his 2009 arrest in Cuba, where he was working with the island nation’s tiny Jewish community to improve Internet access. During his five-year imprisonment, the JCRC led a tireless grass-roots effort to earn his freedom on humanitarian grounds. The JCRC organized weekly vigils in front of the Cuban Interests Section, led national petition drives, supported Congressional measures, held rallies encouraging the President to secure Alan’s release and worked behind the scenes for progress in Alan’s case.

In December 2013, the JCRC, together with nearly 30 synagogues and organizations, held a vigil in front of the White House to mark the fourth anniversary of Alan’s impris-onment. More than 300 members of the Jewish and interfaith communities called on the Obama administration to bring Alan home immediately. Speakers included Members of Congress and other elected officials, Jewish and Christian clergy, com-munity leaders and Alan’s wife Judy.

On December 17, 2014, in a nationally tele-vised address President Obama announced that Alan Gross was on a plane home to American soil. An agreement with Cuban officials allowed Alan to return home to his family and community. Alan’s resiliency and positivity are a source of inspiration to the thousands of people around the world who worked for his release.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Judy Gross, wife of American Alan Gross, who was being held unjustly in a Cuban prison, on the fourth anniversary of his imprison-ment, at a rally at the White House.

Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) giving a hand to Alan Gross at a JCRC sponsored dinner shortly after his release from Cuba.

Alan addresses the crowd at a community reception to welcome him home.


HOLOCAUST COMMISSION

The JCRC is steadfast in our efforts to honor Holocaust survivors, martyrs and liberators and transmit the lessons of the Holocaust to new generations. The JCRC hosts annual Yom Ha’Shoah Commemorations in Maryland and Northern Virginia and provides year-round programming dedicated to Holocaust remembrance and education.


Holocaust Youth Education Survivor Testimony and Appreciation

Holocaust Speakers ProgramThe JCRC arranged for dozens of Holo-caust survivors to speak to students in public and private schools, synagogues and houses of worship in our region. These programs facilitated face-to-face dialogues between survivors and more than 3,600 students at 30 schools.

Thank You Luncheon for Northern Virginia Holocaust survivors In December 2014, the JCRC hosted our second annual luncheon. Fifteen survivors who participated in our Holocaust Speakers Program attended the event at the JCC of Northern Virginia.

The JCRC partnered with Montgomery College’s “Portrait of Life” program to bring survivors and an exhibit of survivor portraits to an additional 1,000 students in Greater Washington.

In 2014 we participated in George Ma-son University Hillel’s Expressions of the Holocaust, a sold-out dinner that brought together survivors, community members and students for testimonies of the living.

The JCRC brought survivors to a Holocaust Torah rededication ceremony at Congrega-tion Adat Reyim of Springfield, Virginia.

In 2015 the JCRC arranged survivor inter-views for the Washington Post. The inter-views will be used by a national educational non-profit to allow thousands of public school students to witness these survivors’ enduring testimony.

Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal presenting the JCRC with a Holocaust Remembrance Proclamation recognizing our community-wide commemoration.


ABOVE TOP TO BOTTOM: The Community Choir singing ‘We Remember Them’ composed by Elaine Broad, at the 2015 Holocaust Commemoration in Virginia.

Congressman John Delaney presenting JCRC Executive Director Ron Halber with the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington’s Bridge Builder Award.

Teacher Education • Each year the JCRC hosts curricula

resource booths at the Maryland and Virginia Social Studies conferences attended by elementary through high school educators. We also brief Fairfax County teachers at their annual Social Studies Professional Training Day.

• In 2014 the JCRC organized “Teach-ing the Holocaust: An Educator’s Guide,” for two-dozen teachers from public, charter and religious schools. The program included a guided tour of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, participation in the museum’s First Person series interview with Holocaust survivor and JCRC Holocaust Commis-sion member Jacques Fein, and guided small-group discussions exploring peda-gogical methodologies for teaching the Holocaust. Former JCRC Board member Lynne Dubin, who introduced Holocaust and genocide education to the Fairfax County Public School curriculum, was instrumental in creating this program.

• The JCRC created a Holocaust Speakers Guide for Schools to prepare students and teachers for JCRC-sponsored visits from Holocaust survivors.

Government Recognition The JCRC worked with the Fairfax Board of Supervisors on the annual Fairfax Holocaust Awareness Proclamation. Each year the proclamation precedes and urges support for the JCRC’s Yom Ha’Shoah observance.

The Alexandria Holocaust Observance is the oldest continuous annual Holocaust program of any municipality in the United States. The JCRC supports, attends and publicizes the program each year in part-nership with the city of Alexandria’s Human Rights staff and Alexandria’s three Jewish congregations.

The JCRC thanked District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray for his Holocaust Proclamation and will work with future administrations to ensure this tradition continues.

RIGHT TOP TO BOTTOM: The second candle being lit by Holocaust survivors at the 2015 Holocaust Commemoration in Virginia.

The Community Choir singing ‘We Remember Them’ composed by Elaine Broad, at the 2015 Holocaust Commemo-ration in Virginia.


Community Remembrance Yom Ha’Shoah CommemorationsThe JCRC creates annual commemorations for Jews and non-Jews, survivors, liberators, dignitaries and community members.

The JCRC held two annual Northern Vir-ginia Holocaust Commemorations at the JCC Northern Virginia. The 2014 program reflected on “Public Opinion and Media Response during the Holocaust Years” and featured Professor Allan Lichtman, who discussed his best seller, FDR and the Jews. The 2015 theme, “The Psychology of Scapegoating,” was reflected in profession-al and youth art and educational exhibits on display, and in a seminar offered by ADL Washington Director David Friedman. A special dinner was arranged for survivors supported by the Jewish Social Service Agency and Jewish young professionals from Northern Virginia.

Congregation Sha’are Shalom’s Rabbi Michael Ragozin presided over the 2014 service and Beth El Hebrew Congregation’s Cantor Jason Kaufman led the community choir. The following year Congregation Beth Emeth’s Rabbi Michelle Goldsmith led the service, Education Director Ita Man-del led the youth program and Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation’s Music Director Carol Fram led a 70-member choir representing five area synagogues and a local Latter Day Saint Church.

More than 50 interfaith partners and more than 400 community members attended the 2014 commemoration and more than 500 individuals, 25 non-profit and govern-ment agencies and 20 houses of worship supported the 2015 program.

The JCRC has a decade’s-long tradition of hosting the annual, community-wide ob-servance of Yom Ha’Shoah in Maryland. We honor the enduring faith of those who survived the Holocaust, mourn those who were murdered and pledge to continue prioritizing remembrance. The observances include multi-generational memorial candle lightings, the recitation of the Kaddish, poetry and prose read by our community’s survivors and a memorial to the destroyed communities of Europe. Dozens of elected officials and dignitaries from the White House, the State Department and Embas-sies of Israel and Germany joined our com-munity on these solemn days.

