#uri l'tzedek

[progressivejudaism]

I, the undersigned, as an Orthodox Jew committed to halacha am aware of both the mandates to care for the widow, orphan and stranger and the frequent persecution brought upon my ancestors by the racialization of my people. Therefore, I pledge never to be silent when observing racist behavior exhibited by my fellow community members and racially charged community policies.

Calling all Orthodox Jews!

[jewishsocialjustice-blog]

Jewish Social Justice RoundUp

It's a busy time in the Jewish Social Justice World! Enjoy these gems from around the web:

Sigal Samuel asks, "Rabbi, Why Should I Vote?" inspired by an Uri L'Tzedek event in New York. He discusses voting as an obligation "rooted in the Jewish injunction to express gratitude - in this case, gratitude for America's constitutional rights and freedoms." 

The Greater Houston Section of the National Council for Jewish Women just released this fabulous video featuring a re-make of Helen Reddy's feminist anthem "I Am Woman" to explain Texas ballot measures on women's rights.

Jewish Community Action launches its new website - check it out!

Nahma Nadich, Boston JCRC Associate Director, asked Elizabeth Warren how she would make college more affordable if she were to be elected Senator of Massachusetts. Of the 900 people at the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization action, approximately one-third were members of the Jewish community, from approximately a dozen synagogues!

[jewishsocialjustice-blog]

Is Voting A Mitzvah? And other Jewish questions

October 15, 2012

Uri L'Tzedek

Join Uri L'Tzedek for an in-depth, action inspiring Social Justice Beit Midrash on Jewish voting in America in preparation for the election in November.  Hear Ethan Felson, Vice President and General Counsel at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, who will discuss the power of the Jewish vote in America and its impact on the past and present. Rabbi Moshe Grussgott, Rabbi at Congregation Ramat Orah, will give ashiur entitled "Is Voting a Mitzvah?"     Date: Sunday, October 21, 2012 Time: 2:00 pm   Location: Drisha Institute  37 W 65th St, 5th Floor New York, NY 10023 Please email [email protected] with any questions or to RSVP.

[jewishsocialjustice-blog]

Spotlight: Food Stamp Challenge

August 29, 2012

Jewish Council for Public Affairs

Current economic turmoil and threats of severe cuts to government programs have left America’s hungry – already at historically high numbers – with little hope of relief. Recent studies by a number of agencies and organizations highlight this disturbing trend: between 2007 and 2009, the number of households struggling with hunger increased more than 33%, with nearly one in four U.S. households with children unable to afford enough food. In April 2012, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps) participation rose to a record level of more than 46.2 million Americans – an increase of more than 1.5 million people compared with one year before. But proposed cuts mean millions could be left without help.  This fall, rabbis of all denominations across the United States are joining with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, the Rabbinical Assembly, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Cantors Assembly, Uri L'Tzedek, and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism to take the JEWISH COMMUNITY FOOD STAMP CHALLENGE, living for one week on the average food stamp allotment to demonstrate the Jewish community’s commitment to ending hunger.  

[jewishsocialjustice-blog]

Campaign Support: Sparking social change in face of indifference

August 21, 2012

Mae Singerman, Jewish Social Justice Roundtable Staff 

As part of the civic engagement campaign, the Roundtable organizes Campaign Support Calls. These calls are a space to discuss challenges, share victories and get to know others in the growing Jewish social justice movement.  On our last Campaign Support Call, representatives from Jews United for Justice, Religious Action Center, JOIN for Justice, Jewish Community Action, National Council of Jewish Women-South Florida Chapter, Jewish Council on Public Affairs and Uri L’Tzedek spoke about the challenge of engaging Jewish communities on issues that some say fall outside of Jewish communal priorities.

Roundtable organizations often lend a Jewish voice and perspective to secular justice issues and campaigns, ranging from voter registration drives, raising the minimum wage and marriage equality.

We discussed how to spark social change work in Jewish communities with competing priorities. In these communities, it is important to recognize how the Jewish social justice organization came to work on a particular issue. Did it bubble up from inside the community or has a larger coalition asked your organization to work on it?

If key community members are skeptical about a Jewish social justice organization’s vision on an issue, the group recognized that getting even one or two influential community leaders or rabbis talking about the issues is an important first step towards long term change. Also, call participants discussed framing issues less around a political agenda and more around the Jewish imperative for justice. 

Uri L'Tzedek members at a Labor Rally, July 2012