April has been an undeniably historic month for oil prices. But President Bush’s statement yesterday afternoon has me gravely concerned about the solutions to the climate and energy crises facing this nation. While our national CO2 emissions continue to skyrocket - jeopardizing the stability of oceans, weather, farm lands, and air quality - access to the fossil fuels helping perpetrate the climate crisis has become unaffordable for millions.

The solution? According to the President, drilling in Alaska’s wildlife refuge:

"This is a litmus test issue for many in Congress," President Bush said. "Somehow, if you mention ANWR, you don't care about the environment. Well, I'm hoping now people, when you say ANWR, it means you don't care about the gasoline prices."

He must be joking, right? Please, tell me this is just a nightmare!!!

Opening up the Refuge for drilling would, in fact, be a nightmare of an energy policy (and an even bigger nightmare for endangered creatures inhabiting the Refuge). According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, “only 3.2 billion barrels of oil could be economically recovered from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This is only enough oil to fuel the US vehicle fleet for a mere 6 months.” Though some think this 6 months supply would alleviate the heavy burden of high gas prices immediately, the oil supplies could not be phased into commercial use for years due to the time delay for setting up drilling stations and refining the oil. Even if we had opened up the Refuge before now, it would not have made much of a difference in our oil supplies.

Personally, I find it reprehensible that our government would rather jeopardize the survival of American treasures like the polar bear, arctic fox, and caribou rather than promote nationwide conservation of oil and energy, invest in biofuels that don’t divert food supplies, or support low emissions or oil free cars.

Our current energy policies are outdated and we can no longer afford to let them come at the expense of protecting our environment and all of its inhabitants. The climate and energy crises must be solved in concert with one another and we must all play a role – this challenge is not only achievable but also economical. It is time to reevaluate how we interact with the natural resources around us because America, it’s time to move beyond petroleum…

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Liz Cohen is the Regional Social Action Chair for New Jersey and the West Hudson Valley and is coordinating the URJ "Health Care for All" initiative in New Jersey.  She is also a member of the Commission on Social Action and Congregation Temple Beth-El in Hillsborough, NJ.  She is blogging in honor of Cover the Uninsured Week.

These are heady days for health care in New Jersey. State Senator Joseph Vitale has unveiled his staged plan for universal health care coverage in the state by 2011, and has introduced a bill (S-1557) to mandate coverage for children and to take first steps to make individual and small employer coverage more affordable.

Also, NJ Citizen Action has launched its New Jersey for Health Care Campaign (in which our URJ region is one of 20 participating groups), and is studying S-1557 through the lens of 5 core principles:

• Guaranteed access to affordable, comprehensive health care for all
• Improved quality of care for all
• Shared responsibility among all stakeholders including individuals, employers, & government
• Reduction  and containment of costs to assure affordable coverage
• Emphasis on preventive care

It was in this context that we made health care access a primary issue for our URJ NJ Lobby Day in Trenton last March.  When we asked Governor Corzine’s deputy chief of staff what she thought of Senator Vitale’s proposal, she replied that who we really should talk to are the Commissioners of Health and Human Services (2 related positions in NJ), and offered to set up a meeting.  Sure enough, Patti McGuire followed through, and we have a group set to meet with Commissioners Howard and Velez next week.  We’ll get to hear firsthand the commissioners' perspective on health care in New Jersey and challenges faced in ensuring access to quality care for all, as well as their thoughts about Senator Vitale's bill and the NJHCC’s core principles.  We’ll also get to talk with them about URJ's Health Care for All initiative and how we can partner toward this goal.

For me it is very heartening to know that these commissioners have made themselves so readily available to us. They will be facing some challenging hearings on S-1557 that week, especially as the state budget will be of necessity draconian and new initiatives looked on harshly, so their time is precious and scarce.  But my guess is that it is helpful to them to hear our concerns directly, to draw on our discussion in preparing for the hearings, and perhaps even to quote our stories.  Hopefully much will be gained on all sides. I know I look forward to learning tremendously much.

 

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 6:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Late last year, pictures of monks marching in the streets of Burma occupied the cover of every major newspaper and magazine, and were even talked about here on the RAC Blog.  The spirit of the Saffron revolution was alive and even President Bush spoke to the UN advocating on behalf of the people of Burma who have lived under the rule of a cruel regime for almost twenty years. Unfortunately, six months later discussions of the Saffron revolution and the people of Burma have fallen silent. 