The 2014 commemoration was held at B’nai Israel Congregation in Rockville and included an exhibit of Montgomery College’s “Portraits of Life”. The observance featured a perfor-mance by The Remembrance Quartet whose members include a Holocaust survivor. There was a memorial tribute to Herman Taube, z”l, a leader in our Yom Ha’Shoah commemo-rations for more than 40 years. Holocaust survivor and community leader Nesse Godin delivered a keynote address.

In 2015 the commemoration took place at Congregation Har Shalom in Potomac. AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs Rabbi Andrew Baker spoke about “Anti-Semitism Then and Now.” The JCRC introduced a community choir led by Har Shalom’s Hazzan Henrique Ozur-Bass and representing three additional synagogue choirs. Rabbis from seven synagogues participated in a remem-brance of “The Lost Communities,” and art and artifacts were displayed.

The Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs dis-tributes Yizkor candles at the JCRC’s Mary-land and Virginia observances. Contributions from the Yellow Candle Program support the commemorations and the Jewish Social Service Agency’s survivor services program.


CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Charlotte von Friedeburg, First Political Officer of the German Embassy lights the sixth candle of the survivors alongside dignitaries from the U.S. State Department and the Embassy of Israel at the 2015 Holocaust Commemoration in Maryland

Rabbinic leaders throughout suburban Mary-land joined in a remembrance to the 20,000 lost communities of Europe at the 2015 Holocaust Commemoration in Maryland

Grandchildren of Holocaust survivors reading the Grandchildren’s Pledge at the Northern Virginia Yom Ha’Shoah Commemoration.

Attendees at the 2015 Holocaust Com-memoration in Maryland join together in the Mourner’s Kaddish.


Youth Education Youth education is a key component of the JCRC’s annual Holocaust commemorations. Each year students at the Maryland and Virginia observances participate in “Unto Every Person There is a Name,” the annual reading of the names of those murdered in the Holocaust coordinated by B’nai B’rith International.

In Maryland, more than fifty teens and adults met with eight Holocaust survivors for small group dialogues as part of the JCRC’s Dor L’Dor (Generation to Genera-tion) program.

In Virginia, Holocaust survivor John Baer shared living testimony with 100 students in 2014. The following year nearly 200 synagogue, public and parochial school teens participated in “The Other Dr. Seuss: Reinterpreting the World War II Political Cartoons of Theodor ‘Seuss’ Geisel.” Teens learned about Geisel’s political activism before drawing and presenting their own political cartoons. The JCRC partners with the Northern Virginia Education Directors Council (NoVA EDC) to develop original curricula for these programs. Students also participated in community service volun-teering and the candle lighting ceremony. A Mormon youth choir of 120 students visit-ing from Utah attended our program.

Supporting other area commemorationsIn addition to hosting the largest Holocaust commemorations in our region, the JCRC promotes other Holocaust remembrance programs organized by local governments and organizations. In 2015 we organized resolutions by the Montgomery County Council and Fairfax County Board of Super-visors. We attended commemorations by Montgomery College’s Portraits of Life, the Alexandria City Council, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the U.S. Capitol, and the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School.

The JCRC also co-sponsored Strathmore Music Hall’s “Voices of the Holocaust: Kristallnacht Commemoration 2013” organized by area Cantors. The program commemorated the Holocaust with par-ticular emphasis on the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht.

ABOVE TOP TO BOTTOM: Community members at the 2015 Holocaust Commemoration in Virginia, observing ‘Lost Communities’ display, dedicated to Jews who perished throughout 18 European countries during the Holocaust.

Ron Kampeas, Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency; Noam Katz, Minister of Public Diplomacy at the Embassy of Israel; Ambassador Gideon Meir; and Noa Meir, Director, JCRC Israel Action.

Larry Haas, Allen Kronstadt; Gary Berman; JCRC Executive Director Ron Halber; AJC Washington Regional Director Alan Ronkin at the InterFaith Conference of Metropoli-tan Washington’s Bridge Builders Awards

RIGHT: Elana Goldstein addressing the Ruth Fellowship participants at Adas Israel Congregation.


JCRC works in partnership with school districts throughout our region to help ensure a welcoming environment where students of all backgrounds can receive a top quality education

Public School OutreachIn the summer months of 2014, the JCRC briefed regional superintendents and So-cial Studies coordinators about the JCRC’s resources and programs for public schools. We distributed “Jewish Students in the Public Schools and the High Holidays: Facts and Questions” and the 2014-2015 JCRC Holiday Calendar. The calendars make principals and teachers aware of religious holidays so they can create a cli-mate of respect and help schools plan for anticipated absences of Jewish (and other minority faith) students.

The JCRC staffed a table at the 2014 annu-al Virginia Conference for Social Studies Educators (VCSSE) in October. More than 30 teachers visited the JCRC exhibit at the “Virginia in a Global World” conference.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) • Prior to the 2014-2015 academic year,

the JCRC presented “Teaching About Jews, Judaism, Israel and the Middle East” to more than 50 Fairfax County public school (FCPS) teachers at an in-service program. We shared resources for teaching about the Holocaust, in-cluding the JCRC’s Holocaust Speakers Program. The JCRC also met with local Social Studies department chairs to cre-ate relationships on the school level.

EDUCATION

EDUCATION

Holocaust Survivor Marcel Drimer showing a baby picture of himself while speaking to students at J. Lupton Simpson Middle School in Leesburg, Virginia.

• The JCRC is helping FCPS’s Human Re-lations Advisory Committee (HRAC) craft a meaningful and representative policy about “Student Bullying and Harass-ment.” This policy will serve as a model to other school districts in Virginia and throughout the country.

As a member of the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Interfaith Educa-tion Committee, the JCRC is promoting “religious literacy” in sixth grade and high school social studies curriculums. The JCRC is working with MCPS’s Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships to include minority faith groups’ perspec-tives in the curriculum and school calendar.

Parent’s Primer: Navigating Religious Pluralism in SchoolsThe JCRC, in collaboration with JSSA, JFGW-PJLL, and a local synagogue presented this symposium for parents. Topics included how to navigate the school bureaucracy, dealing with bullying issues in schools and online and how to best cultivate children’s Jewish identities in the home.

School IncidentsThe JCRC tracks school incidents such as anti-Israel events or teaching and insensi-tive holiday concerts in regional public and private schools. We support students, parents and school staff and keep them informed about corrective actions taken.


Intern Orientation The JCRC partnered with the Jewish Federation to introduce summer interns at Jewish agencies throughout Greater Wash-ington to area agencies – both Federation-supported and independent.

