2026-04-11 10:57:PM <br/> Tags: #organization #AmericanJewry ![[image-267.png|279x270]] # National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) - The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) is an American left wing advocacy organization initially founded in 1927 as the National Conference of Jews and Christians.[^1] - NCCJ was most influential during the mid-20th century. In 2005, the national NCCJ organization dissolved leaving its many chapters to either shut down or continue independently.[^7] - The NCCJ was founded as a Christian-Jewish unity organization and has since become a broadly left wing Jewish organization largely focused on race and promoting diversity. #### Activities - Throughout the 20th century, the NCCJ had the support of numerous presidents including Harry Truman, JFK (prior to his presidency), LBJ, and Ronald Reagan.[^8][^9][^10] - JFK's speech to the NCCJ in February of 1957 generally espoused a hope for freedom and equality for both Arab and Israeli through an amicable treaty.[^11] - Kennedy's speech contained specific verbiage which the Israelis would have considered highly antagonistic. - Kennedy called for Israel to "consider the problems of Arab Palestinian refugees," and furthermore "Let those [Palestinian] refugees be repatriated to Israel at the earliest practical date... Those [Palestinians] who suffered actual losses of property or bank accounts in flight should be compensated by Israel." *This has been the Palestinian dream/demand since their expulsion from the land in 1948. JFK makes his position clear.* - Richard Friedman, the executive vice president of the Birmingham [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|Jewish Federation]] was the guest of honor at the NCCJ's 38th annual Brotherhood and Sisterhood Awards Dinner in March 2006.[^6] - According to its [website](https://nccj.org/about/#:~:text=respectful%C2%A0%20communities.-,Since%201927,-%2C%20NCCJ%E2%80%99s%20mission%20has), "Since 1927, NCCJ’s mission has evolved to include nine areas of social justice identity: Ability, Age, Body Size, Class, Gender, Race, Religion, Sex, and Sexual Orientation." - NCCJ describes itself as a "DEI anchor institute, a community convener, catalyst for change, and collaborator for innovation in DEI education to strengthen communities." - NCCJ's website has pages corresponding to each of their "nine areas." (ability, age, body Size, class, gender, race, religion, sex, and sexual Orientation). - The NCCJ page on race mentions "colorism" which they define as "A practice of discrimination by which those with lighter skin are treated more favorably than those with darker skin. This practice is a product of racism in the United States, in that it upholds white standards."[^12] - NCCJ defines racisms as "The individual, cultural, and institutional beliefs and discrimination that systematically oppress people of color."[^12] - The NCCJ defines "religionism" as "The individual, cultural, and institutional beliefs and discrimination that systematically oppress non-Christians, which includes Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia."[^13] *According to the Jews and non-whites at NCCJ, racism is the fault of white people and "religionism" is the fault of Christians.* - NCCJ defines homophobia as "An irrational fear of or aversion to homosexuality or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) people."[^13] *Irrational?* #### Funding and Donors - NCCJ reported $334,000 in revenue in 2024, a steep decline from is average of close to $1 million from 2015-2021.[^2] - Individual donors are not disclosed, although NCCJ [presents](https://nccj.org/about/#prev:~:text=TD%20Bank-,Our%20Supporters,-Previous) a number of corporate backers including: Webster Bank, Liberty Bank, Comcast, Broadview Talent Partners, M&T Bank, etc. #### Notable Figures - Jane Adams - Philosemitic feminist progressive reformer of the early 20th century and founder of the [[ACLU]].[^15] - Roger Williams Straus - Jewish co-chair in the 1930s[^3] - Roger Williams Straus is the son of [[Oscar Straus]] and nephew of [[Nathan Straus]]. - Bernard J. Lasker - Co-chairman beginning in the late 1970s[^4] - Lasker was the chairman of the 1962-63 appeal of the [[UJA-Federation of New York]].[^5] - David Hyatt - NCCJ president from 1973-1982. - Hyatt is described as a man with "single-minded devotion to Jewish-Christian understanding and stout defense of the State of Israel."[^14] #### References [^1]: National Conference for Community and Justice, “About,” [https://nccj.org/about/](https://nccj.org/about/). *As of making this, NCCJ's website gets blocked as unsafe when trying to access it. Proceed with caution.* [^2]: ProPublica, “National Conference for Community & Justice of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, Inc.,” _Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/141937658](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/141937658). [^3]: “Religion: Tolerance Trio,” _Time_, February 10, 1935, [https://time.com/archive/6895647/religion-tolerance-trio/](https://time.com/archive/6895647/religion-tolerance-trio/). [^4]: “National Conference of Christians and Jews,” _Encyclopaedia Judaica_, Jewish Virtual Library, [https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0011_0_10125.html](https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0011_0_10125.html). [^5]: “Bernard Lasker Named Chairman of 1962-63 Appeal of N. Y. Federation,” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, June 21, 1962, [https://www.jta.org/archivehttps://www.jta.org/archive/bernard-lasker-named-chairman-of-1962-63-appeal-of-n-y-federation/bernard-lasker-named-chairman-of-1962-63-appeal-of-n-y-federation](https://www.jta.org/archive/bernard-lasker-named-chairman-of-1962-63-appeal-of-n-y-federation). [^6]: “NCCJ to Honor Richard Friedman,” _Southern Jewish Life_, March 1, 2006, [https://sjlmag.com/2006/03/01/nccj-to-honor-richard-friedman/](https://sjlmag.com/2006/03/01/nccj-to-honor-richard-friedman/). [^7]: North Carolina for Community and Justice, “NCCJ’s History,” May 8, 2019, [https://www.nccjtriad.org/2019/05/08/our-history/](https://www.nccjtriad.org/2019/05/08/our-history/). [^8]: “Message on the Observance of National Brotherhood Week, February 15–21, 1981,” _Ronald Reagan Presidential Library_, February 13, 1981, [https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/message-observance-national-brotherhood-week-february-15-21-1981](https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/message-observance-national-brotherhood-week-february-15-21-1981). [^9]: Lyndon B. Johnson, “Memorandum on the Observance of Brotherhood Week,” January 16, 1964, The American Presidency Project, [https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/memorandum-the-observance-brotherhood-week](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/memorandum-the-observance-brotherhood-week). [^10]: Harry S. Truman, “Letter to John L. Sullivan Accepting the Honorary Chairmanship of National Brotherhood Week,” October 5, 1949, [https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/public-papers/224/letter-john-l-sullivan-accepting-honorary-chairmanship-national](https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/public-papers/224/letter-john-l-sullivan-accepting-honorary-chairmanship-national). [^11]: John F. Kennedy, “Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Cleveland, Ohio,” February 24, 1957, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, [https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/cleveland-oh-19570224](https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/cleveland-oh-19570224). [^12]: National Conference for Community and Justice, “Race,” [https://nccj.org/resources/racism/](https://nccj.org/resources/racism/). [^13]: National Conference for Community and Justice, “Intersectionality,” [https://nccj.org/resources/intersectionality/](https://nccj.org/resources/intersectionality/). [^14]: “Obituary: David Hyatt,” _The Independent_, September 16, 1992, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-david-hyatt-1551627.html](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-david-hyatt-1551627.html). [^15]: “National Conference for Community and Justice,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conference_for_Community_and_Justice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conference_for_Community_and_Justice).