by Jewish Center for Justice | Nov 13, 2024 | California, Criminal Justice Reform, Economic Justice, Environment, Featured, Healthcare, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, LGBTQ, Racial Justice
The 2024 General Election took place on Tuesday, November 5th, with candidates and ballot initiatives at the national, statewide, and local level. While the Jewish Center for Justice does not endorse individual candidates running for office, we did take a position on...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 7, 2024 | Anti-Semitism, Featured, Israel, JCJ Blog, Judaism
As we mark one year since the horrifying terror attacks of October 7th, we find ourselves in a moment of reflection—on the grief, the impact, and the resilience we’ve witnessed within our community. For many of us, this past year has brought challenges in how we...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Sep 23, 2024 | Action - State & Local, Activism, Anti-Semitism, California, Environment, Featured, Healthcare, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, LGBTQ
On August 31, the California State Legislature wrapped up its regular session by approving hundreds of pieces of legislation. Upon passage, these bills were sent to the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until the September 30 deadline to sign them into law. This...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Sep 9, 2024 | California, Events, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Voting, Voting Rights
On Tuesday, November 5th, the 2024 General Election will take place on the national, statewide, and local level. Voters will be asked to cast their ballot on a number of candidates, from state senators to congressional representatives, as well as a number of...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 10, 2024 | Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
Fellowship Coordinator My name is Talia Cohen and I start my first year of the Master’s in Social Work program at Columbia University this fall. Five years ago, I participated in JCJ’s summer cohort program and am thrilled to return as a mentor for the 2024...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 22, 2024 | Action - State & Local, Activism, California, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Voting Rights
Take ACTION by contacting your State Legislators and encouraging them to enact a bill to protect election workers — as well as voters — from interference and intimidation. Find your California Assembly Member and Senator! Sample script: Hello, my name is [your name]....
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 22, 2024 | Action - State & Local, Activism, California, Featured, Gun Violence Prevention, Ideas, JCJ Blog
Take ACTION by contacting your State Legislators and encouraging them to enact bills that would require firearms to be registered annually, and a Firearm Safety Certificate. Find your California Assembly Member and Senator! Sample script: Hello, my name is [your...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 22, 2024 | Action - State & Local, Activism, California, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Mental Health
Take ACTION by contacting your State Legislators and encouraging them to enact a bill that would require treatment denials from private insurance be automatically referred to the Independent Medical Review process. Find your California Assembly Member and Senator!...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 18, 2024 | Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Voting, Voting Rights
The story of Passover is a story of fighting for justice. As we prepare to celebrate the upcoming eight days, we must remember to fight for justice and redemption in our own communities. With the 2024 General Election approaching, there’s no better place to start the...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 16, 2024 | Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Voting, Voting Rights
Updated: March 1, 2024 Proposition 1 (March 5th ballot) The Jewish Center for Justice supports voting ‘YES’ on Proposition 1 on the March 5th ballot. Proposition 1 would: Authorize $6.38 billion in bonds to build mental health facilities for those with...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Dec 7, 2023 | Anti-Semitism, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
The word Hanukkah means “dedication,” because we rededicated the Temple after it was destroyed by the Greeks thousands of years ago. Following the attacks on Israel and the rise in antisemitism worldwide, the story of Hanukkah has never been so relevant. While brave...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 24, 2023 | Anti-Semitism, Featured, Ideas, Israel, JCJ Blog, Judaism
Nearly one month after Hamas’ brutal attacks on Israel that started a war, you may discover that you have many questions about what is going on in Israel, who exactly Hamas is, and what JCJ’s position is on the conflict. Here are some of the most frequently asked...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 9, 2023 | Featured, Israel, JCJ Blog, Judaism
Updated: Oct. 13, 2023 Looking for volunteer and giving opportunities? Donate / volunteer in Israel (click here). Donate from abroad (click here). “This is the most lethal assault against Jews since the Holocaust.” – U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 24, 2023 | Featured, JCJ Blog, Voting
In 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act to guarantee all Americans the right to vote. So why does it remain such a challenge for people to vote today? Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act prohibited “covered jurisdictions,” namely states and counties with a...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 14, 2023 | JCJ Blog
Since I was about 13 years old, I have had a pretty clear idea that I wanted to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. However, after learning about the United States government and our nation’s history in school, and discussing politics with my dad, I wondered if...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 14, 2023 | Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog
Next November, I will be voting in a Presidential election for the first time. Although that feels like a long way off—by then I will have graduated high school and started college—candidates are already announcing their campaigns and the general public is starting to...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 8, 2023 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2023, California, Environment, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog
Take ACTION by contacting Cal OSHA and your State Legislators and encouraging them to enact protections from extreme heat for those who work indoors. Find your California Assembly Member and Senator! Submit a petition to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 4, 2023 | Featured, Gun Violence Prevention, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
When an active shooter killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary on December 14, 2012, I was six years old—coincidentally, the same age as many of the victims. While many young students, myself included, could not fully comprehend what had happened that day, many of...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 28, 2023 | Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Mental Health
In the religiously and politically progressive spaces that the Jewish Center for Justice occupies, it is more common to see the Torah as a story with powerful moral lessons than an accurate historical account. As such, when it comes to the story of creation, we have...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 27, 2023 | Anti-Semitism, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
As a teenager living in Los Angeles—home to a very large Jewish community—one might think that I live in a bubble. A bubble free from antisemitism. However, this could not be further from the truth. Recently, Los Angeles has been experiencing a wave of antisemitism....