Public School Standards Virginia Social Studies Standard of Learning RevisionThe JCRC worked with the Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS) and the Virginia Holocaust Museum to revise the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) for his-tory and social studies. For two years we focused these revisions on the history of eugenics and forced sterilization in Virginia. In 2014 the JCRC testified in support of our suggested revisions at the Virginia Depart-ment of Education’s public hearings. Ulti-mately, the Virginia Board of Education did not accept the JCRC’s recommendation to add critical teaching material on eugenics.

District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) Standards Assessment DevelopmentThe JCRC partners with the Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS) to help D.C. school districts develop social studies standards, assessments for those stan-dards and textbook adoption. We have helped address DCPS teachers’ challenges in writing effective assessment questions for standards that overlap between history and religion.

MCPS’ Faith Community Working Group (FCWG) The JCRC’s Director of Social Justice and Interfaith Initiatives Rabbi Batya Steinlauf chairs the Education Committee of Mont-gomery County’s Faith Community Work-ing Group. The JCRC helped the Working Group identify the concerns of families of faith within MCPS, make recommendations to the Superintendent’s office, and work with the School Board to address those recommendations. Rabbi Steinlauf testified repeatedly before the School Board and moderated a public panel to present the work of the committee to the community. The committee’s efforts resulted in the school system’s development of “Guide-lines for Respecting Religious Diversity” to help families, teachers and administra-tors understand policies that ensure faith traditions are respected and the role of religion in the public schools.

ABOVE: Members at the Montgomery County Community Forum Honoring Religious Diversity

BELOW: JCRC Summer Interns visiting the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes.


The JCRC works for justice by advocating for public policies that promote fairness and equality. We give back to the community through partnerships with other Jewish agencies, organizations and synagogues in which we engage Jewish individuals and groups in meaningful social justice learning and effective social action projects in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area. We work with the wider faith community and community organizations to support the interest of the most vulnerable members of our society, build relationships among communities, and to work with local governments to meet the needs of all.

Social Justice Ruth Fellowship ProgramThe JCRC concluded the Ruth Fellowship, a program to unite the Jewish community around the issue of food justice and serve as a model for other Jewish communities around the country. Ruth Fellows spent two years learning about food justice and developing and implementing programs for their synagogue communities. The JCRC worked in partnership with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) and Jews United for Justice (JUFJ), with the generous support of the Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation.

Routes: A Day of Jewish LearningThe JCRC led a session at the Jewish Federation’s “Routes: A Day of Jewish Learning.” The session focused on the importance of social justice and advocacy to Jewish identity in America. Rabbi Steinlauf also participated in Moment Magazine’s panel “Ask the Rabbis Live.”

Jewish-African-American PartnershipsInterfaith Freedom SederThe JCRC hosted an interfaith Seder with Temple Beth Ami and the Montgomery County Committee to Prevent Hate and Violence. The Seder brought together representatives of the African-American and Jewish communities.

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMISSION AND INTERFAITH INITIATIVES

Black Women for Positive ChangeThe JCRC is a charter member of Black Women for Positive Change, an organi-zation working to change the culture of violence in America and strengthen the Af-rican-American middle and working class. The JCRC is assisting in the planning of the National Summit and the Youth Summit on Non-Violence. We also participated in press conferences and meetings with D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray in an effort to decrease violence in our area.


On February 7th, Rabbi Batya Steinlauf had a facinating tour of America’s Islamic Heritage Museum in Washington, D.C. along with the Daughters of Abraham interfaith book group. On the tour the group learned about the longstanding, rich history of the American Muslim community.


Interfaith Programming “Commemorating 50th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate & Chasing Peace”The JCRC sponsored a conversation between Argentinian Rabbi Dr. Abraham Skorka, who coauthored a book about interfaith dialogue with Pope Francis, and Auxilary Bishop Barry Knestout of the Archdiocese of Washington and co-chair of a national Catholic-Muslim Dialogue. The conversation, convened by the Masorti Olami Jewish community, marked the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, a document of the Second Vatican Council that ushered in a new era of dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Jewish People.

Pilot Program: Judaism and Islam in America The JCRC partnered with the Jewish Theo-logical Seminary of America and the Islamic Society of North America to bring together Adas Israel Congregation and Masjid Mu-hammad, the Nation’s Mosque, as part of the Carnegie Corporation’s “Judaism and Islam in America” pilot program. Members of the mosque attended Adas Israel’s MLK concert featuring jazz-klezmer fusion band The AfroSemitic Experience. The JCRC facilitated a program called “Faith and Activism: A Discussion of African-American Muslim and Jewish Activism During the Civil Rights Era” and attended Masjid Mu-hammad’s anniversary celebration.

Outreach to Women Clergy The JCRC and Interfaith Works coordi-nated a luncheon at Temple Kol Shalom in Rockville. Women clergy of Montgomery County were invited to “Making History: Challenges & Triumphs” in celebration of women’s history month.

InterFaith Conference (IFC) of Metropolitan WashingtonRabbi Steinlauf serves as Chair of the IFC. IFC brings together eleven faith communi-ties to promote dialogue, understanding and community, and to work coopera-tively for social and economic justice in the Washington region. The IFC’s signature honor, the Bridge Builders Award, was presented this year to JCRC Executive Director Ron Halber.

Fairfax Community Dialogue The JCRC participated in a “Religious Freedom – A Balancing Act”— a panel sponsored by Shoulder-to-Shoulder, an interfaith group opposed to bias against Muslims. The JCRC presented its success-ful efforts to defeat anti-Sharia legislation in the Virginia state legislature.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett’s Faith Community Working Group, co-chaired by JCRC’s Rabbi Batya Steinlauf, in partnership with Montgomery County Police, hosted a town hall meeting on community policing on Monday, March 16.


Interfaith AdvocacyIn Washington D.C.

The JCRC and Catholic Charities orga-nized the faith community in support of additional funding to create a “circle of protection” for D.C.’s neediest citizens.

In Virginia• The JCRC encourages advocacy efforts

through our partnership with the Vir-ginia Interfaith Center (VIC) for Public Policy. Board member Irv Varkonyi serves on the executive committee and Debra Linick serves on several VIC com-mittees. Recent programming collabora-tions include screenings of documenta-ries on human trafficking, events about care for the environment and an expert panel on “The Affordable Care Act: What You Need To Know.”

• The JCRC’s Debra Linick and the Virginia Interfaith Center’s Marco Grimaldo ap-peared on the Fairfax County Public Access television program “Interfaith Connections” to discuss advocacy in the faith community.

• The JCRC testified for in-state tuition for immigrant college students together with the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACOLOA) and other interfaith partners.

• The JCRC represented the only faith community to stand alongside the In-dian American Political Education Forum as they spoke about Medicaid Expan-sion with legislators on the floor of the State Senate in Richmond .

