The American Jewish Community has historically supported civil rights and individual liberties.   The mission statement of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs expresses a commitment to protect, preserve, and promote a just American society.  The American Jewish community has a “direct stake” in promoting individual liberties, and an “ethical imperative” to do so, recognizing that our values call us to assure freedom, justice, and liberty for all peoples, of all faiths, creeds and ethnicities. 

 

The struggle to maintain and preserve civil rights and individual liberties has been an ongoing one, requiring eternal vigilance.  It remains so today, perhaps even more so.   History has taught us the danger of compromising individual rights at times of crisis.  As always, the needs to protect our system of government and our nation require that we balance the rights and interests of society with those of the individual.

 

Increasingly, challenges to civil liberties and individual rights arise in the state and municipal arena. A concerted effort has been made to challenge the role of courts, traditionally a bulwark against the ‘tyranny of the majority,’ in protecting the rights of individuals.

 

The JCPA believes that:

 

The Community Relations Field should:

 
Share

Next Up:

U.S. DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN ENERGY SOURCES

Take Action Donate

August 27, 2025

JCPA Statement on Minneapolis School Shooting

August 26, 2025

JCPA Urges DHS to Waive Confusing and Concerning Language for Nonprofit Security Grant Program

August 25, 2025

The New York Times: In Trump’s Second Term, Far-Right Agenda Enters the Mainstream

August 20, 2025

Communications Intern

August 19, 2025

High Holy Days 5786

August 15, 2025

The Torah of Community Relations

August 13, 2025

High Holy Days 5786

August 13, 2025

Federalizing the DC Police: Manufactured Crises and the Erosion of Democratic Protections

August 8, 2025

Eight Years Since ‘Unite the Right’ Violence in Charlottesville: A Call to Confront the Normalization of Hate

August 5, 2025

JCPA: 2024 Hate Crimes Data Underscores Crisis of Hate and Extremism