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 26, 2023 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2023, California, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Women’s Rights
Take ACTION by contacting your State Senator urging them to support AB 254. Find your California Assembly Member and Senator! Sample script: Hello, my name is [your name]. I’m calling today to urge [name of Senator] to pass Assembly Bill 254, which will protect the...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 21, 2023 | California, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, LGBTQ
Take ACTION by contacting your Assembly Member urging them to support Senate Bill 407. Find your California Assembly Member and Senator! Sample script: Hello, my name is [your name]. I’m calling today to urge [name of Assembly Member] to pass Senate Bill 407, which...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 20, 2023 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2023, Featured, Healthcare, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Mental Health
Take ACTION by contacting your U.S. Representative, and urging them to support H.R. 4054, H.R. 3331, H.R. 3228, and H.R. 3055. Find your U.S. Representative here. Sample script: Hello, my name is [your name], and I am calling on behalf of the Jewish Center for Justice...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 4, 2023 | JCJ Blog
On June 24, I had the privilege of attending a rally in Charlotte, NC calling for the restoration and expansion of reproductive rights. The rally marked the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, which overturned the precedent set by Roe v. Wade to protect...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 30, 2023 | Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, LGBTQ
In response to the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision to limit LGBTQ+ protections, the JCJ Micah D. Bycel Summer Fellows issued the following joint statement: We are appalled by the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of 303 Creative LLC vs. Elenis. As progressive Jews, we...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 29, 2023 | Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Racial Justice
In response to the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling to reverse affirmative action in colleges and universities, the JCJ Micah D. Bycel Summer Fellows issued the following joint statement: We are outraged over the Supreme Court’s catastrophic decision to overturn the use of...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 27, 2023 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2023, Featured, Global Poverty, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Women’s Rights
Take ACTION by contacting your U.S. Representative, and urging them to support H.R. 3938. Find your U.S. Representative here. Sample script: Hello, my name is [your name], and I am calling today to urge [U.S. Representative name] to support H.R. 3938, also called the...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 27, 2023 | Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Voting Rights
The first thing I did when my JCJ summer fellowship began was compare JCJ’s agenda with the Supreme Court decisions expected to be released in June 2023. I thoroughly researched each topic that was presented to the court this past session, which included voting...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 22, 2023 | Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
My name is Hannah Pomerantz and I am a Rabbinic Legislative Fellow this summer. I am currently a third-year student at the Los Angeles Campus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. I have previously been involved in political work, including an...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 14, 2023 | Featured, JCJ Blog, LGBTQ
People with expansive gender identities have been part of the Jewish community for as long as Jewish legal tradition has existed, evident in the documentation of discussions among ancient rabbis regarding the role of androgynous and intersex individuals in Jewish...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 4, 2023 | California, Criminal Justice Reform, Economic Justice, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, LGBTQ
Each year, we gather around the Seder table to regale friends and family with the story of our ancestors escaping bondage in Egypt. We share stories of Moses’ growth from a boy who doesn’t know his true identity to a leader whom the Israelite people can turn to. We...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 27, 2023 | Featured, Ideas, Israel, JCJ Blog, Judaism
When Israel faces external threats, we often see it as our mission to educate the JCJ community, our partners, and the public at-large about what’s happening. This is typically an incredible responsibility as the nuance of each situation is usually missing from...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 16, 2023 | Activism, California, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Women’s Rights
Women’s History Month is the annual celebration of the contributions and achievements of women in United States history. While so much has been accomplished in the fight for equal rights, we also know that the path toward true justice is long. Our Jewish tradition...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 3, 2023 | Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
My name is Addison Carson, and I am a Sophomore at the Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. As future leaders, our generation must work to achieve justice outcomes in as many areas as possible. I believe that JCJ does extremely important work, and I appreciate how...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 27, 2023 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2023, Environment, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog
Take ACTION by contacting your Assembly Member urging them to support Senate Bill 252. Find your California Assembly Member and Senator! Sample script: “Hi, my name is [your name]. I’m calling today to urge [name of Assembly Member] to pass the Senate Bill 252. This...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 27, 2023 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2023, Environment, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog
Take ACTION by urging your California senator m to support Senate Bill 253. Click here to find your California Representative and Senator! Sample call / email script: “Hi, my name is [your name]. I’m calling today to urge [name of Senator] to pass the Senate Bill 253....
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 27, 2023 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2023, California, Economic Justice, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism, LGBTQ
In late May, the Senate passed SB 616. Take action by now urging your California Assembly Member to quickly pass this bill so it can head to the governor’s desk. Click here to find your California Assembly Member and Senator! Sample call / email script: Hello....
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 27, 2023 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2023, California, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Voting, Voting Rights
Take action by urging your California assembly member to pass Assembly Constitutional Amendment 4 (ACA 4), which may be heard in committee in March 9, 2023. Click here to find your California Representative and Senator! Sample call / email script: Hello. My name is...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 27, 2023 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2023, California, Economic Justice, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism, LGBTQ
Take ACTION by urging your California assembly member to support The Family Caregiver Anti-Discrimination Act, AB 524. Click here to find your California Representative and Senator! Sample call / email script: Hello. My name is [YOUR NAME], and I am calling to urge...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 27, 2023 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2023, California, Economic Justice, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism, LGBTQ
Take action by urging your California assembly member to pass AB 518, Paid Family Leave for Chosen Family, which was referred to the committee on insurance on February 17, 2023. Click here to find your California Representative and Senator! Sample call / email...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 22, 2023 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2023, Featured, Gun Violence Prevention, Ideas, JCJ Blog
Take ACTION by contacting your California State Senator and urging them to support Senate Bill 2 to reduce gun violence. Click to find your Senator! Sample call script: Hello. My name is [YOUR NAME], and I am calling to urge Senator [NAME] to support SB 2. As a member...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 24, 2023 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2023, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Women’s Rights
Take ACTION by contacting your Representatives and urging them to re-introduce The Women’s Health Protection Act. U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 Find your Representative! Sample script: “Hi, my name is [your name]. I’m calling today to urge [name of...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 24, 2023 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2023, Featured, Gun Violence Prevention, Ideas, JCJ Blog
Take ACTION by contacting your Senators and Representatives and urging them to support the Assault Weapons Ban. U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 Find your Representative and Senators! Sample script: “Hi, my name is [your name]. I’m calling today to urge [name...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 17, 2023 | Advocacy, California, Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
Every new year presents an opportunity to work with coalitions, advocates, and elected officials to craft legislation that will improve the lives of everyday Californians. While it is an exciting opportunity to work on shaping our state’s legislative future,...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Dec 16, 2022 | JCJ Blog, Judaism
As the light from our candles shines stronger and our families grow closer with each night, may our dedication to justice grow. May our commitment to resisting hate while pursuing justice for all intensify. The following guide provides simple ways to enrich your...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Nov 16, 2022 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2022, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, LGBTQ
Take ACTION by contacting your Senators and Representatives and urging them to support the Respect for Marriage Act bill. U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 Find your Senator! Sample script: “Hi, my name is [your name]. I’m calling today to urge [your Senator]...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Nov 10, 2022 | JCJ Blog
The 2022 Midterm Election has officially concluded. While most races and propositions have been settled, several still remain undecided as the final ballot count comes in. In addition to national and statewide Get Out The Vote efforts, the Jewish Center for Justice...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 11, 2022 | California, Events, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Voting, Voting Rights
On Tuesday, November 8, the 2022 Midterm Elections will take place on the national, statewide, and local level. Voters will be asked to cast their ballot on a number of candidates, from state senators to congressional representatives, as well as a number of...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Sep 13, 2022 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2022, California, Criminal Justice Reform, Economic Justice, Environment, Featured, JCJ Blog, LGBTQ
With the California legislative cycle now complete, there are a number of bills on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. The governor has until September 30th to sign these bills into law. Below are 8 of many bills for which we have advocated and call on the governor to...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 3, 2022 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2022, Economic Justice, Environment, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
For over a year, the Jewish Center for Justice community has been urging Congress to enact a robust economic and environmental justice bill through a process called budget reconciliation. In this era of hyper-partisanship, a Senate rule called the filibuster—which...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 1, 2022 | Featured, Global Poverty, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
This week we observe the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’av, a day of mourning that commemorates the destruction of our temples in Jerusalem and other catastrophes our people have faced. This holiday compels us to mourn, fast, and reflect on the collective tragedies of our...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 12, 2022 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2022, Women’s Rights
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, there have been several developments in both California and Washington, DC regarding reproductive health care. ⇊ Scroll to the bottom for actions YOU can take ⇊ CALIFORNIA Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1666 which...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 27, 2022 | Activism, Advocacy, Archived, Archived 2022, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, LGBTQ
The Jewish Center for Justice commends the Biden administration for signing the Executive Order on Advancing Equality for LGBTQI+ Individuals on June 15, 2022. This Order comes in response to hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ laws proposed or enacted in state legislatures that...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 24, 2022 | Activism, California, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Women’s Rights
Last month, we learned of a leaked Supreme Court memo pointing toward a likely overturning of Roe v. Wade. By pushing the decision on abortion rights to the states, individuals will be denied the fundamental right to body autonomy that has been upheld for nearly 50...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 15, 2022 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2022, Gun Violence Prevention, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
The Jewish Center for Justice calls upon the Senate and the House of Representative to support and pass the Bipartisan Gun Control Framework, currently being drafted. The Jewish Center for Justice is mobilizing Jewish communities and gun violence prevention groups as...