In Maryland The JCRC works with the Interfaith Legisla-tive Coalition (MILC) to build legislative coalitions, maintain our ties and deepen relations with other faith communities.

Montgomery County Faith Community Working Group

The JCRC serves on the executive commit-tee of the county executive’s Faith Advisory Board and co-chairs the county’s Faith Working Group. The JCRC contributes to faith programming in Montgomery County:

• Helping Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) address concerns of the faith community so students feel comfortable and the school system has the resources it needs to meet student concerns (see page 31 in Education section for details.)

• Bringing together the faith community and county agencies to protect against extremism in a groundbreaking pro-gram. The Montgomery County Model serves as a prototype of anti-extremist programming for the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.

• Training local clergy and faith institu-tions to respond to disaster appropri-ately, secure their houses of worship and increase awareness of emergency preparation and response plans. Rabbi Steinlauf was certified as an Emotional and Spiritual Care Volunteer to be mo-bilized by the Department of Homeland Security in case of emergencies. Ours is the first community in the country to certify representatives of faith communi-ties to serve at emergency sites.

• Increasing coordination between the Jewish community’s clergy training and the county’s interfaith clergy trainings.


Community members attending a community interfaith service in solidarity with Charleston, South Carolina. We remember the victims of the senseless violence at Emanuel AME Church & the nine who lost their lives.


Interfaith Dialogue about Israel Outreach to the Presbyterian CommunityThe JCRC partners with the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the local Presbytery to inform the interfaith commu-nity about Israel. The three organizations provide clear and accurate information on how to support peace without support-ing the anti-Israel Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

The JCRC’s outreach contributed to our local Presbytery overwhelmingly rejecting a motion to declare Israel an apartheid state. With the support of the Presbyter and the dedicated work of local ministers, the JCRC organized a lunch discussion for local minis-ters at the annual Presbyterian convention in Detroit. The panel featured Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) Vice President Ethan Felson, AJC Regional Director Alan Ronkin and the JCRC’s Director of Social Justice and Interfaith Initiatives Rabbi Batya Steinlauf.

Bringing our Best Skills to the Interfaith Conversation on Israel The JCRC hosted a luncheon for the Washington Board of Rabbis featuring the JCPA’s Ethan Felson. The discussion fo-cused on the most effective ways to com-municate the Jewish community’s support for Israel to other faith communities.

Interfaith Missions to Israel • In early 2015, Rabbi Steinlauf partici-

pated in an interfaith mission to Israel to explore peace-building efforts. The trip was organized by the Episcopal Church and co-led by Presiding Epis-copal Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori, President and CEO of the JCPA Rabbi Steve Gutow and National Director for the Office for Interfaith and Community Alliances for the Islamic Society of North America Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed.

• In the summer of 2015, Rabbi Steinlauf represented the JCRC on the Interfaith Partners for Peace inaugural mission to Israel. Rabbis and Christian clergy from 14 cities across the United States trav-eled to Israel to learn about interfaith efforts for peace and build a grassroots partnership for peace.

Roots: A Painful HopeThe JCRC brought the Israeli and Pal-estinian spokespersons of a grassroots peace organization called Roots to Wash-ington to speak at two public programs at the Capitol Visitor’s Center and Adas Israel Congregation. Israeli Rav Hannan Schlesinger and Palestinian Ali Abu Awad spoke about their efforts to bring their communities together by providing a shared space for reconciliation for ordi-nary people and leaders from both sides.

Rabbi Batya Steinlauf attending the Jewish Council for Public Affairs/MAZON National Hunger Seder to draw attention to childhood hunger.


Community RepresentationRabbi Steinlauf serves as JCRC liaison to the following organizations:

• The Greater Washington Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee;

• The Washington Board of Rabbis;

• The Washington, D.C. Mayor’s Faith Advisory Board

Rabbi Steinlauf represented the JCRC at the following public and community events:

• Delivery of D’var Torah at the Jewish Pri-mary Day School of the Nation’s Capital

• Program about Judaism with middle school students at Browne Educational Campus

• Security briefing at Washington Hebrew Congregation for houses of worship in Washington, D.C.

• The Rumi Forum’s “Social Justice in Theology and Practice - the Abrahamic Traditions”

• A KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights program

• The sixth annual National Evangelical-Jewish Conference about theology, Israel and evangelizing Jews

• “Interfaith Efforts to Combat Anti-Sem-itism and Islamaphobia in France with Samia Hatroubi” at Washington Hebrew Congregation

• Prayer Vigil for the Victims of the Mas-sacre at Mother Emmanuel AME Church

• The inaugural Interfaith Prayer Service for Montgomery County elected officials

• Reception and Concert for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the Strathmore Music Festival

• The JCPA’s national Hunger Seder on Capitol Hill

• Islamic Society of North America Na-tional Interfaith/Government Forum

• The Interfaith Coalition against Domes-tic and Sexual Violence Lobby Day

• A sixth grade program on Abrahamic Faiths at Truesdell Education Campus

• The 41st annual Honor Awards Gala of Asian Pacific Americans celebrating Asian Americans in the Arts

• The Interfaith Prayer Service for Ebola Relief in West Africa sponsored by the Montgomery County Faith Community Working Group and the West African Muslim Alliance

• A meeting for professionals who work with the Christian community held at the Embassy of Israel

• The Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety for the mark up of the Li-cense to Carry a Pistol Amendment Act

• A Minority Legislative Breakfast orga-nized by the African-American, Hispanic and Asian Chambers of Commerce in Montgomery County

• Montgomery County Friendship Picnic

• Town Hall Meetings with representa-tives of the Montgomery County Police Department and the faith community

Community Forum Honoring Religious Diversity in Montgomery County.



0

$200,000

$400,000

$600,000

$800,000

$1,000,000

$1,200,000

$1,400,000

$1,600,000

$1,800,000

Assets Liabilities Net Assets Unrestricted

Net Assets Temporarily Restricted

FY2015FY2014FY2013FY2012

Balance Sheet

FY2015 FY2014 FY2013

RevenueExpenses

Revenue and Expenses

0

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

FY2012

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Over the last four years, the budget has increased. Revenues continued to exceed expenses, allowing the JCRC to build a reserve for future use or unex-pected community needs.

The significant increase in revenue in FY 2015 results from recording all gala pledges at year end, which in the past had been accounted for as they were received.

The JCRC’s balance sheet is strong. Assets consist mainly of cash and receivables from the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (JFGW) FY 2016 allocation and pledges from the June 2015 gala. Liabilities consist of currently due bills. Net assets temporarily restricted represent funds to be used in the coming year or for a specific purpose, the majority being the Gala pledges and the JFGW allocation for FY 2016.