But, the United States Congress has not forgotten about Burma. 

Last week, the United States Senate, following the passage of a similar measure in the House in December, voted unanimously to award Aung San Suu Kyi, the former Nobel Peace Prize currently held under house arrest by the military junta, with the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Aung San is the first person to receive the award while imprisoned and is only the thirty-first foreign recipient of the highest US civilian honor.  The US Campaign for Burma expressed the importance of this congressional honor,  “in a world in which public heroes are few and far between, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is one of the greatest people of our time; she richly deserves this award, an award we hope will show the people of Burma they are not alone in their struggle.” 

We agree and congratulate Aung San Suu Kyi’s bravery.  We also applaud Congress for honoring so deserving an individual.

Click here to read more about this remarkable woman and her quest to pursue justice in the country for which she cares so deeply.

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 8:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The first tax rebate checks from the “economic stimulus” that Congress and the President pushed through in January go out today. But don’t expect much stimulation. More than 60 percent of Americans say they will use their tax rebate checks to pay back credit card debt or will save the money. And as the economy continues to tank, low-income Americans suffer the most.

Fortunately, a boost for those most in need is also the right prescription for a revived economy. As Mark Zandi, chief economist and co-founder of Moody’s Economy.com, said back in January, “Extending unemployment insurance and expanding food stamps are the most effective ways to prime the economy’s pump.”

For anyone not paying attention, things are going from bad to worse.  Three recent stories from the New York Times only begin to paint the picture of the struggles facing millions of Americans.

 

Unemployment Rate Rises After 80,000 Jobs Cut:

The economy shed 80,000 jobs in March, the third consecutive month of rising unemployment, presenting a stark sign that the country may already be in a recession.

As Jobs Vanish and Prices Rise, Food Stamp Use Nears Record:

Driven by a painful mix of layoffs and rising food and fuel prices, the number of Americans receiving food stamps is projected to reach 28 million in the coming year, the highest level since the aid program began in the 1960s.

Cutoffs and Pleas for Aid Rise With Heat Costs:

After struggling with soaring heating costs through the winter, millions of Americans are behind on electric and gas bills, and a record number of families could face energy shut-offs over the next two months, according to state energy officials and utilities around the country.

Congress is now considering a second economic stimulus, which would include an extension of unemployment insurance, as well as increased funding for anti-hunger programs and home energy assistance for low-income families and the elderly, among other things. These policies will not only help those most in need; they will help strengthen the economy and ensure that the recovery is shared by all.

 

Call your representative and senators now (the Capitol Switchboard is 202-224-3121) and tell them to support an economic stimulus that really boosts the economy and really helps those in need.

 

UPDATE 5/1/08: The URJ has signed on to this letter to Congress, calling for swift action so that all Americans can emerge from this recession together.

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 5:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

If you were like me in college, you probably financed your adventure in higher education with a little help from the federal government. In fact, 63 percent of college students nationwide are like me – more than half of this country’s college-goers receive some sort of governmental financial aid.

A decade ago, though, Congress enacted an amendment to the Higher Education Act (HEA) that jeopardizes the education of those thousands of students by delaying or denying financial aid eligibility for individuals with drug convictions. Under this one-size-fits-all punishment, every student convicted of a drug-related offense loses financial aid for at least one year, regardless of individual circumstance or level of offense.

Consider the consequences:

• A student caught smoking a joint is subject to the exact same punishment as a student caught using heroin.
• A poor student with a drug offense finds himself at risk of having to drop out of school when his aid is taken away. A wealthier peer, guilty of the same offense but able to pay his tuition without aid, is safe.

The laundry list of problems with the HEA drug penalty is endless. The penalty is an instance of institutionalized classism that denies low- and middle-income students an education as punishment for their mistakes. Oftentimes, students are forced to leave school as a result of their drug offenses and are unable to afford the private rehab programs required to restore their aid. By blocking access to education, the penalty has potential to create more drug abuse and less education for affected low-income students.

In this country, 48 percent of drug treatment needs go unmet: It should be clear that the answer to solving problems of drug abuse is not to widen of the gap between haves and have-nots. So now what? The Removing Impediments to Students' Education (RISE) Act (H.R. 5157) would eliminate this unfairly harsh penalty and even the playing field for all students convicted of drug offenses. If the unfair implications of this penalty get you as fired up as they do me, take a stand. Students everywhere deserve it.

