STATEMENTS & UPDATES

The Arizona Nonprofit Security Grant Program (SB1713), sponsored by AZ State Senator David Gowan and supported by the Arizona Faith Network, passed the Arizona State Senate today in bipartisan fashion. We thank Senator Gowan for his leadership on this vital bill. The...

The JCRC initiative "Operation Snow Bird" to help provide winter coats for asylum-seekers heading on to colder climates via Jewish communities in more wintry spaces received some nice coverage in the Jewish News: "Operation Snowbird 2.0 collects hundreds of coats for...

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...

“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...

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...

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...

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...

JCRC Statement on Kari Lake, Mark Finchem and Wendy Rogers endorsement of antisemitic OK state senate candidate On Friday August 19, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix learned that AZ gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake endorsed an antisemitic,...

“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...

"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...

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...

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...

“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...

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,...

The JCRC was proud to spearhead Operation NoAZ to help provide winter coats to asylum seekers heading on to colder climates. We are grateful for the support of the Jewish communities of Flagstaff, and Sedona & the Verde Valley for their support!

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix (JCRC), its Executive Director, and a Member of its Board of Directors Sue the State of Arizona to Stop the Use of Hydrogen Cyanide for Executions (PHOENIX – Feb. 15, 2022) The Jewish Community Relations...

The JCRC Executive Director Paul Rockower received the Arizona Faith Network's Peacemaker in Action Award at the organization's annual meeting.  Read more about the peace award in the Jewish News article on the recognition.

The JCRC is pleased to welcome Mettannah Jacobson as our new Communications and Public Diplomacy Fellow. Mettannah is a recent graduate from McGill University, where she Double Majored in Sociology and Jewish Studies, and Minored in History. Mettannah's leadership...

"The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix is deeply concerned with Sen. Rogers' use of extremist terms that have inspired some of the worst atrocities in recent history. Given the uptick of antisemitism and extremism in our state, and across the...

The JCRC Executive Director Paul Rockower was featured in the Arizona Republic article alongside the Arizona Faith Network on how interfaith organizations fight extremism and hate.  

“…that I have tried to keep memory alive, that I have tried to fight those who would forget. Because if we forget we are guilty, we are accomplices.” -Elie Wiesel With the passage of a legislative mandate for Holocaust education across the state, the JCRC is extremely...

"Public diplomacy works in multiple directions, both externally and internally. Jewish institutions have helped communicate the wide support the Jews in Tucson received from other faith and community organizations. In conducting public diplomacy to publicize and echo...