Intergroup and Interfaith Relations
Promoting positive Intergroup and Interfaith relations in our diverse communities are a priority of the Peninsula Region, and the JCRC has been an active participant and leader in outreach efforts. Example of our projects include:
Freedom Seder
Congregation Kol Emeth, in partnership with Jerusalem Baptist Church (both of Palo Alto), hosted a Freedom Seder in April 2000. The purpose of a “Freedom Seder” is to bring the local African-American and Jewish community together at a positive event to promote mutual knowledge and understanding. It is a Passover Seder commemorating the struggles and liberation of the African-Americans and Jews from slavery and oppression. The event was highly successful and has served as a springboard for continued relations between our communities, such as a family picnic and baseball game that was held the following summer. The Peninsula committee has identified African-American–Jewish relations as a top priority and will continue to actively pursue ways of bringing our communities together.
Community Working Group
As part of a community response to the growing problems of homelessness and lack of affordable housing, the JCRC Peninsula Region participated with other local groups, such as Urban Ministry of Palo Alto (now part of envision), to support an effort to bring comprehensive services to homeless individuals and families in the South Peninsula region. The result of these efforts can be seen in a concrete plan for an Opportunity Center of the Midpeninsula; a five story building in Palo Alto that will provide a wide range of services for those who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless as well as up to 95 units of transitional and permanent low-income housing for singles and small families.