September 13, 2017
JCRC of Greater Washington
Justice (tzedek), repentance (teshuvah), and the preservation of human life (Exodus 20:13) are core values of the Jewish faith. Accordingly, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington is committed to advocating for a criminal justice system that is just, restorative, and provides equal treatment for all under the law.
-
March 15, 2017
JCRC of Greater Washington
The Hebrew word for justice, tzedakah, is generally understood to mean charity. Attending to the needs of others is an aspect of justice and is a mitzvah, an obligation, incumbent upon us in the Jewish community. Providing meals to those in need and supporting efforts to ensure food security for all is a communal responsibility.
-
January 14, 2015
JCRC of Greater Washington
Voting rights are the cornerstone of our democracy. The JCRC recognizes the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as one of the most important and most effective pieces of civil rights legislation in our Nation’s history. The act, and its extensions over the past fifty years, have helped to remove many discriminatory barriers that impeded full civic participation for millions of Americans.
-
November 21, 2013
Minimum Wage Policy Resolution
JCRC of Greater Washington
The Jewish Community Relations Council has previously adopted two policy statements supporting the enactment of minimum wage laws. These are our “Minimum Wage Statement” adopted in 1989, supporting “a federally-mandated minimum wage enabling a full-time employee to earn above the poverty level,” and our “Statement on Low-Income Workers” adopted in 2000, advocating “improved and enhanced government programs designed to enable workers to achieve economic well-being with dignity” by, among other things, “setting a minimum wage”.
November 13, 2013
Washington Jewish Week
The Montgomery County Council begins each of its Tuesday meetings with a prayer. Clergy from a wide array of faith traditions are invited to lead the prayer, noted George Leventhal, council member at large. “I have not felt uncomfortable during our opening prayer. I am quite comfortable with my own religious identity, and I don’t feel threatened.”
-
November 9, 2011
Public and Non Public Education Policy Resolution
JCRC of Greater Washington
The Jewish Community Relations Council has previously adopted policies strongly supporting public education and opposing government entanglement in religious matters. Our education-related policies are based on the principles that public funds should not be taken away from public schools to support nonpublic schools and that the government should not be involved in the operation of religious institutions. We reaffirm our commitment to these principles.
-
February 16, 2011
JCRC of Greater Washington
Since 1975, The Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington has consistently supported Federal and State gun control legislation and advocated for the most stringent regulations on the purchase, sale and possession of firearms. The last statement was adopted by the Board of Directors on December 8, 1999. Certain events and changes in the laws have made it appropriate to reconfirm the position of the Council and to highlight specific priorities. The 1994 Federal Law banning the purchase of assault weapons expired in 2004 and has not yet been reinstated by Congress.
-
April 1, 2009
JCRC of Greater Washington
In June, 1979, nearly thirty years ago, this Council passed a resolution on energy policy encouraging measures to reduce our nation’s dependence on Middle Eastern sources of oil, including conservation, development of alternative fuel sources and increased development of domestic oil and coal production capabilities.
-
February 27, 2008
JCRC of Greater Washington
This commandment established a precept familiar to all Western monotheistic faiths, that strangers among us should be treated with compassion and dignity and not subjected to discrimination. Further, our history as Jews, of repeatedly fleeing persecution, seeking greater economic security, and living in the Diaspora for generations, makes us sensitive to, and compassionate with those who suffer similar fates and experiences.
-
January 9, 2008
Environmental Policy Resolution
JCRC of Greater Washington
“Both love of the Creator and love of that which [God] has created are finally one and the same.” So wrote Martin Buber (On Judaism, p. 209), one of many giants of the Jewish tradition who each said in their way that concern for the environment -- for Creation -- is a profoundly “Jewish issue.” There are at least four major reasons why the Jewish community should take a lead on ecological issues:
-
April 18, 2007
AIPAC First Amendment Policy Resolution
JCRC of Greater Washington
As an organization that advocates before all levels of federal, state, and local government, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington adopts this resolution to express its concern that the federal government’s prosecution of two AIPAC employees on charges of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 will chill constitutionally legitimate government advocacy.
-
April 18, 2007
Iran Divestment Policy Resolution
JCRC of Greater Washington
In 2005, the JCPA adopted a resolution urging the United States and the international community to give a high priority to efforts aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability. Indeed, the prospect of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons -- and developing missiles to launch those weapons against countries throughout the region, Europe and possibly beyond -- should alarm every American and be unacceptable to the community of nations.
-
January 11, 2007
Conscience Clause Policy Resolution
JCRC of Greater Washington
Under current Maryland law, pharmacists are required to fill all lawful prescriptions unless they choose not to based on “professional judgment, experience, knowledge, or available reference materials.” Typically, this would allow a pharmacist to refuse to fill a prescription that might, in combination with other medication, put the patient at risk of an adverse reaction, or that might cause an allergic reaction or where the pharmacist was aware of drug abuse or misuse, etc.
-
December 13, 2006
JCRC of Greater Washington
Since 2003, at least 400,000 people from the Darfur region of Sudan have been killed by Sudanese armed forces and the Sudanese government-backed militia known as the “Janjaweed.” More than 2 million innocent civilians have been forced to flee their homes for displaced-persons camps in Sudan or refugee camps in neighboring Chad, and more than 3.5 million men, women, and children have come to rely entirely on international aid for survival.
Not since the Rwandan genocide of 1994 has the world seen such a calculated campaign of displacement, starvation, rape, and mass slaughter.
-
April 1, 2005
JCRC of Greater Washington
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington Statement on Full Civil Equality for Same Sex Couples
The recent public focus on civil recognition of same sex couples has produced substantial activity at the state and federal level, including legislation and constitutional amendments (both enacted and proposed) as well as court decisions.
-
April 1, 2005
JCRC of Greater Washington
Society today stands on the threshold of a new era in biomedical research. Scientists revealed the existence and role of DNA and cellular science many years ago. Currently, scientists are not only
able to describe the nature of cellular life, but manipulate it as well. These developments have the potential to relieve enormous human suffering for over 100 million Americans by providing treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Juvenile Diabetes, Cancer, Parkinson's, and other debilitating diseases.
-
January 9, 2002
Anti-Terrorism Policy Resolution
JCRC of Greater Washington
The preamble to the Constitution states that our democratic form of government was designed, among other things, to ensure justice, provide for the common defense, and secure the blessings of liberty. In the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington recognizes the need for providing law enforcement the tools it needs to wage an effective battle against terrorism, and supports the recently enacted legislative changes on intelligence gathering and criminal justice.
-
December 13, 2000
Charitable Choice Policy Resolution
JCRC of Greater Washington
The Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington has a long history of working with our local Federation, synagogues, churches and other religious organizations toward the goal of helping those in need. While the Council has long recognized the important role of “pervasively-sectarian” religious organizations in helping those in need, it has also held strongly to the Constitutional principles of separation of church and state.
-
January 12, 2000
Low-Income Workers Policy Resolution
JCRC of Greater Washington
The American Jewish Community has a long and distinguished tradition of being in the forefront of efforts to reduce economic poverty in the United States. There are several reasons for this. In addition to the Jewish immigrant experience in this nation, the concept of “Tikkun Olam” (repair of the world) requires Jews to work for the welfare of all persons.
-
November 21, 1989
Statement on 1989 District of Columbia Appropriations Act Restrictions
JCRC of Greater Washington
The Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington has been on record for over 40 years in support of self-determination for the citizens of the District of Columbia in local affairs, and representation of District citizens in the national government equal to all other American citizens.