SPONSORS 2014PILLARSArnold & Porter, LLPCarol & Gary BermanSara & Michael FriedmanSusie & Michael GelmanThe Isadore & Bertha Gudelsky

Family Foundation, Inc.: Arlene Gudelsky Kaufman, Shelley Gudelsky Mulitz, Laura B. Gudelsky Mulitz, Michael T. Friedman

Leslie & Samuel KaplanMayberg Family Charitable FoundationNaomi & Nehemiah Cohen

Family FoundationThe Robert P. and Arlene R. Kogod

Family Foundation

VANGUARDSAudrey & Marc SolomonAbramson Family Foundation Inc.Marilyn Brody & Allen KronstadtToni & Dr. Ronald PaulRFI Foundation (Josh Rales)Samuel R. Dweck FoundationThe Ryna & Melvin Cohen Family

Foundation Inc.

PACESETTERSArlene Kaufman & Sanford BaklorDebra & Dennis BermanMichelle Hymer Blitz & Nelson BlitzYvonne Schlafstein Distenfeld

& Jeffrey DistenfeldGeorge Wasserman

Family Foundation, Inc.Gilbert LLPMargie & Ronald GlanczGorlin Family FoundationJohanna Chanin & Randall LevittAmy & Alan MeltzerSharis & Thorn PozenGloria & Phil RosenthalKaren & Joseph SandlerCindy & Rick Zitelman

PATRONSAaron and Cecile Goldman

Family FoundationWendi & Daniel AbramowitzKathryn & Ira BartfieldVivian & Dr. Raymond BassSharon & David ButlerGail & Paul ChodSue & George CovucciMiriam & Behnam DayanimEagleBankRenee & Rick EdsonKaren & Bobby EpsteinHarriette & Allan FoxDebbie & Peter FriedmannLeena & Erwin GronerSophie & Dr. Howard HoffmanKerry Iris & Eric KassoffDebra & Gerson PanitchIlana & Daniel RatnerNancy & Irving ShapiroStinson Leonard Street LLP

(Harvey Reiter)Steven David StoneRhonda & Robert ZahlerGwen Zuares

SPONSORSEsthy & Jim AdlerJudy Flippen-Anderson

& Paul AndersonDevorah & Kevin BermanSheila & Bob BudoffBunny & Jerome ChapmanCarol & Howard CohenColburn Family FoundationLisa & Steven DiamondJack EdlowAmbassador Stuart EizenstatNava & Menachem ElyResa & David EpplerAnita & Noel EpsteinDebra & Marvin FeuerEllie & Michael FlyerHilary Dworkin & Norman FreidkinMiriam & William GalstonPaula GoldmanMonica & Mitch GorochowMiriam & Menachem GottliebGray Plant Mooty (Sheldon Klein)Marjorie & Larry HaasGail Ross & Peter HaasSusan Banes Harris & Larry HarrisJulia Weller & Dr. Dan HartmanJoyce & Robert JohnsonHilary Smith Kapner & William KapnerNancy & Benjamin KatcoffJudy & Sheldon KleinKelly & Alex KoganNancy & Ed KopfJulie & Albert KrachmanRebecca & Norman KrasnegorThe Honorable Peter B. Krauser

& The Honorable Sherrie KrauserJocelyn & Danny KrifcherStuart Kurlander & David MartinMartha & Stuart LandJoyce & Kenneth LetzlerDr. Kay Klass & Mark LevittLiza & Dr. Michael LevySharon & Steven LiebermanLucky & Irving MalamutPhilip MargoliusTammy & Cliff MendelsonFern Schad & Alfred MosesOrlee & Irwin PanitchRabbi Amy & Gary PerlinAmy & Daniel PrywesEd RehfeldWendy & Harvey ReiterRichard & Ellen Sandler

Family FoundationThomas RichardsonDebbie & Edward SagelMary & Jim SalanderGilbert SandlerRonnie Lapinsky Sax & Leslie SaxScheer Partners, Inc.Lynn & Jeffrey SnyderKeith SolitKaryn & Stuart TauberSusan & Bruce TurnbullLori & Les UlanowJane & G. Duane VeithMargo & Lev VolftsunSymcha & Rabbi Stuart WeinblattRabbi Stephanie Bernstein

& Henry Winoker

SUPPORTERSJeffrey AbramsonBrooke & Adam AugustNaomi & David BaltoGabriela & Leonard BebchickSusan & Randy BickLoryn & Abba BlumFaith & Dr. Philip BobrowEllen BogageBernice & Joel BreslauBryan Cave LLPWendy Rudolph & Graeme BushLisa & Jonathan CharnoffRita & Jonathan CohenCyna & Paul CohenDebra & Andrew CooperLaura Katz Cutler & Michael CutlerSarah & Richard DineAlysa DortortEileen & Arthur DykesEve & David FarberDiane & Kenneth FeinbergSandy & Richard FerberCarole & Barry FormanAnnette & Bernard ForseterSusan & Charles FreedLiz & Paul FrommerMona & Jerome GabryNina & Sol GlasnerLisa GordonJudy & Sheldon GrosbergMarilyn & Ralph GrunewaldIvy Fields & Donald GutmanRabbi Steve GutowPaul & Nancy HamburgerTamara & Dr. Harry HandelsmanHarris Jones & Malone, LLCCarol & Robert HausmanPhyllis & Richard HeidemanKim McWhorter & Arnie HillerGladys & Bernardo HirschmanMargie & Joe HoffmanJolene & Glenn IveyAgnes & Rachmil JacobovitsSteve JacobsonBobbie & Bill KilbergBarbara Zakheim & Ron KleinfeldtRisa Bender & Benjamin KlubesSimeon KriesbergStuart LessansStefanie Sanders Levy & Michael LevyAlyza Lewin & Nate LewinElizabeth & Robert MargolisKaren & Robert MeisterPam & Sam MelamedMindy Horowitz & Mark MellmanJeffrey MenickLynn & David MillerBobbe & Herb MintzLynn & Randall MorganShelley & Tommy MulitzRandi MeyrowitzLisa & Stephen PaulSusan & James PittlemanNa’ama Lewin & Jules PolonetskyAnita & Arthur PolottTina & Neil RosenbaumNancy Brooks & Lawrence RosenblumCarolyn & David RubenJoan & Don SacarobJennie Litvack & Robert SatloffSusan Ness & Lawrence SchneiderEvonne & Elliot SchnitzerSheryl & Barry SchwartzElaine & Marvin Senter

Madeline & Fred ShapiroStephanie & Steven SilvermanAnn Wimpfheimer & Eddie SnyderSusan & Brad StillmanArielle & Aton TeitelbaumThe Kosher Kitchen Catering Co.Marilyn & Stefan TuckerSusan & Bruce TurnbullLori & Les UlanowSarah Elpern & Bruce WaxmanSusan & Aaron WeinbergRobin Hettleman & Matthew WeinbergJulie & Ezra WeinblattTal & Steve WiddesAlane & Eugene Youngentob

