STATEMENTS & UPDATES

Hanukkah press

Hanukkah press

"Paul Rockower, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix, said the Phoenix group had not encountered any resistance and was prepared to celebrate Hanukkah “publicly and joyously.” 'There are certainly folks taking extra...

Welcoming new Associate Director

Welcoming new Associate Director

The JCRC is pleased to announce the recent addition of Amanda Garcia as the new Associate Director. Amanda Garcia has over a decade of experience as a Jewish communal professional as well as leadership roles on several boards including the Bureau of Jewish Education,...

JCRC quoted in AZ Mirror

JCRC quoted in AZ Mirror

"Paul Rockower, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix, told the Mirror in a statement that his organization grieves for the loss of innocent lives and would support calls for a cease-fire only if all parties in the conflict...

Joining the Fight to Protect Human Rights

Joining the Fight to Protect Human Rights

"During my time at the JCRC, I have been able to work on projects that have affected me on a personal level and that I feel passionately about. I’ve helped pass legislation to protect some of the most vulnerable and marginalized religious communities in the state of...

Denouncing Rep. Gosar’s Neo-Nazi connections

Denouncing Rep. Gosar’s Neo-Nazi connections

"It’s neither shocking nor surprising that Rep. Gosar would employ an anti-Semitic, racist staffer in his congressional office," said Alan Zeichick, board chairman for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix in a written statement. "Rep. Gosar...

Remarks for the Maricopa County Branch NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner

Remarks for the Maricopa County Branch NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner

JCRC Executive Director Paul Rockower was invited to give remarks on behalf of the Jewish Community of Greater Phoenix to the Maricopa County Branch NAACP for its annual Freedom Fund Dinner and Community Awards program, "Defining Truth in Our Democracy" These were...

Meet the Press: SB1713

Meet the Press: SB1713

JCRC Executive Director/AFN Board Member Paul Rockower and Arizona Faith Network Executive Committee Member Rev. Gerald Richard were guests on Arizona PBS' AZ Horizon program to discuss SB1713, the state-based nonprofit security grant program to help...

Calling out Congressman Paul Gosar

Calling out Congressman Paul Gosar

“Congressman Gosar continues to show us exactly who he is and what he stands for. The man has no shame, and remains a stain on Arizona’s political landscape.” -Paul Rockower, executive director for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix, Following...

Welcoming New Communications & Public Diplomacy Fellow

Welcoming New Communications & Public Diplomacy Fellow

The JCRC is pleased to welcome Zillah al-Kahiyah as our new Communications and Public Diplomacy Fellow! Zillah had been involved in the technical world, working in STEM. Prior she worked with, and wrote for the Colorado State House of Representatives during the 2019...

JCRC PHX in USA Today

JCRC PHX in USA Today

“Paul Rockower, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix, said the issue is particularly acute in Arizona, where extremism is more common. For instance, Republican state Rep. Mark Finchem, a secretary of state candidate, and...

Maricopa County NAACP statement on Kanye West

Maricopa County NAACP statement on Kanye West

The JCRC thanks the Maricopa County Branch NAACP for its condemnation of Kanye West’s repeated antisemitism. Their statement was profound and meaningful. It is gratifying that stalwart friends in the African American community stand with us against hate and...

Elections ’22

Elections ’22

The JCRC has been quoted recently in a few articles on antisemitism around the 2022 Fall elections.  See the Jewish News piece on antisemitism among certain Arizona candidates and officeholders, and the Jewish Insider piece on the Jewish community and the AZ...

JCRC Statement on Mark Finchem’s use of antisemitic tropes

JCRC Statement on Mark Finchem’s use of antisemitic tropes

Following Arizona Secretary of State candidate Mark Finchem's use of antisemitic tropes on twitter around Michael Bloomberg and George Soros, the JCRC put out the following tweet response: @RealMarkFinchem: your reliance on #antisemitic tropes to spearhead your...

Speaking out on neo-Nazi endorsement of Blake Masters

Speaking out on neo-Nazi endorsement of Blake Masters

“When given the opportunity to reject anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial, Masters refused — denouncing 'the media' in starker terms than he denounces the neo-Nazi publication, The Daily Stormer,” JCRC Executive Director Paul Rockower offered comments in the Phoenix...

An Honour to Serve

An Honour to Serve

"As my JCRC fellowship comes to an end and this work within an American context changes, I hope to continue to be able to collaborate with people of all backgrounds and opinions to continue working towards the goal of unity and public good. I’ll still be here in the...

Little Gray Pellets: Challenging Arizona’s Use of Zyklon B

Little Gray Pellets: Challenging Arizona’s Use of Zyklon B

JCRC Executive Director Paul Rockower has a new op-ed in EJewish Philanthropy on the ongoing fight against Zyklon B in Arizona: "Seeing an exhibit chronicling the horrors of the gas chambers of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and the models of the infamous gas chambers, I...

Using Cyanide Gas in Executions is an Affront to Jewish Values

Using Cyanide Gas in Executions is an Affront to Jewish Values

Arizona’s commitment to this hideous execution method should shock the conscience of all Americans. It is particularly appalling to me as the board chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Phoenix, and to my broader community. Earlier this...

AZ PBS: Addressing rising antisemitism in Arizona

AZ PBS: Addressing rising antisemitism in Arizona

“Really, the Jewish community is the canary in the coal mine when it comes to civil society,” Rockower said. “When we see spikes in antisemitism, it’s really a sign that civil society is in a more dangerous, more precarious place, and you see that through conspiracy...

Phoenix Jewish Community statement: Standing with Ukraine

Phoenix Jewish Community statement: Standing with Ukraine

The Jewish community of Greater Phoenix stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, including Ukraine’s Jewish community, against this cruel attack by Russia. Our global brothers and sisters are suffering greatly, and seeing the death of their loved ones,...