by Jewish Center for Justice | May 3, 2022 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2022, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Women’s Rights
In response to the leaked Supreme Court memo signaling a likely overturning of Roe v. Wade, Jewish Center for Justice Chairperson Julie Bank and Lawyers’ Committee co-chair Ariella Simonds issued the following joint statement: “We are outraged at what looks to be the...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 13, 2022 | Criminal Justice Reform, Featured, Ideas, Immigration, JCJ Blog, Judaism, LGBTQ
During our Passover Seder, we retell the story of our ancestors’ movement from enslavement to a free people. Our Israelite forebears endured generations of cruelty and oppression until God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush and our Exodus story...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 7, 2022 | Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog
Following the Senate confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court, the Jewish Center for Justice has issued the following statement: The Jewish Center for Justice celebrates the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 21, 2022 | Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog
Ahead of the Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, which begin today, the Jewish Center for Justice has issued the following statement: The JCJ Board of Directors, together with JCJ’s Lawyers’ Committee and judicial nominations...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 17, 2022 | Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
The Jewish Center for Justice will, from time to time, advocate for or against the confirmation of a federal judicial nominee. The decision to support or oppose a judicial nomination will be made by the JCJ board (or a working group thereof) in consultation with JCJ...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 9, 2022 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2022, Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, LGBTQ
JCJ Fellows responded to the horrific anti-LGBTQ bills going through the Texas and Florida State Legislatures by compiling a list of orgs to help provide legal, emotional, and financial resources for LGBTQ youth and their families. Texas The Transgender Education...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 7, 2022 | Activism, California, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Women’s Rights
Women’s History Month is the annual celebration of the contributions and achievements of women in United States history. While so much has been accomplished in the fight for equal rights, we also know that the path toward true justice is long. Our Jewish tradition...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 28, 2022 | Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog
Last week, President Joe Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Stephen Breyer. This is an historic selection and, if confirmed, Jackson would be the first Black woman to sit on the nation’s highest court. In...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 31, 2022 | Activism, California, Cohorts, Criminal Justice Reform, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Racial Justice, Voting Rights
This post was updated on January 31, 2022. Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, is a month-long annual celebration of the contributions and achievements of African Americans in United States history. While so much has been accomplished in...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 5, 2022 | Economic Justice, Environment, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Voting Rights, Women’s Rights
The Jewish Center for Justice made great strides in 2021 (see our recap video here). However, our work is far from complete. Here are just five of our top justice goals for the upcoming year of 2022. Pass voting rights legislation Several voting rights bills are...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Dec 21, 2021 | Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
In 2021, the JCJ community advocated for bold policies that help the most vulnerable populations. Together we: Helped pass the American Rescue Plan and Women’s Health Act Advocated for the abolishment of the Senate filibuster Urged support for paid family leave...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Dec 15, 2021 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2021, Featured, Ideas, Israel, JCJ Blog, Judaism
We call upon the Senate to pass the Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022, also called H.R. 5323, which the House passed on September 23, 2021. The Jewish Center for Justice is helping to mobilize the Jewish community and other communities of faith in an...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Dec 8, 2021 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2021, Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Women’s Rights
We call upon the Senate to pass The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021, also called H.R. 3755, which passed the House of Representatives in September of 2021. The Jewish Center for Justice is helping to mobilize the Jewish community and other communities of faith...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Nov 15, 2021 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2021, Economic Justice, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Racial Justice
UPDATE: On Friday, November 19, the US House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act. The bill will now move to the Senate. Please urge your Senators to pass this vital piece of legislation. The recent passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill is a...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 20, 2021 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2021, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Voting, Voting Rights
“Do you have time to make good trouble?” Early in this congressional session, the House of Representatives passed two key Voting Rights Bills — The For the People Act (H.R. 1) and The John Lewis Voting Rights Act (H.R. 4). With attention now on the Senate, this week...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Sep 1, 2021 | Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Women’s Rights
Following the passage of SB8 in Texas, a law that bans abortion after 6 weeks, Jewish Center for Justice Board Chair Julie Bank issued the following statement: “The Jewish Center for Justice leadership and community are horrified by the passage of SB8 in Texas, a bill...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 3, 2021 | Activism, Advocacy, Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
The Jewish Center for Justice recently launched our Legislative Advocacy Training Series, a three-part series that is designed to: Empower current and future leaders to build a more compassionate and just society. Connect justice activists with unique opportunities to...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 29, 2021 | Activism, Children, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog
The Jewish Center for Justice calls on Congress, as well as other foreign governments, to condemn the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) repression and cultural genocide of the Uyghur population in the Xinjiang region. We urge Congress to swiftly pass the Uyghur Forced...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 22, 2021 | Featured, Ideas, Immigration, JCJ Blog, Judaism
By Ben Weiner In the spring of 2018, I had the privilege of traveling with a small group to the beautiful country of El Salvador. The trip was led by a non-profit organization whose mission is to build solidarity between Salvadorians and Americans. Over the course of...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 7, 2021 | Activism, Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
The summer legislative fellows of the Jewish Center for Justice, speaking on behalf of the organization, call for the abolition of the Senate filibuster. Our work this summer, which includes advocating for key voting rights legislation such as the For The People Act...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 1, 2021 | JCJ Blog
Written by Jude Hebert The COVID-19 pandemic changed nearly every facet of our everyday lives, from mask mandates to social gatherings to small business operations. But perhaps the area that the virus had the greatest impact is in our schools. When school districts...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 28, 2021 | Activism, California, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, LGBTQ
