Building relationships. Connecting communities. Meeting challenges.

The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is the voice of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey on issues of public policy, social advocacy, and community outreach. JCRC fosters constructive relationships within the Jewish community and among people of all faiths and cultures regarding Jewish- and Israel- oriented issues.

JCRC of Southern New Jersey is one of 125 Jewish Community Relations Councils in the country. Together, these JCRCs form the grassroots of the national umbrella organization, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

White House Announcement on Jerusalem

President Trump recently signed the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 into law.

The Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey and Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern New Jersey share the views of The Jewish Federations of North America, who issued the following statement:

“Today, the U.S. administration announced a plan to move the Embassy of the United States in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, honoring a bipartisan commitment made over 20 years ago in the Jerusalem Embassy Act. The U.S. administration also proclaimed its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Jewish Federations of North America welcomes this decision, as it upholds our long-standing policy. We also welcome the affirmation of a two-state future negotiated between the parties in which Israelis and Palestinians live side by side with secure and recognized borders.”

JFNA’s predecessor organization first endorsed this legislation in 1994. Below is some additional background information.

BACKGROUND 

The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 is law. However, because presidents have claimed a waiver on the grounds of national security — the Act includes a provision that gives the president waiver authority to suspend the cutting of some funds to the State Department, as outlined in the text of the Act, “if he determines and reports to Congress in advance that such suspension is necessary to protect the national security interests of the United States” — the Act has yet to be implemented. Presidents have also thought the Act itself was a constitutional issue, viewing it as a congressional infringement on the executive branch's constitutional authority over foreign policy.

JFNA’s William Daroff interviewed The Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s Dr. Robert Satloff on this topic in January; here is a set of videos from that conversation. Topics covered include why moving the embassy is such a big deal. Please watch and share the videos.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For additional information, please read Dr. Satloff’s written analysis on the topic and this Foreign Policy magazine article.​

Why Trump is right in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's Capital (Alan Dershowitz/The Hill)

Statement from The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (of which JCRC is a member of) on the President's decision. 

Pledge to Stand Up for the Other

We encourage you to download the New Jersey Interfaith Coalition’s Stand up for the Other pledge and post in your home and/or office to serve as a constant reminder that it is up to each and every one of us to speak out when members of our Jewish or any other ethnic, religious or racial community is being stereotyped or prejudiced against in your presence.  In addition, we encourage you to send or drop off a copy of the Pledge so we can add it to our growing collection of commitments.