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Congregational
Organizing
Updates From our Congregations Check out an update on Mount Zion's House Party Campaign!. FFI: adele@jewishcommunityaction.org, 651-632-2184.
Adath Jeshurun Congregation Hosts Hechsher Tzedek Briefing Join the Adult Learning and Hesed Committees for this session on July 17th, an opportunity for congregants to learn more about this initiative to bring kosher-food production in line with Jewish ethics, particularly as they relate to worker treatment and environmental standards. FFI: melissa@jewishcommunityaction.org, 651-632-2184.
Beth Jacob Congregation Leads Hechsher Tzedek Briefings More than 25 congregants participated in trainings to learn how to deliver briefings on Hechsher Tzedek. This exciting initiative is building grassroots support for worker justice and other socially responsible business practices in kosher food-producing companies. This summer, the synagogue’s Social Justice Committee will send teams to brief other congregations and Jewish groups in the Twin Cities metro area. During the 2007 Minnesota state legislative session, Rabbi Morris Allen, Beth Jacob members, the United Food and Commercial Workers, and JCA worked together to support the Packinghouse Workers’ Bill of Rights. This bill, which was introduced by Rep. Rick Hansen, passed into law. It guarantees the right to safe workplace, freedom from discrimination, adequate equipment, training in employees’ native language, and information about job description and duties, leave policy, work hours, occupational hazards, and the right to organize or not. FFI: melissa@jewishcommunityaction.org, 651-632-2184.
Temple of Aaron’s Social Justice Committee Learns about Hechsher Tzedek In late June, the congregation hosted members of Beth Jacob Congregation for a briefing session on Hechsher Tzedek (see Beth Jacob update, above). Temple of Aaron members expect to begin participation in this important initiative. The congregation is also beginning a strategic planning session, which will incorporate parlor meetings to uncover members’ interests—including interest in social justice. FFI: vic@jewishcommunityaction.org, 651-632-2184.
Temple Israel Hones in on Homelessness The temple’s Social Action Committee is considering a congregation-wide social justice initiative homelessness and affordable housing. This initiative would offer the congregation collective opportunities to address the root causes of homelessness, educational events, and direct service. Now in its early planning, expect a formal launch around the High Holidays! FFI: melissa@jewishcommunityaction.org, 651-632-2184.
Community Leadership Team
The
community leadership team, an outcome of the Jewish Community Action
Inreach and Assembly, has designed an action plan. The Community
Leadership Team consists of leaders from all of the synagogues that
participated in the 2004-05 Inreach, as well as leaders from JCA’s new
Indie Jews, JYOLT and JCA’s issue leadership teams. There is great
enthusiasm for strengthening the relationship between JCA, congregation
members, JYOLT and Indie Jews to create more interest and involvement in
social justice work. The community leadership team is engaged in the following next steps: · The Inreach showed that we are interested in building community—both inside and outside of congregations—and in linking such community to social justice work. To address this, the community leadership team has focused on creating leadership teams in congregations and within Indie Jews and JYOLT. · Developed with Wellstone Action, Livnot Koach, a two-day training in January of 2007 for 50 congregational and issue campaign leaders to learn more about community organizing. Sessions focused on power, conducting one-to-one conversations, building a broad base of support, developing a strong message, planning action for an issue campaign, lobbying, leadership development, coalition-building, and volunteer recruitment. Jewish text will be used throughout, to ground our work in Jewish tradition and Torah. · Work will continue on strengthening relationships among congregational leaders, JYOLT, Indie and issue campaign members while developing training programs in the coming months.
For more information about the Community Leadership Team and its activities, please get in touch with any of the JCA staff.
Article (American Jewish World) - Inreach Completed Congregational Organizing Concept Paper Article - JCA's Inreach Moves Forward Proposed 2004-2005 Inreach Plan Phases of Development - JCA and Social Justice in Synagogues
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HEADLINES FROM JCA
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