Fifty-two years ago today, the Stonewall Riots set in motion the Gay Liberation Movement. The riots began when police raided The Stonewall Inn, which like many gay bars at the time was seen as a safe space. However, the Stonewall Inn was specifically seen as a safe...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 25, 2021 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2021, California, Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Women’s Rights
The Jewish Center for Justice calls upon the California State Assembly to pass SB320 (Domestic Violence protective orders-limiting firearms), which passed the Senate in early June. In California, 33% of women and 27% of men experience some form of domestic violence...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 23, 2021 | Activism, Cohorts, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism
The Jewish Center or Justice has officially welcomed in its summer class of high school and college fellows. Over the course of the next few months, this group of university and high school students will engage in learning sessions, advocacy opportunities, resource...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 17, 2021 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2021, Featured, Ideas, Immigration, JCJ Blog
The Jewish Center For Justice calls upon the U.S. Senate to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 (H.R. 1603), the Access To Counsel Act of 2021 (H.R. 1573), and the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimnation For Nonimmigrants Act (H.R. 1333), all of which...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 14, 2021 | JCJ Blog
After 12 years of Benjamin Netanyahu as Israeli Prime Minister — the last two and half years of which has been consumed with political chaos, multiple elections, and failed coalitions — Israel swore in a new coalition government on Sunday. The coalition government...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 8, 2021 | Activism, Advocacy, Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
As part of the Jewish Center for Justice’s mission to empower the current and future generations with the tools and confidence they need to be change makers in their communities, we have created a resource about the 4 A’s of Advocacy. Download our...
by Jewish Center for Justice | May 26, 2021 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2021, Criminal Justice Reform, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Racial Justice
We call upon the Senate to pass The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021, also called H.R. 1280, which passed the House of Representatives in early March. The Jewish Center for Justice is mobilizing Jewish communities and working with racial justice and...
by Jewish Center for Justice | May 13, 2021 | Anti-Semitism, Featured, Ideas, Israel, JCJ Blog, Judaism
Our collective hearts break as we witness the violence unfolding in Jerusalem and across Israel. In the midst of violent protests in Jerusalem and other cities around the country, and as families seek bomb shelters to protect themselves from rockets in Gaza, we urge...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 27, 2021 | California, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
The Jewish Center for Justice community mourns the loss of one of our first supporters and champions Rabbi Morley T. Feinstein. Rabbi Feinstein had a beautiful career serving communities in San Antonio, Texas and South Bend, Indiana as well as serving as the Senior...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 25, 2021 | Cohorts, Events, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism
Matzah prep, the JCJ way No Yeast? No Worries! Last year, JCJ’s Legislative Fellowship Director Elias Chajet and his wife, Michelle Blumenthal, created an easy and delicious 18-minute Matzah Recipe. Watch the video and try it out for yourself! Recommended Haggadot and...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 24, 2021 | Anti-Semitism, Children, Economic Justice, Events, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
Each Passover we are instructed that in every generation each person should see themselves as if they were freed from bondage in Egypt. In so doing, we remind ourselves that there are many who still face grave injustices in our society. Whether or not you sit at a...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 24, 2021 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2021, Featured, Ideas, Immigration, JCJ Blog, Judaism
We call upon the Senate to pass the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021, also called H.R. 6, which has passed the House of Representatives The Jewish Center for Justice is mobilizing Jewish communities and immigration reform groups as well as people of faith in...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 23, 2021 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2021, Children, Featured, Gun Violence Prevention, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
The Jewish Center for Justice calls upon the Senate to pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, also called H.R. 8, which has passed in the House of Representatives. The Jewish Center for Justice is mobilizing Jewish communities and gun-violence prevention...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 15, 2021 | Activism, Advocacy, Archived, Archived 2021, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Voting, Voting Rights
This article was updated on August 24, 2021. We call upon the United States Senate to pass The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, also called H.R. 4. The Jewish Center for Justice is mobilizing Jewish communities and pro-democracy people of faith in support of...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 8, 2021 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2021, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Racial Justice, Voting, Voting Rights
Last week, the House of Representatives officially passed The For the People Act of 2021, also called H.R. 1. The Jewish Center for Justice is mobilizing Jewish communities and pro-democracy people of faith in support of The For the People Act, which would would make...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 23, 2021 | Activism, Archived, Archived 2021, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism, LGBTQ
UPDATE: On February 25, the House passed The Equality Act. The bill now moves to the Senate. All actions mentioned below will apply to U.S. Senators only. Last week, The Equality Act was officially passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Jewish Center for...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 19, 2021 | Featured, Ideas, Immigration, JCJ Blog, Judaism
Today, the Jewish Center for Justice joined 86 other religious and faith-based groups in filing an amicus brief in the Supreme Court arguing that the Trump Administration’s attempt to divert otherwise-allocated funds for construction of a border wall is...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 14, 2021 | JCJ Blog
This week, the Jewish Center for Justice joined over 110 social justice organizations in sending a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom urging him to take immediate action to expand emergency paid sick days and to protect California’s families. The letter begins: On January 1,...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 12, 2021 | Activism, Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
The Jewish Center for Justice is excited to announce that we will be welcoming two new board members to start 2021. Ellie Caple and Heather Lazarus have contributed mightily to our justice work over the past year, and we are thrilled to add them to our growing team...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 11, 2021 | Activism, Anti-Semitism, Events, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
On Friday, January 8, 2021, Jewish Center for Justice Executive Director Rabbi Joel Simonds moderated a panel for the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), a conversation which featured Congresswoman Susan Wild, Congressman Brad Schneider, Congressman Mike...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 6, 2021 | Activism, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism
In response to today’s news out of Washington, DC, Rabbi Joel Simonds, Executive Director of the Jewish Center for Justice, issued a video response. From the video: “When there is calm, and when we have rid our nation’s capitol of this horrific...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Dec 18, 2020 | Advocacy, Cohorts, Events, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Voting
2020 was a year like no other. Facing the threat of a deadly virus and the prospects of an economic recession, the Jewish Center for Justice shifted programming to meet the needs of our growing community. Watch our End-of-Year video recapping our work in 2020. Then...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Nov 9, 2020 | Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Voting
