Latest news with #FriedmanJCC
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Wyoming Valley Jewish community issues response to attack in Boulder, Colorado
Jun. 2—KINGSTON — The Wyoming Valley Jewish community has issued a response to the recent attack in Boulder, Colorado. The statement was released by David E. Schwager, Esq., Chair, Community Relations Council, and Jane Messinger, President, Friedman JCC. The response "We in the Wyoming Valley Jewish community are horrified by the attack in Boulder, Colorado, targeting an event in support of the Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas. This 'Run for Their Lives' event suffered an attack in which a makeshift flamethrower and multiple Molotov cocktails directed at participants, causing multiple injuries. "This follows the deadly antisemitic shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, just days ago and the fire-bombing of Gov. Josh Shapiro's home in Harrisburg on Passover in April. "Make no mistake, if and when Jews are targeted to protest Israel's actions, it should clearly and unequivocally be understood and condemned as antisemitism. "These attacks come alongside a broader rise in antisemitism, from hate crimes targeting Jews walking down the street, to efforts to marginalize, isolate, and discriminate against Jews, to antisemitic and white supremacist mass violence targeting synagogues and other spaces. "The Jewish community across the country was already feeling incredibly vulnerable following years of this increasingly normalized antisemitism. These recent attacks only compound that fear. "Anyone who claims to care about fundamental civil and human rights must speak out against this hate and violence, no matter where it comes from." About the Friedman JCC The Friedman Jewish Community Center is dedicated to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for individuals and families in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Offering a wide range of programs and services to individuals and families of all faiths and backgrounds, the Friedman JCC is committed to fostering a sense of community, promoting health and wellness, and enriching lives through cultural, educational and recreational activities. — Staff Report
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Blankets and broth benefit unhoused in Luzerne County
KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A day of service to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior brought two community groups together to support another group: The unhoused. Hundreds gathered on Martin Luther King Day at the Friedman Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Kingston. Blankets and broth: Many associate these things with warmth and comfort, and the members of the NAACP and Jewish Community Center aimed to provide just that. 'This is a wonderful project that brings the JCC together, NAACP together, and quite honestly, many other groups throughout our community in order to really give a warm hug to the unhoused in our area,' said Cathy O'Donnell with O'Donnell Law Offices. Martin Luther King Day was officially signed in as a holiday in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan, first observed three years later in 1986, but it wasn't until 1994 that the holiday was marked as a National Day of Service. 'It's not a regular holiday of celebration, it's a holiday of remembrance, remembering what Dr. King did, and hoping that sacrifice translates into volunteerism in the community,' stated David Yonki, the former vice president of NAACP Luzerne County Branch 2306. First held in 2024, NAACP Branch 2306, the Friedman JCC, Wilkes-Barre Health Department, and O'Donnell Law Firm partnered to honor King's legacy by bringing people together to give back to the community specifically, those dealing with homelessness. Honoring MLK Jr.'s life in Dunmore 'MLK was such an important figure, right? So to teach our children about what his ideals meant and how it has helped build this country is very important, obviously. They're going to learn a little about it in school, but I think it's even more important for us as parents to pass that message along to them. Specifically, you know, what it means to us and maybe some of the things that we've done over the years to give back,' explained Bryan Hooks, a volunteer from Kingston. Volunteers brought cans of soup and broth to be donated to Sarah's Table, the JCC's food pantry. Then volunteers spent the day weaving fringe blankets for Ruth's Place, the Salvation Army's Kirby Family House, and the Keystone Mission. Organizers say they more than doubled the number of volunteers from last year, from 45 to nearly 100, hoping to grow the event even more in the future and continue to follow the example Dr. King led. 'It honors the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the example that he led, and we're following that example. You can see here today,' commented Jane Messinger, President of Friedman JCC. This year, the group made 100 blankets, and they hope to increase that number next year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
