Empowering Leaders.
Inspiring Change.
Empowering current and future leaders to build a more compassionate and just society
The Jewish Center for Justice is a distinguished social justice, education, and leadership development platform that meets each individual where they are in their journey to inspire change.
The Micah D. Bycel Fund for Legislative Fellows
On August 27, 2022, the Jewish Center for Justice community suffered a devastating loss with the sudden and untimely death of Board Member Micah Bycel (z”l).
The JCJ community has created a special fund to honor Micah’s memory and secure his legacy. Micah was a kind and compassionate soul. He saw a broken world and was determined to make it better for his kids and the next generation. In his honor, The Micah D. Bycel Fund for Legislative Fellows will help shape the next generation of Jewish justice activists.
In addition to the Fund, we have renamed the program, The Micah D. Bycel Legislative Fellowship. All future fellows will learn of Micah’s memory and advocate for justice in his honor.
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These are the JCJ-Backed Bills Signed into Law
With California’s 2026 legislative cycle now complete, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a number of bills that the Jewish Center for Justice tracked and supported throughout the year.
These new laws span a wide range of issues at the heart of JCJ’s advocacy, including health care access, LGBTQ+ protections, gun violence prevention, voting, foster care, environmental justice, and security for houses of worship and nonprofit organizations.
For JCJ, legislative advocacy does not begin when a bill reaches the Governor’s desk. Throughout the legislative session, we track legislation as it moves through committees and floor votes, engage our community around key issues, and provide opportunities for advocates to make their voices heard.
This year, that work included legislation addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing communities across California.
Among the bills signed into law are measures strengthening protections for people seeking legally protected health care, safeguarding sensitive LGBTQ+ health information, addressing firearms and emerging gun technologies, expanding resources for nonprofit security, and protecting access to houses of worship. Governor Newsom signed several of these measures as part of broader legislative packages in the final days of September.
Other measures address extended foster care, juvenile facilities, voter information, environmental and public health concerns, and Medi-Cal eligibility.
Below is a look at the JCJ-tracked legislation signed by Governor Newsom this year:
Turning Values Into Action
The legislative process can be long. Bills are introduced, amended, debated, voted on, and sometimes transformed significantly before reaching the Governor’s desk. Not every priority becomes law, and progress often takes more than a single legislative session.
But each bill signed into law represents the culmination of months of work by legislators, advocates, community organizations, and Californians who chose to participate in the legislative process.
As we close out the 2026 legislative cycle, JCJ will continue working to help our community understand the issues moving through Sacramento and provide meaningful opportunities to turn our Jewish values into action.
Thank you to everyone who took action with us throughout this legislative session.
Understanding Israel’s 2026 Election
On October 27, 2026, Israelis will head to the polls to elect the next Knesset. But for those more familiar with American elections, understanding exactly what Israelis are voting for, and how those votes ultimately produce a government, can be complicated. Israel is...
JCJ’s 2026 Midterm Election Voter Guide
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and the Jewish Center for Justice is committed to helping our community vote informed, vote their values, and make their voices heard. Voting is one of the most basic rights in any democracy. American Jews have long stood...