Today, the Jewish Center for Justice Board of Directors issued the following joint statement following the announcement that Jode Biden and Kamala Harris won the 2020 presidential election: “The Board of the Jewish Center for Justice officially congratulates...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Nov 4, 2020 | Featured, JCJ Blog, Voting
This statement was posted at 10:30 a.m. PT on November 4, 2020 JCJ Executive Director Rabbi Joel Simonds has offered the following words during this time of uncertainty: “As the votes continue to be counted, we look toward a brighter tomorrow knowing that we did...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 22, 2020 | California, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Voting
On May 8, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-64-20, which orders the November 3 General Election to be conducted as an all-mail ballot election. Accordingly, all registered voters in California will receive a vote-by-mail ballot in the mail prior to...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 13, 2020 | JCJ Blog
*This posted originally appeared on October 23, 2018 and has been updated in 2020* It’s nearly impossible to avoid the news these days and, given the awkwardness of living life in the fetal position, you likely know that our country is – what’s a nice way to put this?...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 13, 2020 | JCJ Blog
Are you voting in the upcoming election? Download this image and share on social media to let everyone know that you’re voting your values. Don’t forget to tag JCJ on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #Vote2020. Follow that up by signing the JCJ Vote...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 12, 2020 | Criminal Justice Reform, Featured, Gun Violence Prevention, Ideas, Immigration, JCJ Blog, LGBTQ, Racial Justice, Voting Rights, Women’s Rights
Following the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, President Trump and Senate leadership rushed to nominate a replacement on the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the president and the Senate neglected to pass any coronavirus relief bills. This is deeply immoral. We are...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 9, 2020 | California, Featured, JCJ Blog, Voting, Voting Rights
If you live in California, chances are that you have already received your mail-in ballot for the 2020 election. If you have, you can fill it out and return it to one of your area’s secure ballot drop-off locations. Vote-by-Mail Ballot Drop Boxes and...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 6, 2020 | Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Racial Justice
JCJ Clergy Cohort member and Temple De Hirsch Sinai Rabbi Avi Fine delivered the following d’var Torah on Yom Kippur this year. Watch the full clip below. One particular excerpt stands out, beginning at 7:01: Through tfillah and tzadakah, we can split the sea of...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 21, 2020 | Cohorts, Criminal Justice Reform, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Racial Justice
Each year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, we beat our chests and engage in a communal confession. Looking back on a year, it can be difficult to pinpoint specific mistakes or failures. The beauty of a communal confession is that we take on all these failures...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 13, 2020 | JCJ Blog
Before COVID-19 began fundamentally altering our way of life, the Jewish Center for Justice had a very ambitious legislative agenda that targeted policy issues such as economic justice, housing, gender equality, the environment, and more. Then the onset of the...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 13, 2020 | Activism, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog
The great philosopher Epiticus once said, “We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak.” This idiom is as applicable today as it was when it was originally said almost 2,000 years ago. Listening to – and understanding – others’ opinions...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 10, 2020 | Children, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Racial Justice
*Photo from www.janeelliott.com* By Allen Schultz On April 5, 1968, a class of white third-grade students from Riceville, Iowa all had the same question for their teacher, Ms. Jane Elliott – why was their “Hero of the Month,” Martin Luther King Jr., killed the day...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 29, 2020 | Anti-Semitism, Cohorts, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Racial Justice
My Jewish education has made me who I am today. It has taught me to learn, question, and debate Jewish texts. It has taught me to be proud of Jewish culture and customs. It taught me how to read, write, and speak Hebrew. It has taught me to remember the Holocaust. It...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 25, 2020 | Activism, Featured, JCJ Blog, Racial Justice
*The following post is part of JCJ’s Awareness to Action: 21 Days Toward Racial Justice campaign.* Discussion questions after watching the film: When Solomon is kidnapped and forced into slavery along with other African Americans, we witness the abusive power and...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 20, 2020 | Activism, Featured, JCJ Blog, Racial Justice, Voting, Voting Rights
*The following post is part of JCJ’s Awareness to Action: 21 Days Toward Racial Justice campaign.* Today, we remember the leadership and legacy of Congressman John Lewis (z”l), who passed away on Friday. JCJ Executive Director Rabbi Joel Simonds wrote on Friday...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 18, 2020 | Activism, Featured, JCJ Blog, Racial Justice
*The following post is part of JCJ’s Awareness to Action: 21 Days Toward Racial Justice campaign.* Discussion questions after watching the film: Two thrones on which God can sit are Justice and Mercy. During the High Holy Days our prayers and mitzvot move God from the...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 12, 2020 | Activism, Featured, JCJ Blog, Racial Justice
*The following post is part of JCJ’s Awareness to Action: 21 Days Toward Racial Justice campaign.* Today, we are urging our community to contact their mayor, city council member, and/or supervisor and ask about efforts to reallocate funds towards community safety that...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 10, 2020 | Activism, Cohorts, Featured, JCJ Blog, Racial Justice
*The following post is part of JCJ’s Awareness to Action: 21 Days Toward Racial Justice campaign.* Discussion questions after watching the film: The documentary points out that terrorism against African Americans turned into something more legal and socially...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 8, 2020 | Activism, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Racial Justice
*The following post is part of JCJ’s Awareness to Action: 21 Days Toward Racial Justice campaign.* On Thursday, June 25, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The passage of this bill came one day after the...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 8, 2020 | Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Racial Justice
Stay tuned to this blog with daily actions and opportunities! <<Get Involved: Click HERE to sign up for JCJ email alerts>> Updated: July 30, 2020 Awareness to Action: 21 Days Toward Racial Justice is a three-week effort to confront racism, address our...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 22, 2020 | Criminal Justice Reform, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Racial Justice
The Jewish Center for Justice recently delivered the following letter to members of the California legislature urging support for the Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems (C.R.I.S.E.S.) Act (AB 2054), a significant effort to accomplish police...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 18, 2020 | Children, Featured, Immigration, JCJ Blog, Judaism
JCJ intern Adam Friedman Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled in a 5 to 4 decision to block the Trump Administration’s attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Following the decision, chairs of the Jewish Center for Justice...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 1, 2020 | Featured, JCJ Blog, Racial Justice
Following public demonstrations over the senseless and unjust death of George Floyd, Jewish Center for Justice Executive Director Rabbi Joel Simonds took to social media to reflect on the current moment: SATURDAY “Shavuah Tov is hard to say tonight. How do we...
