CO M M U N I T Y R E L AT I O N S “T HE JC PA EV E RY DAY B R IN GS J E WS F RO M ACROSS T HE R E L IG I O U S, I D EOLOGIC AL A ND C U LT U R AL SP ECTR UM TO GET H E R A RO UN D CO M M ON PO L I C I E S A N D AC T IO N .” - RA B B I DAVI D SA P ER STEIN R A B B I DAV I D SAPERSTEIN Director and Counsel, Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism
More than 1,500 years ago, the early Rabbis expounded on the power of community: “Do not separate yourself from the community,” warned Hillel. Those “who occupy themselves with communal affairs do so for the sake of Heaven,” taught Rabban Gamliel. Today, the JCPA continues to model cooperative communal collegiality, seeking to ensure the Jewish community lives up to the wisdom of its sages. Far from separating Jews from our community, the JCPA every day brings Jews from across the religious and ideological and cultural spectrum together around common policies and action. In the face of disagreements on Israel policy and on American politics and/or elections, the JCPA sought instead to find a way to heal divides and 06
foster a more civil and productive discourse—in our community and in our nation. At a time when our nation is being torn apart by its divisive politics, JCPA plays a crucial role in finding common ground and forging a consensus on how we can agree to disagree respectfully. I was proud to sign the JCPA’s widely commended Civility Statement and was inspired by how many others did too. In its unique reach to both national agencies, religious movements and local CRCs, and in supporting the work of building community relations, JCPA has forged effective coalitions across the diverse fabric of America’s ethnic, racial and religious communities and has brought Jews together with our neighbors across the country. One vivid example I was honored to participate in: