The JCRC applauds ACLU of Indiana on this win for the immigrant & refugee populations in Indiana. Arabic, Burmese, Chin, and Mandarin are the largest growing language groups coming to Indiana. The JCRC long has supported policies that ensure fair and humane treatment of immigrants within our communities.

There's been some recent confusion about pronouns, what they mean, and what it means to be Gender Fluid or Non-Binary.

Have questions? Addision Smith, Director of Education at Indy Pride, has answers. If you ever feel like you're speaking a different language when trying to discuss gender or sexuality, you're not alone. Join us on January 15 for an informal workshop about the changing landscape of modern gender theory. All are welcome. Event link in comments.

In partnership with Indy Pride, Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council, Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, and Congregation Beth-El Zedeck.

We, yet again, are angered to see antisemitic graffiti used to attack the Jewish community. This time it was the historic Sixth & I synagogue, which only a couple weeks ago welcomed the JCRC and Indiana legislators for our D.C. mission.

‪Congratulations to Rep. Todd Huston on being elected Speaker-Elect of the Indiana House of Representatives. The JCRC, and the Jewish community, look forward to continuing to work with the Speaker-Elect in his new role.

Today on December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat (again) leading to her arrest which sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. However, it is important that we remember Rosa Parks for who she was a lifelong fierce advocate for civil rights, women rights, and education reform.

Today is World AIDS Day. We remember those whose lives were lost, raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, and work to end the stigma around those living with HIV/AIDS.

We also reflect on the power of the HIV/AIDS activist, many of whom were Jewish, who persisted in the fight through advocacy, education, and memorializing those who passed.

For more information on World AIDS Day check out Keshet page with dedicated resources.

Damien Center is an amazing local Indianapolis organization helping to educate and serve those affected by HIV/AIDS.

The JCRC is partnering with JCC Indianapolis, JCCindy Arts & Indy Pride on January 15 for a workshop on pronouns facilitated by Addison Smith, Indy Pride Director of Education. This is part of a year-long initiative to educate our community on the transgender and nonbinary community.

Please RSVP.

‪The Muslim and Jewish communities have a history of supporting each other when either of our communities are threatened. This is why the JCRC works with the Muslim community to fight modern day islamophobia & antisemitism together.‬

Today, November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance, when communities around the world honor the memory of the transgender people whose lives have been taken in acts of anti-transgender violence. Between 2018 and 2019 at least 311 trans people were murdered although the number is most likely higher due to poor or misinformed reporting. Today serves as a way to memorialize those who have died and continue to raise awareness to the violence endured by trans people, which disproportionately targets trans women of color.

We hope that you will join us in honoring the memory of the trans people that were lost this year and continue to embrace with us the LGBTQ+ community including those in the transgender community.

Miss Iraq, Sarah Eedan, is an important ally to the Jewish people working to make sure Jewish refugee stories from the Arab nations are remembered.

Thank you, Courtney Crown, for covering this important piece!

Tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 15, is the 21st Annual State of Indiana Holocaust Remembrance Program.

Our keynote speaker will be local Jewish community member and World War II veteran, Ernie Lorch. Mr. Lorch will share his story of surviving Kristallnacht, immigrating to the United States soon after, and then returning to Europe as a U.S. Army soldier.

Mayor Joe Hogsett along with a representative from the state of Indiana will be addressing the importance of remembering the Holocaust.

We will also welcome community partners, allies, and representatives of other communities who have faced historic and organized discrimination to light candles in memory of the victims.

This year’s candle lighters are:

Ernie Lorch, Kristallnacht Survivor & WWII Veteran, representing all the Jews who were affected by the Holocaust and the hope of survival

Jane Henegar, ACLU of Indiana, for their work in fighting for civil rights
Tabitha Barbour, Indy Pride, for the LGBTQ+ community that perished under the Nazi regime

Judge David Shaheed, Center for Interfaith Cooperation & the Muslim community, for the importance of interfaith work and for Muslim communities facing anti-Muslim bigotry around the globe

Lindsay Haake, Jewish Community ally, for her work in supporting the Jewish community and to remember the sacrifice of the righteous among the nations

John Clark, Obat Helpers USA, for their work in addressing modern-day genocide on the ground

Thank you, Pope Francis, for speaking out against the rise of global antisemitism.

The JCRC is monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza closely. We hope for a quick deescalation so there are no more injuries or deaths.

An important piece and reminder from the CEO of Jewish Council for Public Affairs on things to not do when trying to combat antisemitism.

This week the JCRC has several incredible programs. You can check them out on our website.

One of the major problems with the “pinkwashing” claim is it erases the work of LGBTQ+ organizations on the ground working to advance their rights in Israel.

The #JewishRohingyaJusticeNetwork refuses to remain silent as the Bangladeshi government plans to forcibly relocate the #Rohingya people to the flood & cyclone-prone island of Bhasan Char on November 4. As Jews, we know the horrors & indignities of ongoing genocide.

It is likely that in the coming days 3,000 Rohingya people are going to be moved out of camps in Bangladesh to an uninhabitable island called Bhasan Char. We demand that the Bangladeshi government STOP the forced relocation of Rohingya refugees to the dangerous island of Bhasan Char!

The U.S. Congress can be an important voice in stopping this. Please take a moment and call your Member of Congress and ask them to put out a public statement or tweet calling on the Bangladeshi government to stop this move. #JewishRohingyaJusticeNetwork