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CRC In Action

A Review of Accomplishments for 2009

 

June

CRC was the convener of the Task Force on Bias and Bigotry.  The first meeting was held this month to ascertain the climate in central Florida regarding anti-Israel and anti-Semitic activities showed that this area is quiet.  Those attending were Pam Kancher, Rabbi Siger, Rabbi Kay, Eileen Winterble, Al Gross, Ava Maxwell, Jo Staffin, and Barbara Weinreich. 

 

August

CRC was part of the Global Leadership Coalition, meeting with staffs for Rep. Kosmas and Rep. Grayson’s offices.  The purpose was to offer personal thanks for their support of the Foreign Aid Bill.  CRC discussed partnerships between the U.S. and Israel on matters of research and development regarding water and the environment.

 

September

CRC convened a group of 30 Jewish people to attend Iftar (the breaking of fast at Ramadan) at the Nile Foundation of the Turkish Muslims.

 

October

The Jewish Holiday Calendar was updated to 2016 and CRC helped distrubute hard copies and electronic, along with a cover letter from Rabbi Kay, to Public School Superintendents in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, and Volusia counties.  They also were sent to the Florida High School Athletic Association, Lake Highland Prep, Trinity Prep, the Park Maitland School and administrators at UCF and Rollins.  Representatives Mica, Grayson, and Kosmas also received them.

The Task Force on Bias and Bigotry (formed in June 2009) October update indicated that a few Jewish students were targets of a harmless prank at Rollins College, but this was being handled internally with Rabbi Siger in attendance.  Also, a woman alleged she was fired from her job because her boss is an anti-Semite.  CRC called her for the details, but she dropped the complaint.

 

Gary Kenzer of Honest Reporting came to Orlando through the sponsorship of CRC and the Judaic Studies Department at UCF.  He addressed Beit Hamidrash, the Jewish studies group at UCF, a Hebrew school class at CRJ, and attended the CRC meeting.

 

After complaining to school administrators that her daughter had to choose between observing Yom Kippur or having perfect attendance at her Orange County public school, Shani Lucas was invited to come to the school board’s calendar meeting when they convened.  CRC then invited her to attend our October meeting.  Jeff Siskind, former president of the Seminole Education Association was also invited to attend in order to offer suggestions to Shani Lucas on how to approach the issue. CRC hopes that Orange County may be encouraged to offer a student non-attendance day on Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur, the way Seminole County has done.  The calendar meeting has not yet taken place, but Shani now knows the talking points.

 

December

CRC reciprocated for the Turkish Muslim’s hospitality from September by inviting them to visit Temple Israel.  They had never been to a synagogue before and this was a good community and cultural bridge-building activity.