September 13, 2023
JCRC of Greater Washington
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) recognizes that fighting to protect American democracy is no less than a fight for Jewish security and prosperity in the United States. A More Perfect Union (AMPU) in its 2022 paper, “The Jewish Imperative to Protect and Strengthen American Democracy,” put this bluntly: “As Jews, we have a vested—indeed, existential—interest in the preservation of American democracy, and we ignore the warning signs of its decline at our peril.”
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March 9, 2022
JCRC of Greater Washington
Decent, safe, accessible, and affordable housing is a basic human right. As embodied in the landmark United States Housing Act of 1937, it is the goal of the United States to provide “decent and affordable housing for all citizens.” The federal Fair Housing Act provides that housing is a civil right and that discrimination in housing related matters is a violation of federal law.
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January 19, 2021
JCRC of Greater Washington
Enshrined in the fundamental text of our Jewish heritage, the Torah, is a recognition of the role of both those who adjudicate the law (shoftim) and those who enforce it (shotrim) in the structures of a society based on law and civility (Deut. 16:18). The term, shoftim, refers to judges and the term, shotrim, in modern Hebrew, refers to police. The biblical commentator Rashi, writing in the 11th century, noted when judges (shoftim) rendered a legal decision, it was the police (shotrim) who were charged with enforcing that law even by using physical force. (Midrash Tanchuma, Shoftim 2:17). However, throughout the literature of our sages, attention has been given to the conduct, the decency and the character of both institutions. Both judges and police are expected to comport themselves in keeping with the highest standards of Jewish law and ethical teaching. Further, in the Torah (Ex. 12:49, Lev. 24:22, and others) we find instruction that the law should be applied equally and fairly to all, regardless of social status or origins.
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October 21, 2020
JCRC of Greater Washington
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) has a long history of advocacy for policies that protect the environment and mitigate past practices that have harmed and degraded it. The policies set forth in this Environmental Policy Paper are adopted by the Board of the JCRC and supersede prior policy papers issued by JCRC.
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November 8, 2017
JCRC of Greater Washington
American Jews founded the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society in 1881 to assist Jews fleeing pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe, and for decades HIAS has assisted in the resettlement of refugees from all over the world, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. Our community’s network of stellar social service agencies has for decades proudly served significant numbers of immigrant families, both Jewish and non-Jewish, and Jewish families themselves continue to immigrate to America from countries as diverse as Russia, Argentina, Iran and England.
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September 14, 2017
JCRC of Greater Washington
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington strongly advocates for policies that oppose discrimination in all its forms as to race, color, religion or creed, sex, age, ancestry or national origin, marital status, physical or mental illnesses or chronic conditions, physical, intellectual and cognitive disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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”. The basic principle underlying these established policies derives from the strong Jewish mandate to “champion the poor and the needy.” (Proverbs 31:9) As expressed in the 2000 statement, “Judaism embodies a sense of ethical responsibility to everybody in our nation to ensure them the basic necessities of life and to use our efforts to provide all people with the ability to maintain their economic well-being and dignity.”
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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.
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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.
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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. Many of the concerns we voiced then remain today; indeed our dependence on imported fossil fuels has increased dramatically (from 28% in 1973 to over 58% today of the oil we consume), as has the threat of supply disruptions posed by unstable or unfriendly regimes and terrorist organizations. But it is time to revisit and revise that policy, not only because of these developments.
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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. Drawing on the original Exodus commandment, centuries of Jewish history before Jews settled in America, and more than 350 years of Jewish experience here in America – an experience that has included both refuge and exclusion, welcome and rejection, and opportunity and discrimination – in March 1995 the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington adopted a comprehensive immigration policy.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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. Virginia law currently allows a pharmacist to deny filling a prescription without clear limits on the grounds the pharmacist may invoke to do so. Although the original intent of the Virginia statute may have been to allow pharmacists to avoid filling fraudulent prescriptions, there is concern that pharmacists may claim the statute permits them to refuse to fill a prescription on the basis of their religious or other personal beliefs.
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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.
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April 1, 2005
JCRC of Greater Washington
The JCRC of Greater Washington strongly affirms the right of faith communities to prescribe their own standards for recognizing religious marriage. However, civil recognition of committed relationships is different from the sanctification of religious marriage. Committed same sex relationships promote family and social stability, and are no less deserving of full recognition under civil law than the committed relationship of a man and woman. The JCRC of Greater Washington therefore supports the full civil recognition of same sex relationships at all levels of government.
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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.
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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. With appropriate oversight and accountability, our security and law enforcement agencies can and should be given the latitude necessary to prevent terrorist activity and find the terrorists operating in our midst, without abandoning the core ideals of the individual liberty and freedoms that make us a great nation and a free society.
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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. Legislation known as "Charitable Choice” may require states to include religious organizations (including churches, synagogues and other houses of worship) when considering agencies with which to contract for Federally funded welfare-related services, without providing effective First Amendment safeguards such as those that prevent proselytization, coercion or indoctrination and that safeguard clients and service provider employees against discrimination on the basis of religion.
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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. Moreover, Judaism embodies a sense of ethical responsibility to everybody in our nation to assure them the basic necessities of life and to use our efforts to provide all people with the ability to maintain their economic well-being and dignity.
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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. During the 1970's advances were made in local home-rule, giving limited elected self-government to the District.