SYNAGOGUESAdas Israel CongregationAdat Shalom Reconstructionist

CongregationAgudas Achim CongregationBeth El Hebrew CongregationBeth Joshua CongregationBeth Sholom Congregation

and Talmud TorahB’nai Israel CongregationB’nai Shalom of OlneyCongregation Adat ReyimCongregation Beit ChaverimCongregation Beth EmethCongregation B’nai TzedekCongregation Har ShalomCongregation Or ChadashCongregation Sha’are ShalomHevrat Shalom CongregationKehilat ShalomKol ShalomNorthern Virginia Hebrew CongregationOhev Shalom - The National SynagogueOhr Kodesh CongregationShaare Tefila CongregationShaare TorahTemple Beth AmiTemple B’nai ShalomTemple EmmanuelTemple Rodef ShalomTemple ShalomTemple SinaiTikvat Israel CongregationWashington Hebrew Congregation

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONSAdventist HealthCareCharles E. Smith Life CommunitiesGarden of Remembrance

Memorial ParkJewish Community Center of

Greater WashingtonJewish Community Center of

Northern VirginiaJewish Council for the AgingJewish Federation of Greater

WashingtonJewish Federations of North AmericaJewish Foundation for Group HomesJewish Residents of Leisure WorldJewish Social Service AgencyNational Council of Jewish Women,Montgomery County Maryland SectionOrthodox UnionReligious Action Center of

Reform Judaism


PILLARSAbramson Family Foundation Inc.Carol & Gary Berman Debra & Dennis Berman Sara & Michael Friedman Susie & Michael GelmanThe Isadore & Bertha Gudelsky

Family Foundation, Inc. Arlene Gudelsky Kaufman, Shelley Gu-

delsky Mulitz, Laura B. Gudelsky Mulitz, Michael T. Friedman

Leslie & Samuel KaplanMayberg Family Charitable FoundationAudrey & Marc Solomon

VANGUARDSDebra & Peter Friedmann Margie & Ronald Glancz Marilyn Brody & Allen Kronstadt Amy & Alan MeltzerNaomi and Nehemiah Cohen FoundationToni & Dr. Ronald PaulRFI Foundation (Josh Rales)Robert P and Arlene R Kogod

Family FoundationSamuel R. Dweck Family Foundation

PACESETTERArlene Kaufman & Sanford Baklor Cookie Hymer Blitz & Nelson Blitz Devorah & Kevin BermanKaren & Bobby EpsteinGeorge Wasserman

Family Foundation, Inc. Gilbert LLPGorlin Family FoundationEllen & Stuart LessansJohanna Chanin & Randall LevittSharis & Thorn Pozen Gloria & Phil Rosenthal Karen & Joe Sandler Bobbi & Larry Shulman Cindy & Rick Zitelman PATRONSAaron and Cecile Goldman

Family FoundationWendi & Daniel AbramowitzKathryn & Ira Bartfield Vivian & Dr. Raymond Bass Sharon & David ButlerGail & Paul ChodCarey & Behnam DayanimEagleBankRenee & Rick Edson Harriette & Allan Fox Monica & Mitch Gorochow Leena & Erwin GronerJudy & Alan GrossSophie & Howard Hoffman Irene & Edward Kaplan Kerry Iris & Eric Kassoff Jocelyn & Danny Krifcher Leslie & Bruce LaneDebra & Gerson Panitch Amy & Bruce Pascal Rabbi Amy & Gary Perlin Ilana & Dan Ratner Nancy & Irving ShapiroStinson Leonard Street LLP

(Harvey Reiter) Steven David Stone Rhonda & Robert Zahler Gwen Zuares

SPONSORSJudy Flippen-Anderson & Paul Anderson Arnold & Porter LLP Naomi & David BaltoCathy Shaw & Robert BarkinRabbi Stephanie Bernstein & Henry Winokur Sheila & Bob Budoff Carol & Howard CohenColburn Family FoundationYvonne Schlafstein Distenfeld

& Jeffrey DistenfeldEileen & Arthur Dykes Nava & Menachem Ely Resa & David EpplerAnita & Noel Epstein Candy & Ira Feinberg Debra & Marvin Feuer Ellie & Michael FlyerHilary Dworkin & Norman FreidkinMiriam & William GalstonGarden of Remembrance Memorial ParkPaula GoldmanMiriam & Menachem GottliebGray Plant Mooty Marjorie & Larry Haas Gail Ross & Peter HaasSusan Banes Harris & Larry Harris Joyce A. & Robert M. Johnson Carol Mates & Mark KahanLisa & Jonathan CharnoffChevy Chase TrustRita & Jonathan Cohen Debra & Drew Cooper Sue & George CovucciLaura Katz Cutler & Michael CutlerSarah & Richard Dine Norma & Dean Eisen Eve & David Farber Jennifer & A.J. Fechter Karen & Baruch Fellner Meryl & Kevin Fishkind Carole & Barry FormanAnnette & Bernard Forseter Susan & Charles Freed Zachary FrombergHilary Smith Kapner & William Kapner Liz & Paul FrommerJudy & Sheldon KleinRisa Bender & Benjamin B. Klubes Sherri Koch & Jack Rosenzweig Alex & Kelly KoganNancy & Ed KopfRebecca & Norman Krasnegor David Martin & Stuart Kurlander Dr. Kay Klass & Mark LevittLiza & Dr. Michael Levy Sharon & Steven Lieberman Lucky & Irving Malamut Philip MargoliusTammy & Cliff Mendelson Orlee & Irwin Panitch Anita & Arthur PolottAmy & Daniel PrywesEd RehfeldWendy & Harvey ReiterScheer Partners, Inc.Diane Lipson Schilit & Howard SchilitLynn & Jeffrey SnyderLynette SpanoEve & Andy SternLinda & Robert Stillman Karyn & Stuart Tauber The Meakem Group Susan & Bruce Turnbull

Lori & Les Ulanow Margo & Lev Volftsun

SUPPORTERS Jeffrey Abramson Brooke & Adam AugustMidge & Robert Bajefsky Gabriela & Leonard Bebchick Gail & John BelgardPaul BergerMiriam & Jeffrey BerkowitzLoryn & Abba BlumJared BlumFaith & Dr. Philip Bobrow Ellen Coren Bogage Bernice & Joel Breslau Bryan Cave, LLPBunny & Jerome ChapmanCatherine & Michael GildenhornLisa GordonJudy & Sheldon Grosberg Marilyn & Ralph Grunewald Nancy & Paul Hamburger Tamara & Dr. Harry Handelsman Carol & Robert HausmanConnie HellerKim McWhorter & Arnie HillerCarl Josehart & Samuel JacobsonSherry & Ron Kabran Bobbie & Bill Kilberg Leslie & Larry Kline Dale & Ellis KochJulie & Albert KrachmanJudge Sherrie & Chief Judge Peter Krauser Simeon Kriesberg Francesca & Neil Kritz Selma C. Kunitz Connie & Jay KrupinAlyza Lewin & Nate LewinAnn Lewis & Mike SponderDebra Gold Linick & Michael LinickBarbara Etkin & Rabbi Jack LuxemburgVen Neralla & Christopher S. McCannellPam & Sam MelamedMindy Horowitz & Mark Mellman Judith Walter & Irv Nathan Frances PenslerLinda & Barry R. PerlisSusan & James PittlemanNa’ama Lewin & Jules Polonetsky Barbara Fitzpatrick & H. Mark Rabin Rhea S. Schwartz

