Contact JCRC Director, Lisa Epstein
About
The focus of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is to promote and advance the interests of the Jewish people, to preserve and maintain the dignity and integrity of the Jewish people, and to defend and protect civil, political, and religious rights wherever such rights are in jeopardy.
Upcoming Events
Please join the Jewish Community Relations Council, in partnership with the National Council of Jewish Women - San Antonio, for a forum for the Bexar County Judge Candidates.
More about Bexar County Judge
This position is being vacated by Nelson Wolff, who has held this position for over 20 years. The Bexar County Judge is not actually a judge but is more aptly described as the "mayor" of Bexar County. The Judge oversees the Commissioners Court (which is not a judicial court) and a budget of $2.79 billion (primarily funded by property taxes).
This budget includes:
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Elections
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Justice of the Peace
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Sheriff's Office
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Public Defender
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Criminal District Attorney
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The University Health System
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Courts, including Civil District Courts, Probate Court, Juvenile District Court, 4th Court of Appeals, Central Magistration District Courts, Criminal District Courts
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Constables
Responsibilities include:
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Setting the tax rate and adopting the County budget
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Establishing voting precincts, appointing precinct judges, and calling County bond elections
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Building and maintaining County roads and bridges;
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Building, maintaining, and improving County facilities, including jails;
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Approving plats for residential development in unincorporated areas;
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Letting contracts and authorizing payment of all County bills;
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Appointing certain county officials and hiring personnel
Join us to get to know your local candidates and ensure your future elected leaders understand the needs and concerns of their Jewish constituents!
Sunday, October 2 from 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Pillars For Our Changing World
Fighting Against Antisemitism
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To report local antisemitic incidents - email epsteinL@jfsatx.org
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To report an antisemitic, bias, or discriminatory incident - email the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
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A movement started by the ADL, Stop hate for profit, is working towards ending hate, bigotry, racism, antisemitism, and disinformation that do not have a place on social media platforms.
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Statements made on antisemitism:
Promoting a Relationship with Israel
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The Israel Leadership Fellowship is a program is designed for high school juniors and seniors to better equip them with helpful tools to have difficult conversations about Israel while at college.
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Our Partnership with the Western Galilee provides a unique opportunity for our communities to connect and learn from one another.
Developing Community Relationships
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In response to the global health crisis, we called on members of the community join us in our #MaskUpSA campaign
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We partner with other faith based organizations for programs, including our MLK Interfaith Service and annual Catholics and Jews Celebrate Hanukkah program.
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We join our community in marching at the Annual San Antonio MLK CommUnity March, the largest MLK march in the United States.
Promoting Equal Justice & Opportunity For All
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Our program, Mass Incarceration: A Policy Crisis, brought together members of the San Antonio community to hear from those who had previously been incarcerated, as well as the District Attorney and local sheriff.
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We ensured local seniors of the community received mail in ballots in order to vote in the past election.
Advocating For Our Community
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Jewish Communities Day at the State: Virtual Legislative Mission to Austin is a biennial advocacy day at the Texas Capitol for Jewish communities throughout Texas. This event educates our legislators about the policy priorities that are important to the Texas Jewish community.
Interested in learning more about the JCRC?
Sign up for our email interest list today and receive notifications on upcoming programs and opportunities.
JCRC Leadership and Members
Mina Lopez, Council Chair
Lisa Epstein, PhD, Director
Rona Aduna (Congregation Beth Am)
Rabbi Harold Bayar (Congregation Agudas Achim)
Barbara Bikoff (Congregation Agudas Achim)
Rabbi Chaim Block (Chabad)
Hannah Cramer (At-Large)
Melvin Eichelbaum (Jewish War Veterans)
Rabbi Lisa Goldstein (Congregation Shalom)
Ron Gossen (Chabad of San Antonio)
Ross Halfant (At-Large)
Mark Ingram (HMMSA)
Judy Lackritz (At-Large)
Daniel Laser (At-Large)
Sara Lerich (Hadassah)
Henry Lipsitt (B'nai B'rith)
Barbara Powell (Congregation Rodfei Sholom)
Tory Richmond (At Large)
Mike Robbins (Hebrew Free Loan Association)
Rabbi Avraham Scheinberg (Congregation Rodfei Sholom)
Chava Shaul (Israeli Chabad)
Rabbi Tal Shaul (Israeli Chabad)
Natalie Steiner (Hillel-San Antonio)
Lori Stockstiel (NCJW)
Winslow Swart (At-Large)
Sherie Trakhtenbroit (SAJSS)
Rachel Walsh (At-Large)
Rabbi Marina Yergin (Temple Beth-El)
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Questions about the Jewish Community Relations Council?