Focus Areas > Domestic Issues                                 
                                                                             

Domestic Issues
The JCRC educates, advocates and acts on issues at
the local, state and national levels to advance Jewish concerns in the public arena.

JCRC participates in Muslim Day in Jefferson City

On April 13, 2011, JCRC participated in the first ever Muslim Day in Jefferson City. The event, organized as a day of advocacy and education, began with a press conference on the steps of the Capitol. Speaking on behalf of JCRC, Domestic Issues/Social Justice Director Gail Wechsler noted the many collaborations between the JCRC and the Muslim community, including two dialogue groups and the work of the Community Against Poverty (CAP) coalition. “ We know that when people of different faiths work together on issues of mutual concern, we can accomplish great things,” Wechsler said.

The day continued with meetings at the office of state senators and representatives to voice opposition to several bills, including HB 708 and HJR 31, that seek to outlaw application of foreign law, including Sharia law. As JCRC noted in its testimony against these bills, “HB 708 and HJR 31 are bills directed at a non-existent problem” and “[t]o focus solely on Sharia law sends an anti-Muslim message that runs counter to our nation’s and our state’s history as places that welcome those of all religious backgrounds.”

  

Photo: JCRC Director of Domestic Issues/Social Justice Gail Wechsler with Aminah Yossef after both spoke with their elected officials about HB 708 and HJR 31.

John Chasnoff of the American Civil Liberties Union and Gail Wechsler of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis join Muslims in Jefferson City, MO on April 13 to protest a proposed law banning sharia.
(Missouri News Horizon/Creative Commons)

Issues we're working on:                       

Poverty Initiative
Immigration                                                             
Religion/State                                    
Stem Cell Research
Healthcare

The JCRC:

• Convenes programs on selected issues
• Advocates for issues by communicating with legislators: personal meetings, telephone calls, letters and emails.
• Writes newspaper articles to explain various positions on issues
• Convenes candidate forums
• Distributes election information