& Paul Martin Wolff Foundation Deborah & Michael Rider Lawrence RosenblumWendy Rudolph & Graeme BushJoan & Don SacarobSagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg

Funeral CareJennie Litvack & Robert SatloffCindy & David Saunders Schleifer Family Foundation Yvonne & Elliot Schnitzer Michelle Simon & Brian Schwalb Sheryl & Barry SchwartzElaine & Marvin Senter Madeline & Fred Shapiro Nancy & Ira ShapiroShulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, PARobert SilbertStephanie & Steven SilvermanAnn Wimpfheimer & Eddie SnyderEllie & Ed Sondik Robin & Kevin Stein Debra & Mark Steppel

Susan & Brad StillmanMonica & Richard SussmanArielle & Aton TeitelbaumThe Kosher Kitchen Catering Co. Marilyn & Stefan TuckerLeslie & Irvin VarkonyiSarah Elpern & Bruce WaxmanRobin Hettleman & Matthew WeinbergSusan & Aaron WeinbergTal & Steve WiddesAlane & Eugene YoungentobBarbara J. Zakheim

SYNAGOGUESAdas Israel CongregationAdat Shalom ReconstructionistCongregation Agudas Achim Congregation Am KolelBeth El Hebrew CongregationBeth Joshua CongregationBeth Sholom Congregation andTalmud TorahBethesda Jewish CongregationB’nai Israel Congregation B’nai Shalom of Olney Congregation Adat Reyim Congregation Beit Chaverim Congregation Beth Emeth Congregation B’nai Tzedek Congregation Etz Hayim Congregation Har Shalom Congregation Or ChadashCongregation Sha’are Shalom Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim Hevrat Shalom Congregation Kehilat ShalomKesher Israel, The Georgetown SynagogueKol ShalomMagen David Sephardic CongregationNorthern Virginia Hebrew CongregationOhr Kodesh CongregationOseh ShalomShaare Tefila CongregationShaare Torah Temple Beth Ami Temple B’nai Shalom Temple Emanuel Temple Rodef Shalom Temple ShalomTemple Sinai, Washington DC Washington Hebrew Congregation

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONSAleph Bet MontessoriCharles E. Smith Jewish Day School Charles E. Smith Life Communities Jewish Coalition Against Domestic

Abuse (JCADA) Jewish Community Center

of Greater WashingtonJewish Community Center

of Northern VirginiaJewish Council for the Aging (JCA) Jewish Federations of North America Jewish Foundation for Group Homes (JFGH)Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA) Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project (JWRP)Melvin J. Berman Hebrew AcademyNational Council of Jewish Women, Mont-

gomery County Maryland SectionOrthodox UnionReligious Action Center of Reform JudaismThe Jewish Federation of

Greater Washington

SPONSORS 2015


Adas Israel CongregationAdat Shalom Reconstructionist

CongregationAgudas Achim CongregationAlpha Omega InternationalAm Kolel Judaic Resource

and Renewal CenterAmerican Association of

Jewish Laywers and JuristsAmerican Israel Cultural FoundationAmerican Jewish CommitteeAmerican Jewish Congress–

National Capital ChapterAmerican ORT– National Capital AreaAmerican Red Magen David for

Israel National HeadquartersAmerican Society for Technion–

Israel Institute of Technology Washington Chapter

Anti-Defamation League- DC/MD/VA/NC

Association of Child Survivors of the Holocaust in the Washington-Baltimore Area

Association of Reform Zionist of America-Mid-Atlantic Region

B’nai B’rith Chesapeake Bay Region Argo #413 Benjamin N. Cardoza #1314 Brotherhood #1425 Capital Legal Council #5345 IMPACT D.C. #5507 John F. Kennedy #2484 Montgomery Free State # 1499 Wheaton/ Heritage #2138 Old Dominion #5376 Rossmoor #5315 Uriah P. Levy #2392

Hillel, The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life American University George Mason University George Washington University University of Maryland

B’nai Israel CongregationB’nai Israel Congregation

SisterhoodB’nai Shalom of OlneyBet MishpachahBeth ChaiBeth El Hebrew CongregationBeth Shalom Congregation

and Talmud TorahBeth Shalom Congregation Temple

of FredericksburgBeth Torah CongregationBethesda Jewish CongregationBrit Tzedek v’ShalomCharles E. Smith Jewish Day SchoolCharles E. Smith Life CommunitiesChesapeake Area

Reconstructionist CouncilCongregation Beth El

Montgomery CountyCongregation Beth EmethCongregation Etz HayimCongregation Etz Hayim SisterhoodCongregation Har Shalom

Congregation Har Tzeon- Agudath Achim

Congregation Olam TikvahCouncil of Area Reform Presidents Ezras Israel Congregation of

RockvilleFabrangenGarden of Remembrance

Memorial ParkGeneration After (The)Gesher Jewish Day School

of Northern VirginiaHadassah, The Women’s Zionist

Organization of America Greater Washington Area Chapter Northern Virginia Chapter Potomac Chapter

Hebrew Day InstituteHebrew Free Burial SocietyJewish Community Center

of Greater WashingtonJewish Community Center

of Northern VirginiaJewish Council for the Aging

of Greater Washington, Inc.Jewish Foundation for Group HomesJewish Genealogy Society

of Greater WashingtonJewish Historical Society

of Greater WashingtonJewish Holocaust Survivors and

Friends of Greater WashingtonJewish Labor Committee–

Washington, D.C. ChapterJewish National Fund of

Greater WashingtonJewish Primary Day School

of the Nation’s CapitalJewish Residents of Leisure WorldJewish Social Service AgencyJewish War VeteransJewish Women InternationalJews United for JusticeKehilat ShalomKesher Israel CongregationKol Shalom CongregationLabor Zionist Alliance

