14 | JUNE 13 • 2024
J
N
T
he Jewish Federation of
Detroit has announced
the integration of its
partner agency, the Jewish
Community Relations
Council (JCRC), into
its Community Affairs
Department. This strategic
decision creates a more
unified and powerful
resource, marking a
significant step forward for
Jewish interests in Metro
Detroit.
For many years, the JCRC
provided media relations,
advocacy, interfaith and
community relations on
behalf of Jewish Detroit. In
2016, the JCRC merged with
the AJC, becoming the JCRC/
AJC. Going forward, the work
of the AJC will be handled by
its national organization.
The change follows a
dominant trend within Jewish
communities across North
America, consolidating
community-relations
organizations within the
Federation system to improve
their efficiency and impact.
The timing for this move,
says Federation CEO Steve
Ingber could not
have been better.
“It’s never
been more
important for
our community
to speak with
a clear, unified
voice,” Ingber said. “Since
Oct. 7, the challenges we
face as a community have
grown exponentially. In an
environment of dramatically
rising antisemitism, the need
to actively stand against
hatred and to advocate for
Israel are top priorities.
“We continue to receive
requests from the community
for support — in public
schools, city councils,
workplaces, universities and
beyond. Elected officials have
approached us with questions
and concerns. By combining
the JCRC’s expertise with
our extensive outreach
capabilities, we will be much
better positioned to advocate
for our Jewish community,
for Israel and for the Jewish
people everywhere.”
Federation’s Community
Affairs Department is led by
David Kurzmann,
a community
relations and
Jewish advocacy
veteran who
previously served
as assistant
regional director
of the ADL Midwest and
executive director of Detroit’s
JCRC/AJC from 2015 to 2019.
“We are grateful to the
JCRC lay leaders and
professional staff who have
dedicated themselves to this
work,” Kurzmann says, “and
we look forward to their
continued participation.
“The structure is changing,
but our collective mission
remains consistent and
essential for the community.
The department’s focus will
be on fostering strategic civic
partnerships, intergroup and
interfaith strategy, media
relations and government
relations.”
The essence of JCRC’s
most successful programs
will continue under
the new structure. A
prominent example of
this is the Coalition for
Black and Jewish Unity, a
groundbreaking relationship-
building initiative that brings
people together to promote
greater understanding and
mutual respect (read more
about the program in this
issue’s cover story).
“We are really excited about
taking on the work of the
Coalition, as well as a variety
of other important programs,”
Kurzmann says.
As with all operational
areas within Federation,
the effort will be guided
by volunteer committees,
including a Community
Relations
Committee
chaired by Nancy
Welber Barr,
who was slated
to be JCRC/AJC
president.
“The inte-
gration with
Federation allows us to bring
our community advocacy and
partnership efforts to a larger
stage and to work even more
closely with our partners in
the Jewish community and
beyond,” Welber Barr says.
“Together, we will be able to
respond more dynamically
and effectively to the issues
that matter to us all.”
Ted Deutch, AJC CEO,
shared, “We extend our
heartfelt gratitude for the suc-
cessful collaboration between
JCRC and AJC over the past
several years, made possible
by the hard work of extraor-
dinary lay leaders and profes-
sionals. AJC looks forward to
supporting the Federation’s
new direction and to new
opportunities to advance
AJC’s unique global Jewish
advocacy, as we confront
antisemitism, stand up for
Israel’s right to exist in peace
and security, and uphold the
democratic values that unite
Jews and our allies.”
Ted Cohen is chief marketing officer
for the Jewish Federation of Detroit.
Federation explains how JCRC’s functions will be
carried out by its Community Affairs Department.
JCRC Absorbed by Federation
Steve
Ingber
David
Kurzmann
Nancy
Welber
Barr
TED COHEN JFD CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
OUR COMMUNITY
“IT’S NEVER BEEN MORE
IMPORTANT FOR OUR
COMMUNITY TO SPEAK WITH
A CLEAR, UNIFIED VOICE.”
— STEVE INGBER