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August 29, 2003/Elul 1 5763, Vol. 55, No. 53
Relationship renewed
Hispanic, Jewish groups reach for common ground
BARRY COHEN
Editor
Hispanic-Jewish groups are reconvening in Arizona.
In Tucson, communal and political leaders recently announced a new Hispanic-Jewish coalition. In Phoenix, young professionals in association with the American Jewish Committee have created a dialogue group, and leaders from the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix plan to begin conversations with the intent of creating a coalition in the coming year.
Representatives from the office of Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-7th District) and the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, along with Gov. Janet Napalitano, announced the creation of a Hispanic-Jewish coalition in Tucson on Aug. 22.
The governor sees this coalition "as a valuable partnership" and "a unique formalization of the relationship," said Kris Mayes, Napolitano's director of communications. The governor hopes the groups will maintain a "long a fruitful relationship," Mayes added.
Preceding the announcement, representatives from Grijalva's office and the Tucson JCRC accompanied Napolitano on tour of the Tucson Jewish Community Center and El Pueblo Neighborhood Center, said Marlyne Freedman, director of the Tucson federation's JCRC.
"This is the beginning of a really good relationship," Freedman said, adding that she had spoken with Grijalva during his campaign for office about his desire to create a coalition.
"The coalition will focus on youth in the community," said Natalie Luna, Grijalva's press secretary.
As part of this effort, an Oct. 29 fund-raising event has been slated to send teenagers from both communities to Washington, D.C., said Freedman.
The Hispanic-Jewish dia-logue that previously existed in Tucson "faded away," she noted. One of her goals as JCRC director was to bring it back, she added.
Freedman, a long-time Valley resident and former executive director of Temple Chai in Phoenix, moved to Tucson last year to assume the JCRC post.
This spring, the Phoenix-area AJC began "Hispanic-Jewish Conversations," a meeting of young professionals from the Hispanic and Jewish communities, said Rabbi Robert Kravitz, executive director of the Arizona chapter of the AJC.
"The goal is to bring together the up-and-comers and the politically astute (to build) trust, communication and common interest," he said.
Because the Valley's His-panic percentage is high, the group is on the forefront of the national effort by the AJC to make connections with this community, said Kravitz.
Discussions will soon begin to create a third Hispanic-Jewish coalition, sponsored by the local JCRC, said Cathy Wolf, local JCRC director.
During the past two years, the focus has been on building relationships within the Jewish community, Wolf said. "The ultimate goal is how to build relationships with the community-at-large," she said, which includes the Hispanic community.
A Hispanic-Jewish coalition, in association with the JCRC and the AJC, was active nine years ago, said Wolf. "The question is what to do with the solid relationships that were built," she said.
Mark Berman was co-chairman of the coalition from 1987 to 1995. At its peak, the group had 300 members, he said.
The coalition also teamed up with the Phoenix Union High Schools to address gang problems and improve grad-uation rates, he added.
The coalition lost mo-mentum when many members got active with other organizations, he said.
Contact the writer at barry_cohen@jewishaz.com.
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