Washington ChapterMacharMagen David Sephardic

CongregationNa’amat USA–

Greater Washington CouncilNational Council of Jewish Women

Montgomery County Section Northern Viginia Section Washington, D.C. Section

National Capital Tay-Sachs Founda-tion

Ner Shalom CongregationNevey Shalom Jewish

Congregation of BelairNorthern Virginia Hebrew Congre-

gationOhev Shalom Talmud

Torah CongregationOhr Kodesh Congregation

Oseh Shalom Partnership for Jewish Life

and LearningReconstructionist Havurah

of Greater WashintonService Guild of WashingtonShaare Tefila CongregationShaare Torah Silver Spring Jewish CenterTemple B’nai ShalomTemple Beth AmiTemple EmanuelTemple MicahTemple Rodef ShalomTemple ShalomTemple SinaiTemple Sinai BrotherhoodTemple SolelTifereth Israel CongregationTikvat Israel CongregationUnited Synagogue of Conservative

Judaism-Seaboard RegionUnion for Reform Judaism–

Mid Atlantic RegionWashington Board of RabbisWashington D.C. Jewish

Community CenterWashington Hebrew Congregation Washington Hebrew

Congregation SisterhoodWomen’s American ORTWomen’s International

Zionist OrganizationWoodside Synagogue–

Ahavas TorahWorkmen’s Circle–Branch 92/494Yeshiva of Greater Washington Yiddish of Greater WashingtonYoung Israel Shomrai Emunah

CongregationZionist Organization of America–

Louis D. Brandeis District

CONSTITUENT ORGANIZATIONS

TOP TO BOTTOM: Champagne toast honoring Alan Gross at the JCC 2015 Annual Gala.

JCRC Community Leadership Award winners Bobbi and Larry Shulman and their family at the JCRC 2015 Annual Gala.

JCRC Breslau-Goldman Award winner Ron Glancz, with Chief Executive Office of the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes, Vivian Bass, and the Honorable Chris Van Hollen.


Board of Directors

2013-2014Ira BartfieldRabbi Stephanie Bernstein Bob Budoff Jerome Chapman Andrew CooperBehnam Dayanim Alysa DortortJack Edlow Anita EpsteinBobby EpsteinDebra FeuerJudy Flippen-AndersonMenachem GottliebRalph GrunewaldPeter HaasSheldon KleinEdward KopfRebecca KransegorAlyza LewinLucky MalamutGerson PanitchOrlee PanitchRonald Paul M.D.Rabbi Mindy PortnoyThorn PozenDaniel PrywesEdward Rehfeld Rabbi Arnold SaltzmanFrederick ShapiroIrving ShapiroMichael SiegelGerald Sommer Steven David StoneStuart TauberSusan TurnbullIrvin VarkonyiEugene Youngentob

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PAST PRESIDENTS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND STAFF

2014-2015Rabbi Charles ArianRabbi Stephen BaarsRobert BarkinIra BartfieldEllen BogageBob BudoffJerome ChapmanAndrew CooperBehnam DayanimAlysa DortortAnita EpsteinBobby EpsteinDebra FeuerJudy Flippen-AndersonMitchell GorochowMenachem GottliebValerie GreenfeldSheldon GrosbergJudy GrossPeter HaasSheldon KleinKelly KoganEdward KopfRebecca KransegorAlyza LewinLucky MalamutOrlee PanitchThorn PozenDaniel PrywesEdward RehfeldRabbi Arnold SaltzmanFrederick ShapiroMichael SiegelGerald SommerStuart TauberSusan TurnbullIrvin VarkonyiEugene Youngentob

Past Presidents

Rabbi Solomon Metz, z”l,1938 – 1943Hymen Goldman, z”l, 1943– 1949Rabbi Isadore Breslau, z”l, 1949– 1953Aaron Goldman, z”l, 1953– 1957Albert E. Arent, z”l, 1957– 1961Joel D. Wolfson, z”l, 1961Richard Lyon, z”l, 1961– 1965Louis C. Grossberg, z”l, 1965– 1969Seymour D. Wolf, z”l, 1969– 1972Dr. Harvey Ammerman, z”l, 1972– 1974Judge William C. Levy, z”l, 1974– 1976Bernard S. White, z”l, 1976– 1978Phyllis Frank, z”l, 1978– 1980Bert Silver, 1980– 1982Nathan Lewin, 1982– 1984Helene Karpa, 1984– 1986Norman Goldstein, 1986– 1988Stephen H. Gell, 1988– 1990Marcia Weinberg, 1990– 1992Jack Serber, 1992– 1994Judge Peter B. Krauser, 1994– 1996Elaine Senter, 1996– 1998Doug Bloomfield, 1998– 2000Rabbi Jack Luxemburg, 2000– 2002Sophie Hoffman, 2002– 2004Andy Stern, 2004– 2006Susan Weinberg, 2006– 2008Ronald Glancz, 2008– 2010Harvey Reiter, 2010– 2012Joe Sandler, 2012– 2014

*z”l, of blessed memory”

JCRC Executive Committee

2014Joseph Sandler, PresidentCookie Hymer Blitz, Vice PresidentMichael Friedman, Vice PresidentErwin Groner, Vice PresidentBarbara Zakheim, TreasurerSam Kaplan, Financial SecretaryMiriam Galston, Recording SecretaryHarvey Reiter, Immediate Past PresidentRonald Halber, Executive Director

2015Cookie Hymer Blitz,PresidentMichael Friedman, Vice PresidentErwin Groner, Vice PresidentBarbara Zakheim, Vice PresidentSam Kaplan, TreasurerMiriam Galston, Financial SecretaryRon Paul, MD, Recording SecretaryJoe Sandler, Immediate Past PresidentRonald Halber, Executive Director

JCRC StaffSteve Adleberg,

Director, Education OutreachDarcy Hirsh, Director, Northern Virginia Government

& Community RelationsJulie Greenwald, Executive/Program AssistantNirma Medrano, Office Manager/

Senior Administrative AssistantNoa Meir, Director, Israel Action CenterAlexis Schwartz, Assistant Director, Israel Action CenterJoshua Sztorc, Director, Maryland Government &

Community RelationsRabbi Batya Steinlauf, Director, DC Government

& Community Relations and Director, Social Justice Initiatives & Inter-Group Relations

ConsultantsAshlie Bagwell, Maryland LobbyistHeidi Daroff, Social Media ConsultantDebra Gold Linick, Holocaust Programming ConsultantJill Myers, Contract CFOAimee Seibert, Virginia Lobbyist

JCRC Executive Director Ron Halber and Israel Action Center at the JCRC Director Noa Meir at Good Deeds Day 2015.

MAIN OFFICE 6101 Executive Blvd., Suite 300 | North Bethesda, MD 20852 | (301) 770-0881VIRGINIA OFFICE 8900 Little River Turnpike | Fairfax, VA 22031 | (703) 962-9230D.C. OFFICE 1775 K Street, NW | Washington, D.C. 20006 | (202) [email protected] | www.jcouncil.org

Documents

REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2013–2015 | 5774 –5775