by Jewish Center for Justice | May 21, 2020 | Activism, Cohorts, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism
This summer, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic impacting internships and fellowships for young people, JCJ is increasing our summer fellowship opportunities to those who are passionate about advocacy, justice and Judaism. Over the course of the next few months,...
by Jewish Center for Justice | May 20, 2020 | Cohorts, Economic Justice, Featured, Ideas, JCJ Blog
On May 20, JCJ College Fellow Dahvi Cohen, who is a student at George Washington University, penned an op-ed for Mic.com titled “Universities should offer tuition refunds to ensure students like myself can return when campuses reopen.” Read the full piece...
by Jewish Center for Justice | May 18, 2020 | Activism, California, Cohorts, Featured, JCJ Blog, Voting
Jewish Center for Justice Executive Director Rabbi Joel Simonds provides an update on how we are shifting our legislative priorities to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Follow our Vote by Mail and 2020 Census campaigns, and sign up to receive JCJ alerts....
by Jewish Center for Justice | May 7, 2020 | Featured, JCJ Blog, Women’s Rights
Yesterday the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases relating to employers’ obligation to provide their employees with access to birth control under the Affordable Care Act. The cases, Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania and...
by Jewish Center for Justice | May 6, 2020 | Cohorts, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism
At the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak and eventual pandemic, it appeared as if lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders would last only through the beginning of the spring. Yet, as we near two months since the first virus shutdowns, it is clear that many classic summer...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 13, 2020 | California, JCJ Blog, Judaism
The LA County Board of Supervisors is meeting tomorrow morning, Tuesday, April 14, and we need to urge them to support the Healthy LA platform to ensure the safety and well-being of the 10 million people who call LA home. Two weeks ago, the same Board voted to provide...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 6, 2020 | Activism, Economic Justice, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism
Passover prep, the JCJ way No Yeast? No Worries! Now is the time to try out this easy and delicious 18-minute Matzah Recipe, courtesy of seminary fellow Elias Chajet and his fiancé Michelle Blumenthal. Conflicted about the afikomen prize this year? Use this...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 6, 2020 | Economic Justice, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism
Each Passover we are instructed that in every generation each person should see themselves as if they were freed from bondage in Egypt. In so doing, we remind ourselves that there are many who still face grave injustices in our society. Whether or not you sit at a...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 17, 2020 | Activism, California, Economic Justice, Featured, JCJ Blog
*This post was originally published on March 17, 2020* “We have entered a time of uncertainty and fear, during which we will all have our moments of deep pain. But as a community we will strengthen one another, we will gather stones together, and we will build...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 12, 2020 | Advocacy, California, Events, Featured, JCJ Blog
By Rabbi Joel Simonds Yesterday a mix of board members and lay leaders gathered both in the JCJ offices and online to engage with elected officials on our advocacy agenda for the upcoming year. Emphasizing our pursuit for a brighter tomorrow, we spoke with State...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 4, 2020 | Featured, JCJ Blog, Women’s Rights
OVERVIEW Today, the United States Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case of June Medical Services, LLC v. Gee from the state of Louisiana. This case, which will be ruled on in the coming June 2020 term, is a pivotal one concerning safe access to abortion...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 11, 2020 | California, Economic Justice, Featured, JCJ Blog
Over the past two decades, California has experienced a surge in home and rental prices, resulting in a massive housing and homelessness crisis which the state has struggled to manage. In 2019 alone, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority found that there were...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 21, 2020 | California, Economic Justice, Featured, JCJ Blog
Next week, legislators will convene in Sacramento to discuss Senate Bill 50, known as the More HOMES Act. Authored by Sen. Scott Wiener, SB 50 will speed up the construction of affordable homes while protecting vulnerable tenants against displacement. The Jewish...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 14, 2020 | Activism, Advocacy, California, JCJ Blog
In 2019, the Jewish Center for Justice advocated for dozens of bills on the state and national level. As we shape our legislative agenda for 2020, let’s take a look back at some of the legislative highlights over the past year. While nearly every bill JCJ backed on...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Dec 3, 2019 | Immigration, JCJ Blog
**This article has been updated since it was originally posted on November 27, 2018. This Giving Tuesday, the Jewish Center for Justice community would like to direct your attention to several organizations and causes we have worked with this past year that are making...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 16, 2019 | Immigration, JCJ Blog
Last week, the Jewish Center for Justice joined more than 100 U.S. religious or religiously-affiliated organizations by signing an amicus brief in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) program. The brief states: “Amici believe, on the...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Sep 23, 2019 | California, Criminal Justice Reform, Environment, Gun Violence Prevention, Immigration, JCJ Blog, LGBTQ
**This post was updated on October 10 to reflect the current status of each piece of legislation** When California’s legislative session ended last week, elected officials worked through the night to ensure all eligible bills reached the desk of Governor Gavin...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Sep 10, 2019 | California, Criminal Justice Reform, Economic Justice, Environment, JCJ Blog, Judaism
California’s legislative session, which began back in January when Governor Gavin Newsom took office, comes to a close this Friday, September 13. As we look back on our legislative agenda for 2019, several bills JCJ worked on have actually been signed into law....
by Jewish Center for Justice | Sep 10, 2019 | Israel, JCJ Blog
**This post is an update to our June 20 blog about the upcoming September 17 snap elections in Israel. Israel will hold a historically unprecedented election for Knesset, the Israeli parliament, on September 17. Whichever party manages to secure the plurality of seats...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Sep 9, 2019 | Activism, JCJ Blog, Judaism
This August I began my fifth (and final) year of rabbinical training at Hebrew Union College Institute of Religion here in Los Angeles. However, unlike in years past, this one is particularly significant for me as I begin my work as Jewish Center for Justice’s new...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 22, 2019 | JCJ Blog, Voting, Voting Rights
A lack of affordable health care, a divisive media climate, and gun violence are just a sampling of the dozens of issues of paramount importance currently facing America. Some issues have a short-term impact while some will impact us for generations to come, but all...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 1, 2019 | Environment, JCJ Blog
My dad has been discussing environmental and climate issues with me since I was old enough to say the words “climate change.” For years, he has been warning me and my siblings about how political and social inaction could lead to catastrophic, irreversible climate...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 25, 2019 | Gun Violence Prevention, JCJ Blog
On February 14, 2018, a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. walked on campus and shot and killed 17 people, injuring 17 more. The devastating and tragic event ignited a teen-led movement — spearheaded by March for Our Lives — to...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 18, 2019 | Activism, Immigration, JCJ Blog, Judaism
On Wednesday, July 17, former JCJ seminary fellow and current Assistant Rabbi at Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle joined immigrant rights advocates, elected officials, and members of different faith networks to march from Riverton Park United Methodist Church in...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 15, 2019 | California, Economic Justice, Gun Violence Prevention, JCJ Blog
For as long as I can recall, our nation has been stuck in a cyclical, destructive pattern wherein rapidly changing news cycles whip us from one story to the next by the hour, and sometimes even by the minute. Caught in this cycle, we become easily distracted from our...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 12, 2019 | California, Immigration, JCJ Blog
Last Wednesday, July 3, fellow JCJ intern Lindsay Morgenstein and I drove to the Theo Lacy Immigration Detention Center in Orange, California, a facility which serves as a maximum-security jail for immigrant detainees. While I did not go inside, it was clear from what...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 26, 2019 | Activism, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism
This past Friday, June the 21st, the Jewish world lost a social justice giant in Rabbi Richard Levy. Rabbi Levy was a passionate advocate for civil rights, social justice, and peace. At the invitation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he was part of a delegation of 16...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 20, 2019 | Israel, JCJ Blog
On September 17, 2019, the Israeli government will hold an election for parliament and present the majority with the opportunity to form a new coalition and install their party’s leader as the country’s Prime Minister. This election will follow the April 2019 election...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 18, 2019 | Activism, California, Economic Justice
The purpose of H.R.1080, also known as the The Fairness for Farm Workers Act, is to provide fair overtime compensation for farm and agricultural workers across the nation. The Fairness for Farm Workers Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), an existing law...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 5, 2019 | California, Immigration, Judaism
The purpose of H.R. 6 (The American Dream and Promise Act) is to provide permanent status to minors brought illegally to the US (Dreamers) and recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). H.R. 6 passed in the House of...
