Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis (JCRC)

08/10/2026

JCRC Podcast Series
Hamas Disarming in Gaza: The Long Road Ahead
https://youtu.be/Ck1iq473KHA?si=sN3TGibS9_cXhrqz

Our good friend Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib joins us for a discussion with analysis from his sources on the ground.

The past week we have seen reporting on the plans for the disarming of Hamas in Gaza. Those plans are being dissected and discussed for the fine print and the reactions on all sides are to be expected.

Is this genuine? Is it a ploy? Is it something worthy of optimism? What to make of Israel's reaction? As this week's reporting describes the Israeli government as being against the plan, what is really going on and what should we read between the lines?

In a world where nothing happens overnight - where we have two sides with little trust for one another - and a US Administration more accustomed to quick deals - is there any reason for optimism? Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib believes yes, but cautious optimism.

Take a listen and form you own opinion.
https://youtu.be/Ck1iq473KHA?si=sN3TGibS9_cXhrqz

08/04/2026

JCRC Executive Director David Cohen adds context for this JTA article on the local congressional race.

While JCRC does not endorse candidates, we have been quite clear about the rising demonization of the Jewish community and Israel through careless rhetoric.

Pushed out overwhelmingly by social media bots and calculating strategists, these extremist attacks are meant to make centrist candidates and community members feel complicit if they don’t feel the same way about alleged crimes committed by Israel.

What do we mean by extreme attacks? In addition to overwhelming data available, we note that of the 36 synagogues and agencies we convene, almost none as a policy or stance believes what most DSA candidates believe about Israel. We cannot be clear enough that those views are a small minority of the wider Jewish community - not just of the organized Jewish community.

It’s that simple. This national conversation about Israel, AIPAC, and Jews writ large is dangerous and is spiraling out of control.

Pleas read this additional article from the URJ, representing the largest Jewish denomination in the country. Generally thought of as a liberal or left leaning organization, even they see the danger in this trend.

https://urj.org/press-room/urj-statement-aipac-campaign-rhetoric-and-antisemitism

We need more reason and nuance in this conversation. Not more click bait and not more policy that seems to take the lead from the most horrible comments one can find on social media.

The other main point was that while one candidate may want to make this all about Israel - through ads and campaign messaging - that may not be what most people are talking about in a race.

It is a minority opinion that only a small portion of our St. Louis community wants to talk about.
The more we can get national and local media to understand that the better off we will all be.

The pro-Israel lobby is once again working to boost Bell, whose support for the Jewish state has remained strong heading into Tuesday's Democratic congressional primary.

08/03/2026

JCRC, along with numerous community leaders and coalition partners, joined in solidarity to pray and lend our voice to the vigil at Overland City Hall to honor Nixon Pereez Paz and Glendy Gonzales de la Cruz.

SOMOS SERES HUMANOS [WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS] was the theme of the day - sharing with the civil rights demand to see people as humans and not as dangers or demons. As we know this challenge in our societies, sadly, is as old as time itself

The inhumane actions that led to the deaths of Nixon and Glendy has now left their children orphaned. And if one thing was made clear at this gathering - this family was a beloved member of this St. Louis Community. This is not immigration policy. This is hate and power parading in the language of security and safety . Another theme older than our current moment.

The question is will we do enough to stand up to polices and actions that are easily preventable? Will our local communities have the courage to stand up and say enough is enough.

To paraphrase the moment that took down McCarthyism - “have you no decency sir?” Do we have the courage to say it and mean it?

Thank you to Overland mayor, Marty Little, speaking up about not signing Fed 287 (g) and highlighting how immigrants are making Overland the amazingly diverse place that it is.

Thank you Ritenour school superintendent, Dr. Chris Kilbride, and the many, many Ritenour educators that came to mourn with the children of Nixon and Glendy, the very children they taught and cared for!

Thank you to Reverend Erica Gravely for her prayers, her empathy, and her call to turn thoughts and prayers into action.

Though a tragic time, it was heartening to see the turnout. A diverse collection of leaders and community members from all walks of life coming together for a singular purpose. Political opponents putting down their jabs for one day to grieve with the entire city of St. Louis.

Casa de Salud
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro St. Louis
Ashrei Foundation
Erika Miles Gravely
International Institute St. Louis
Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis
Migrant and Immigrant Community Action Project- MICA Project
Missouri Workers Center
HarmonySTL
Welcome Neighbor STL
Welcoming America
OCA Saint Louis Chapter - Asian Pacific American Advocates
Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC
Immigrant Service Providers Network STL

07/30/2026

This Sunday, August 2 @ 6pm
Overland City Hall
Community Vigil for Glendy and Nixon.

