Members of the St. Louis Jewish community are invited to join representatives from nearly a dozen local Jewish organizations in traveling to Jefferson City on Jan. 22 for Missouri Jewish Advocacy Day. The event is designed to amplify Jewish voices and encourage meaningful conversations about policies impacting the community.
“Our Jewish community has always worked to build relationships with our elected officials and advocate for the needs of our community,” said Rabbi Scott Shafrin, outgoing executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis (JCRC). “In the past year, we have seen more and more issues of concern take hold of our community, and we wanted to start this legislative term by creating a strong presence in the Capitol as well as informing legislators of some unique and pressing needs.”
Shafrin noted that the JCRC, representing more than 35 agencies and organizations across the Jewish community, spent months identifying critical issues and strategies. “This Advocacy Day is just one of the many ways we are acting on the feedback the community has been sharing,” he said.
Why advocacy matters
Missouri Jewish Advocacy Day provides an opportunity for participants to meet with legislators, discuss key issues and advocate for policies that support the Jewish community.
“There is strength and power in numbers,” said Cheryl Adelstein, interim executive director at Congregation B’nai Amoona. “Our legislators need to hear directly from members of our Jewish community to help them understand why our issues and requests matter. It is so empowering to walk the halls of our Capitol and know together we are making a difference for the Jewish community in Missouri.”
In Missouri, where there are currently no Jewish legislators, direct engagement with lawmakers is especially critical.
“With no Jewish legislators it is especially important that our voices and viewpoints are heard,” said Jennifer Bernstein, advocacy manager for the National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis (NCJWSTL). “We are fortunate to have strong allies to the Jewish community on both sides of the aisle, but nothing is more important than hearing directly from us.”
What’s on the agenda?
This year, a primary focus of Advocacy Day will be pushing for increased funding and access to nonprofit security grants.
“Unfortunately, our Jewish communities and organizations face increased threats, harassment and attempts at isolation from people who peddle in antisemitic hate or who want to target the Jewish people through intimidation,” said Scott Biondo, community security director at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. “Many of our allies and community partners have also been facing increasing incidents of hate or threats, and these grants can be lifelines for houses of worship, nonprofit justice organizations and the institutions that support and enhance our communities.”
Biondo emphasized the broader significance of unity in advocacy. “It is critical in a time when we focus so much on what divides us as a society to have neighbors throughout the community coming together to support one another and work for the betterment of the entire community,” he said. “There are so many ways that we can advocate for programs and policies that make all our lives better, and everyone has a role to play in showing up for community in ways big and small.”
How to join
Missouri Jewish Advocacy Day will take place on Jan. 22 at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, and registration is open now but closes Jan. 10. Anyone interested in making a difference for the Jewish community is encouraged to sign up.
“This isn’t just about politics,” Bernstein said. “It’s about standing up for what we believe in and making sure our voices are part of the conversation. We hope to see you there.”
Missouri Jewish Advocacy Day is supported by a diverse group of organizations dedicated to advocacy and community-building. Participating groups include AJC St. Louis, ADL Heartland, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), Jewish Federation of St. Louis, National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis (NCJWSTL), the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, Central Reform Congregation, Congregation B’nai Amoona, Congregation Shaare Emeth, Jews United for Justice – St. Louis, United Hebrew Congregation, and Congregation Temple Israel.
