JCRC-NY Statement on Iran Deal
The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York is deeply concerned with the announced terms of the deal with Iran. While we will review each of the specifics of the deal in greater detail, it appears that The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has serious shortcomings and will not prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
At this point in time, when President Obama is threatening to veto any vote in Congress disapproving the JCPOA, it is vital that Congress carefully scrutinize this agreement. In doing so, Congress must take into account national security concerns as well as the consequences of a more powerful Iranian regime. Iran is a nation that consistently calls for the destruction of both the United States and Israel, is the leading State Sponsor of Terrorism and terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and is one of the worst violators of human rights in the world. These concerns are not addressed in the deal, but must be considered by Congress.
The thrust of the deal relies on Iran’s good faith and the ability of the IAEA to effectively carry out inspections. With Iran’s history of acrimony, deceit and terror, it is difficult for us to have confidence that this deal will prevent a nuclear Iran.
JCRC-NY’s Gala Dinner
JCRC-NY Statement Against the Palestine Advocacy Project’s MTA Ads
Anyone who is truly interested in peace between Israelis and Palestinians does not engage in intentionally provocative and false accusations. These ads only serve to tear at the fabric of communal harmony in New York and impede efforts for a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This effort is merely the latest manifestation of a broader, vicious campaign to delegitimize the State of Israel and demonize every element of its society.
JCRC mourns with Liu, Ramos families and the NYPD
Statement of Ronald G. Weiner, President and Michael S. Miller and Executive Vice President and CEO
Jewish Community Relations Council of NY
Yesterday’s ultimate sacrifices by Police Officer Wenjian Liu and Police Officer Rafael Ramos were an all-too poignant reminder of the courage and professionalism demanded of every member of the NYPD when they put on their uniform and go out to protect the communities that they serve. We join in the grief felt by their immediate families and that is shared by every one of their brothers and sisters in blue.
The callous execution of these two officers was an outrageous attack on every value that we hold dear. In this atmosphere of heated rhetoric we should all remember two important principles: words do matter and can have ominous consequences and most significantly, the lives of all, do matter.
The JCRC-NY announced a fund to benefit the families of the two officers brutally murdered on Saturday. Miller explained, “This horrible and tragic event affected all New Yorkers. Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos made the ultimate sacrifice. We hope that people will join us in our wish to assist their families as they try to rebuild their lives. In this small way we can honor their service and the dedication and courage of all of the men and women of the NYPD.”
The JCRC-NY will transmit 100% of the proceeds to the Silver Shield Foundation, which has been helping the families of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty since 1982, as its conduit. It was initially established by the Steinbrenner family.
Anyone wishing to contribute to JCRC-NY’s Fallen Heroes Fund can do so athttps://jcrcny2022.wpengine.com/donate, designating that the funds be directed to the Fallen Heroes Fund.
JCRC-NY Decries Attack on Brooklyn Jewish Leader
Press Release – PDF
The Jewish Community Council of New York (JCRC-NY) is horrified by the assault on Leonard Petlakh, Executive Director of Kings Bay YM-YWHA, on October 7, 2014 outside of the Barclays Center, after a basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and Israel’s Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution enshrines the right to freedom of speech. However, under no circumstances does the Constitution grant the right to engage in violence against individuals with whom one disagrees , regardless of the emotions that may surround personal, local, national, or global issues.
JCRC-NY will not stand idly by and permit rank bias and hatred against Jews — or other groups — to become normative in the City of New York. Indeed, we have no tolerance for intolerance and remain all the more committed to fostering harmony among the diverse population that resides in the metropolitan area.
It’s reassuring that the brutal attack on Mr. Petlakh is being actively and aggressively investigated by the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force. We look forward to an expeditious arrest of the perpetrator(s) of this heinous crime and expect that they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
We wish Leonard and his family well and remain disturbed that his two young children witnessed this attack on their father. It is our hope that the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrator(s) will achieve some measure of justice for them all.
Anyone with information about this assault should contact NYPD Crimestoppers at 1-(800) 577-TIPS. Your identity and information will be kept anonymous.
JCRC-NY Press Conf. on Threat of Iran – A call to United Nations GA
On the eve of the opening of the general debate of the 2014 United Nations General Assembly, New York political and community leaders gathered at a press conference to call on world leaders to confront the widespread rise of terrorism in the Middle East by both terrorist organizations and state sponsors of terror, most notably Iran.
With Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the sole representative of these terror groups, at the UNGA, assembled officials demanded that the United Nations fulfill its mission and protect citizens everywhere against the grave threats posed by these violent organizations and regimes that have no respect for basic human rights.
Over the past several months, the combined threat from terror groups and state sponsors of terror across the region has generated an enormous human rights crisis and prevented any attempt at creating democratic opportunities for millions of innocent people. ISIS’s rapid expansion and brutal acts of violence are a global threat and promise to destabilize any peaceful progress in the region’s most war-torn countries. Hamas demonstrated brazen willingness to carry out terror attacks against Israel through the use of underground tunnels and rocket attacks using schools, civilians and children as shields. The al-Nusra Front engages in kidnapping of Christians and U.N. peacekeepers to further its goals. Hezbollah continues to undermine the stability of Lebanon, while simultaneously waging war inside Syria in support of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. And Iran, the preeminent state sponsor of terror, has publicly flaunted its wide-ranging support for Hamas and Hezbollah, increased its employment of executions and harsh prison sentences for political prisoners, and has taken no real steps to curb its nuclear ambitions or abide by international monitoring deadlines.
Speakers included:
Congressmember Jerrold Nadler
Congressmember Carolyn Maloney
Congressmember Hakeem Jeffries
NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer
Assemblymember David Weprin
New York City Councilmember Mark Levine
Rev. Jacques DeGraff, Co-Chair, Iran180
Elizabeth Velez, Co-Chair, Iran180
Linda Mirels, Chair of the Board, UJA-Federation of New York
Michael S. Miller, Executive Vice President and CEO, JCRC-NY
Print-Media coverage included:
Demotix, NY Blueprint and NY Observer.
Radio coverage included:
WCBS 880: Link
Statement Against Inflammatory Ads
While acknowledging the MTA’s decision, based on a past federal court ruling, that the placement of the AFDI ads in the New York transit system is protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution, nonetheless, we find the ads’ content to be dangerously inflammatory and decidedly prejudiced. The broad mainstream of the New York Jewish community does not see the despicable and horrific actions of terrorist organizations as justification of intolerance towards all Muslims or their faith. We will continue our work of rejecting stereotypes and working with leaders of the Muslim and other faith and ethnic communities within the demographic diversity of New York to strengthen the communal collective and improve the quality of life for all.
The Increase in Hate Crimes in NYC by the numbers
JCRC-NY Stand with Israel Press Release & Public Officials’ Statements
Click Here – Release and Statements