We are sure many of you have heard about this tragic story.

https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/deported-st-louis-county-couple-shot-dead-guatemala-baby-found-beside-weeks-leaving-us/63-a42d5528-77f6-454a-b43a-e599c95dfdc8

After an ICE stop led to a family's deportation, an Overland couple was murdered in Guatemala. Their 14-month-old daughter survived and was found lying next to them. This happened just weeks after being deported.

A vigil is set for this Sunday, August 2 @ 6pm - at Overland City Hall, 1919 Lackland Road.

Pastor Teresa Mithen Danieley and Pastor Erika Miles Gravely are part of the Ashrei Foundation's Clergy Collective Bridging Faith and Justice for Immigrants and are helping to organize this vigil for Nixon Giovanni Pérez Paz and Glendy Marisol González de la Cruz.

They will also be convening a consultation for Clergy & Faith Leaders at Christ Church Cathedral on Monday, August 17. (Details in the comments)

May the families of Nixon and Glendy, especially their children, find some peace in this moment and may they find the compassion that seems fo be so absent right now from our political world and our immigration policies.

07/29/2026

We were thrilled to host Kevin Deutsch last night along with St Louis Friends of Israel for our program “Israel in the Media: Narrative, Bias, and What’s at Stake for American Jews.”

Thank you to all those who packed the room to hear from Kevin and how to help promote a more reasoned narrative about Israel and the Middle East.

07/27/2026

Israel in the Media - This Tuesday, July 28, 2026 @ 7:00pm
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/gwzhthh

Wherever you stand on the issues surrounding Israel, the one thing we can agree on is that no one seems happy with the way traditional media or social media platforms present issues related to the middle east, Israel, the Palestinian territories or Iran. Journalist Kevin Deutsch joins us for a deep dive into the main problems and ways we can help promote a more accurate and responsible narrative.

Please join JCRC and St. Louis Friends of Israel as we present this important program about Israel's portrayal in the news and on social media, and what American Jews and our allies can do to promote a more accurate and responsible narrative.

Tuesday, July 28, 2026 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30)
12 Millstone Campus Drive
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/gwzhthh

Refreshments will be served

07/16/2026

Are you awesome? Yes you are!
And if you want to be part of an amazing mission and an incredible team, join us today at the JCRC in St. Louis.

We are looking for a dynamic, passionate, and driven professional to guide our interfaith, intergroup, and advocacy work. Experience with grant writing for program development a plus!

Apply TODAY!
https://jcrcstl.org/about/careers.html

07/11/2026

Proud to be a member of Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis. Please see our Cabinet statement on the recent bomb threat against the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis.

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Sadly, too many of our faith groups experience these threats regularly. We wish the world were not so.

Whether through bias, bigotry, or political disagreement - these threats cannot be tolerated or excused because you think your so called “cause” is just. Any cause that results in domestic violence or hostile, angry protests aimed at a place of worship is an extreme that should be marginalized in our society.

Whether threats come from the far left or the far right makes no difference. In fact, it should now be clear that there are so many similarities between the extremes on the far left and far right. Each use their own conspiracy theories and justifications to demonize and vilify their targets - and perpetrate violence and aim hostility against them. Both are wrong.

Any rhetoric that makes it seem like this is OK because of your politics or “moral clarity” must be shut down.

That’s why these statements are important.

Beyond these statements, Interfaith Partnership works every day to build bridges and keep connectivity between our faith traditions here in St. Louis. It begins with bridges being built. And results in partnership and ally-ship.

Perpetrators of this kind of violence do not come from the center or anyone who is truly a person of faith. It comes only from the loud and vocal extremes who live and thrive on the world of social media and have their venom spread by algorithms and business models that see money to be made from division and hate.

We will not allow the real world and our own communities to become the world of social media and fear mongers.

07/10/2026

Please see our joint community statement in support of the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis following the recent bomb threat at their mosque.

“We join our friends at the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis in unequivocally condemning the bomb threat at Dar-ul-Islam, the largest mosque in the Greater St. Louis area. All Americans deserve to worship in peace and security, and we will continue to advocate for the resources to secure houses of worship against acts of intimidation and hate.”

JCRC St. Louis
ADL - Missouri, Eastern Kansas, and Southern Illinois
Jewish Federation of St. Louis