UPDATE – May 11, 2023

“We are heartbroken to learn that the first Israeli casualties in this round of conflict with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including the first person killed, occurred in Rehovot. As we wrote yesterday, Rehovot is the partner city of the Minneapolis Jewish Community, making our grief even more acute. Several JCRC staff and board members are deeply involved in the Minneapolis Jewish Federation’s Partnership2Gether Steering Committee with our friends and counterparts in Rehovot. They are our family.

“We look forward to welcoming a delegation from Rehovot to Minneapolis next week for the annual Steering Committee meetings, which alternates between our cities.”

Read a message from Minneapolis Jewish Federation CEO Jim Cohen about his reaction to this news after visiting Rehovot and how MJF and Jewish Agency for Israel are working to assist those directly impacted by the rocket attacks.

May 10, 2023

Minneapolis, MN – Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC), issued the following statement about Operation Shield and Arrow:

“The Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC) stands with Israel as it defends itself against Gaza-based terror groups who have launched hundreds of rockets at Israeli civilians today. 

“We are grateful for the life-saving Iron Dome missile defense system, which intercepted dozens of rockets today, and the inaugural successful deployment of David’s Sling, which shot down a medium-range rocket headed for Tel Aviv. As Americans, we are proud that our government provides the critical aid that allows Israel to develop and deploy this technology. 

“I recently returned from a trip to Israel on Minneapolis Jewish Federation’s Experience Israel 2023 mission, which brought 240 Minnesotans to celebrate Israel’s 75th anniversary.  

“One of the most impactful experiences was a visit to the Rehovot Emergency Command Center, which coordinates emergency response in the city of 150,000 paired with Minneapolis through the Partnership2Gether program. Most American cities of similar sizes have a similar facilities for emergency responders, but rockets fired by terror groups just a few dozen miles away are not part of our reality. Our hearts are with our friends in Rehovot and all of Israel, scrambling to find the nearest bomb shelter while sirens blare.  

“We also got a taste of the internal struggle bitterly dividing Israeli society over the proposed overhaul of the country’s judicial system. We are heartened to see Israelis coming together to support the Israel Defense Forces, as demonstrated by the backing of the security operation from opposition party leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz. 

“We hope to see a ceasefire agreement soon restoring calm for the people of Israel and mourn any innocent loss of life in the conflict.”  

Photo: A collection of rockets and shrapnel fired by terrorists in Gaza at the Israeli community of S’derot (Ethan Roberts/JCRC).

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As the public affairs voice of the Jewish community, the JCRC fights antisemitism and prejudice, advocates for Israel, provides Holocaust education, promotes tolerance and social justice, and builds bridges across the Jewish and broader communities.