The Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, a Jewish Federation of Greater St. Paul beneficiary agency, is the public affairs arm of the Jewish community, dedicated to protecting Jewish interests and promoting Jewish values.  JCRC continuously advocates on issues of importance to the Jewish community to our elected officials on the local, state and federal levels. 

Here are some of the important programs St. Paul Federation funding supports:

Government Affairs
The Twin Cities Jewish Community Government Affairs Program represents the interests of the Twin Cities Jewish Community’s social service agencies and private schools before the federal, state, and local governments. The program serves as a vital connection between the Jewish community and our elected officials, Federation's umbrella organization United Jewish Communities in Washington, D.C., and Minnesota’s vibrant nonprofit community. The Government Affairs Program has helped steer hundreds of millions of dollars in government funds for programs and services like the Jewish Family Service of St. Paul’s job training collaborative and Naturally Occuring Retirement Community (NORC) to help seniors stay independent in their homes.

Tolerance Minnesota
Tolerance Minnesota aims to create a more tolerant and just society by promoting understanding of all cultures and reducing prejudicial and hurtful behavior. Tolerance Minnesota is an award-winning K-12 educational initiative that has received the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits “Best Anti-Racism Initiative” Award, as well as the National Spirit of Anne Frank Award for outstanding citizenship.  Tolerance Minnesota gives students and community members a better understanding of diversity, promotes teamwork, and instills the confidence in each person that they can make valuable contributions to their classroom and community. For example, the Color Project provides children in grades K-6 with tools to recognize and eliminate prejudice by engaging them in an art project that uses paints to illustrate the variety and complexity of humanity.

Stand Up For Israel!
The Stand Up For Israel! program is focused on advocating for peace and security for Israel through education, information, and community action. The JCRC, with support from the Federation, looks to organize the community in times of celebration or crisis for Israel. The program builds and sustains support for Israel in non-Jewish communities by teaching those communities about the Arab-Israeli conflict, and advocates for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship by educating our Congressional delegation on the importance of U.S.-Israel relations and helping legislators analyze topics concerning the Middle East. The JCRC also provides expert analysis and commentary to television, radio, and newspapers to ensure that media coverage of the Middle East is fair and accurate.

Safeguarding Our Community
Safeguarding Our Community is dedicated to safeguarding the security and well-being of individuals and Jewish communal institutions. The program works with local, state, and federal law enforcement officials to keep our community safe. The JCRC was recognized by the FBI for its work fighting hate crimes by awarding it the 2002 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.   Safeguarding Our Community is also the watchdog of the Jewish community, whether it’s fighting on behalf of victims of religious discrimination, educating teachers, administrators, and businesses about the proper role of religion in public schools, or sensitizing educators and businesses to the Jewish calendar.