by Jewish Center for Justice | May 15, 2019 | LGBTQ
On Thursday Night May 9th, the Jewish Center for Justice celebrated 2 years of advocacy, education and leadership development. With food, drinks and celebration, we did what we do best… fight for a better tomorrow. Hundreds of letters were signed to our elected...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 29, 2019 | Immigration
As the Supreme Court hears arguments on whether to allow for the placement of a citizenship question on the 2020 census, the Jewish Center for Justice echoes the important and powerful words of our Board Member and Los Angeles Unified School District Vice President...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 26, 2019 | JCJ Blog, LGBTQ
As part of our mission to ensure that all people are treated with dignity, respect, and equality, the Jewish Center for Justice rejects any attempt to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. We support the right of LGBTQ people to live...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 14, 2019 | Activism, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism, Voting
By Lindsay Morgenstein I was in high school the first time a friend posed the question that would come to define much of my future trajectory. Asking “Are you a Republican or Democrat?” would soon open my eyes to how politics shapes the world around us. While I was...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 15, 2019 | Activism, Anti-Semitism, Featured, Israel, JCJ Blog
By Gabi Becher Throughout my seven years at a small, warm Jewish elementary school in Los Angeles, I was taught to love being Jewish and to love the state of Israel. The culture, food, language, history and people have always fascinated me. Further, when I met...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Mar 13, 2019 | California, Criminal Justice Reform, Featured, JCJ Blog
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 13, 2019 Contact: Max Rosenblum 818-304-4551 LOS ANGELES — In response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order to place a moratorium on the death penalty in California, Jewish Center for Justice Executive Director Rabbi Joel Thal Simonds...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 27, 2019 | Featured, Israel, JCJ Blog
On Tuesday April 9, 2019, the Israeli government will hold an election for parliament and give the majority the opportunity to form a new coalition and have their party’s leader serve as the country’s Prime Minister. For the past ten years, Benjamin (Bibi)...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 26, 2019 | California, Environment, Featured, Israel, JCJ Blog
By Teddy Levitt There are many perks that go with being a board member for the Jewish Center for Justice; advocating for issues that will help create positive change in our society, connecting with diverse and passionate groups of people, and interacting with...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 21, 2019 | Activism, California, Featured, Gun Violence Prevention, JCJ Blog
On Sunday, February 17, the Jewish Center for Justice partnered with the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism to bring Rep. Ted Lieu to Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills for a conversation centered on how our community can take direct action to curb gun violence in...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Feb 5, 2019 | Activism, Featured, Gun Violence Prevention, JCJ Blog, LGBTQ
By Leora Greene In April 2015, when I was 15 years old, I came home from getting my braces off to learn that my grandfather had taken his own life after fighting with anxiety and depression for many years. My family and I felt a strange mix of emotions all at once:...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 16, 2019 | Activism, Advocacy, Featured, JCJ Blog, Judaism
By Michael Chaskes “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” — Pirkei Avot, 2:21. During the first 47 years of my life, I could have counted my brief number of excursions into political advocacy on one hand and still had...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 8, 2019 | Featured, JCJ Blog
By Lindsay Morgenstein As the calendar turns to 2019, we can now focus on the next twelve months and the pressing issues facing our nation. This may not be a midterm or presidential election year, but there are still a number of crucial justice issues I hope we can...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jan 2, 2019 | JCJ Blog
[UPDATE (Jan. 10): Join JCJ at 9:00 a.m. on January 19th for a pre-Women’s March Shabbat experience. We will be meeting in the parking lot on S. Broadway, between 2nd and 3rd streets (next to 213 S. Broadway). The March will begin at Pershing Square and...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Dec 27, 2018 | JCJ Blog
By Sam Wolf In the midst of the Administration’s continued attacks on refugees and asylum seekers, I feel compelled to speak out. Let me tell you why. On April 15, 1940, my great grandparents — Ferenc Rakos and Aranka Neufeld — arrived in New York on the USS...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Dec 6, 2018 | JCJ Blog
On Thursday, December 6th, the Jewish Center for Justice joins with the greater California community of advocates who are bringing justice and hope to migrant families and asylum seekers at the border. To take action today, call your Member of Congress (you can reach...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Dec 5, 2018 | JCJ Blog
By Dr. Jennifer Weiss The sound of metal-on-metal isn’t unfamiliar to doctors who have spent a career treating bullet wounds. Even modern basins made from plastic make a particular noise once a bullet has been deposited. Those sounds aren’t easy to forget because they...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Dec 2, 2018 | JCJ Blog
As we rededicate ourselves to a year of justice and action, we also must think about how to educate ourselves on the important issues of our time and the roles we play in living a life guided by our core Jewish values. Each night of Hanukkah, with the candles burning...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Nov 29, 2018 | JCJ Blog
In response to Women’s March California and other local chapters clarifying their separation from the harmful affiliations of national Women’s March leaders, Jewish Center for Justice Board Chair Julie Bank and Manager of Jewish Engagement and Advocacy Leah...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Nov 16, 2018 | JCJ Blog
For the past few months, the Jewish Center for Justice community has not only been engaged in a Get Out The Vote campaign across the country, but we actively supported a number of ballot measures in California and the state of Washington. Joining coalitions who hold...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Nov 8, 2018 | JCJ Blog
By Rabbi Joshua Samuels I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life (Deut 30:19). This week, Washingtonians voted overwhelmingly in favor of Initiative 1639, the only gun-regulation measure on any state ballot this November. With the passage...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Nov 7, 2018 | JCJ Blog
LOS ANGELES — In response to the failure of Proposition 10 on the California ballot, Rabbi Joel Thal Simonds, Executive Director of the Jewish Center for Justice, released the following statement: “The Jewish Center for Justice is troubled by the defeat of Proposition...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 30, 2018 | JCJ Blog
By Julie Bank In a moment when we were without words, we gathered in community and found strength from our leaders who managed to speak of light during a time of darkness. As the Board Chair of the Jewish Center for Justice, Sunday’s briefing with Lt. Gov. Gavin...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 18, 2018 | JCJ Blog
By Rabbi Joel Simonds Over the past few months, the JCJ community in California has been working with diverse coalitions to pass legislation that would strengthen our state’s gun violence prevention laws, protect our environment, assist those struggling with poverty,...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 15, 2018 | JCJ Blog
By Ryan Biehl Ever since I was a young boy, I always assumed that voting was one of those things everyone did. This idea was ingrained in me early on by my parents, who have voted in every election that I can remember. When I was seven, they even took me out of school...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 8, 2018 | JCJ Blog
By Jeremy Cronig On March 24, I marched in Washington, DC with hundreds of thousands of my peers. Feeling compelled to act, we descended on our nation’s capital because we felt hopeless. My generation is not lazy. My generation is not apathetic. Young people will have...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Oct 2, 2018 | Featured, JCJ Blog, Voting
By Michelle Shapiro Sampson Growing up in my family, there was always an understanding that when you turn 18, you vote. No excuses and no exceptions. I remember the first time I voted. I had just turned 18 and I traveled with my mother to our polling place at an...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Sep 25, 2018 | Featured, JCJ Blog, Voting
By Max Rosenblum Did you know that 40 percent of all eligible voters did not cast a ballot in the 2016 Election? Even more striking, less than half of young adults (age 18-29) voted in 2016. These figures provided the axis point for the particularly poignant High Holy...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Sep 5, 2018 | JCJ Blog
Written by Julie Bressler When I sat down to write a sermon about the #MeToo movement almost one year ago, I anticipatorily included the sentence, “After a few weeks of activity, the #MeToo tidal wave was overtaken by another social justice initiative and...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 29, 2018 | JCJ Blog
By Rabbi Max Chaiken from Congregation Kol Ami Every year, Americans celebrate Labor Day weekend (also known as the “unofficial end” of the summer) with beach trips, barbecues, family gatherings, and even the additional day off from work. That’s right — on a...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 22, 2018 | JCJ Blog
By Leah Sternberg My name is Leah Sternberg and I am JCJ’s Manager of Jewish Engagement and Advocacy and a 5th year rabbinic student at Hebrew Union College. I am thrilled to be joining the JCJ team this year and will use this amazing opportunity to fuse my passion...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 8, 2018 | JCJ Blog
I Am Collecting a Flower Drawing for all 711 Children Still Separated from their Families By Hannah Levine, JCJ 2018 Summer Intern As of 8/10/2018 559 children remain separated from their families. When the Trump Administration began its policy of separating...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Aug 2, 2018 | JCJ Blog
LOS ANGELES — In response to the Administration’s proposal to reverse Obama-era fuel efficiency and emissions standards, Rabbi Joel Thal Simonds, Executive Director of the Jewish Center for Justice, released the following statement: “The Jewish Center for...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 31, 2018 | JCJ Blog
Every summer the Jewish Center for Justice convenes emerging teen leaders through camps, workshops and youth movements and teaches them to advocate on justice issues through public speaking, coalition building and lobbying. From making calls to Congress to...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 11, 2018 | JCJ Blog
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 11, 2018 Contact: Max Rosenblum 818-304-4551 LOS ANGELES — In response to President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, Rabbi Joel Thal Simonds, Executive Director of the Jewish Center for...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jul 9, 2018 | JCJ Blog
When the humanitarian crisis of separating immigrant children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border began last month, the Jewish Center for Justice community immediately voiced our collective outrage at this immoral practice. Words of condemnation for this...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 19, 2018 | JCJ Blog
When we separate children from their parents, we are rejecting the very ideals we hold dear By JCJ Summer Intern Sam Wolf. Over the past month, the Trump Administration has been deliberately separating parents from their children at the U.S.-Mexico border....
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 13, 2018 | JCJ Blog
With the creation of our JCJ Lawyers’ Committee, the Jewish Center for Justice has assembled a cohort of attorneys to help our community monitor and navigate the justice system and the many ways in which court decisions impact the moral fabric of our society and the...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Jun 4, 2018 | JCJ Blog
We are alarmed by continuing verbal attacks against the state of Israel and certain parts of the Jewish community by some leaders of the Women’s March. The Jewish Center for Justice is dedicated to building coalitions of diversity and strength in order to raise our...
by Jewish Center for Justice | May 16, 2018 | JCJ Blog
The difficulty and complexity of this past week in Israel has left us searching for words to express our emotions. Side by side media images of the embassy dedication ceremony in Jerusalem juxtaposed by the death and violence on the Gaza border fail to address the...
by Jewish Center for Justice | May 9, 2018 | JCJ Blog
Rev. Eddie Anderson is the California Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign and pastor at McCarty Memorial Church in Los Angeles. Over the last four months I’ve traveled around the State of California for the Poor People’s Campaign and as I listened to the...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 30, 2018 | JCJ Blog
JCJ member and co-founder of JCJ’s Lawyers’ Committee Padraic Glaspy reflects on last week’s court decision on DACA. Padraic is a partner at the law firm of Howarth and Smith. We celebrate the recent ruling of a third federal judge that the administration’s attempt...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 23, 2018 | JCJ Blog
Reuben Bank is a Junior at George Washington University in Washington DC and is spending his spring semester studying at Tel Aviv University. Reuben is a leader in JCJ’s College Campus Fellows. “Lizkor.” To remember. These are the words that began the...
by Jewish Center for Justice | Apr 13, 2018 | JCJ Blog
When “Social Justice” Is An Inward-Facing Act Rabbi Jaclyn Fromer Cohen, JCJ Supporter The first meaningful Jewish concept I remember learning was that of “mitzvah.” Like generations of Jewish children before me, I was taught that a mitzvah was...