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Having a firm grip on the history and facts of situation in the Middle East is not longer a daunting and overwhelming undertaking. The Council on Foreign Relations has just launched a multimedia website, Crisis Guide: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, which explains the history, issues of contention and invested parties of the ongoing struggle. The visually rich guide, narrated by journalist Michael Goldfarb, uses video synopses, timelines, interactive maps, text and images, also includes links to documents, treaties and further resources. According to CFR’s press release, the guide “was produced in consultation with experts at CFR, Arab and Israeli sources, as well as an array of independent scholars, former officials, diplomats, and experts on the region's political and economic history.”

This guide is the third in a series of CFR productions on international crises, the others are about the Korean Peninsula and Darfur.

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 9:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This morning as I sat listening to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on “the Continuing Crisis in Darfur,” I felt frustrated by the simple fact that, after more than 5 years, the crisis in Darfur is continuing at all. I was not the only one.  Senator after Senator, Republican and Democrat alike, expressed regret at the fact that the deadly conflict drags on despite the passage of the landmark Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act in December and the entrance of peacekeepers this year.  There was even some finger pointing going on because the situation in Darfur has recently grown worse. 

The United Nations announced that the death toll as a result of the conflict since 2006 did not number 200,000 as we were told in March, but actually could be as high as 300,000 and the World Food Program announced that it would cut Darfur’s rations in half because of a lack of contributions from Europe and Darfur’s neighbors.  These facts only add to existing difficulties including the continuing lack of peacekeepers (only 9,000 of the necessary 26,000 have been deployed) and lack of helicopters in the region.

Then Jane Lute, the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for Peacekeeping Operations, said something which stood out above the other, at times overly political, rhetoric and reminded me why we all need to continue fighting for the people of Darfur in every way we know how.  The numbers can be staggering and the concept of the problem can be hard to articulate but, she explained, “people die one at a time.”

The phrase brought me back to my family’s Passover seder this past weekend where each participant, as an individual, was asked to place him or herself in the narrative of affliction of the Jewish people.  It is hard not to think that another story of affliction is unfolding right in front of us.  While 300,000 dead and 2.5 million displaced may seem like just numbers -- these people die one at a time.

I don’t pretend to know how to solve the problem.  In fact, as Mark Pelavin pointed out on our own RAC Blog drawing on a piece in Slate from Shmuel Rosner, the “Save Darfur” movement has accomplished all of its goals except the most important: ending the conflict. However, many have identified new, positive steps we can take to end the conflict now. On the pages of the New York Times Nicholas Kristof and Mark Helperin have put forward ideas.  So have advocacy groups like the ENOUGH project.  So instead of pointing fingers and playing the political blame game as to why we haven’t ended the genocide, let’s push for strategies that can help end the conflict in Darfur once and for all.

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

All across the country students are being taught that HIV can spread through tears and sweat, condoms are highly ineffective and that women need “financial support” while men need “admiration.” Sadly, those “facts” are only the beginning of an avalanche of misleading or outright false information being ingrained in teenagers as part of abstinence-only-until-marriage education programs, funded in large part by the federal government to the tune of $1 billion since the year 2000. Wednesday, the House held a congressional hearing on the efficacy of such abstinence-only sex education curricula—a promising first step to replacing these ineffective programs that are too often deceitful and couched in moralizing rhetoric.

Numerous studies show that abstinence-only programs do not work and that comprehensive sex education programs that are medically accurate and age-appropriate are considerably more successful at reducing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection rates. Abstinence-only curricula speak in terms of right and wrong. They are almost always heteronormative and invalidate relationships outside of marriage, excluding the realities of a large portion of this nation’s citizens. Comprehensive sexuality education, on the other hand, is based on medical science emphasizing that abstinence is the only guaranteed way to avoid the risks of sexual activity, while frankly discussing methods of prevention and healthy relationships. Yet, despite evidence and logic, the government has only increased funding and support for abstinence-only programs.

In anticipation of Wednesday’s hearing, Valerie Huber, the executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association, said, "If Congress truly cares about the health of America's youth, it will put ideology aside and recognize the positive momentum abstinence education is making." However, it is Ms. Huber who needs to put ideology aside. If pharmaceutical companies ignored studies about their drugs that documented the same levels of ineffectiveness and harm as abstinence-only programs, they would be sued and run out of business within months. Why has it taken Congress over eight years?
But most importantly, this isn’t just some abstract political debate—the health and lives of real people of all ages are being adversely affected by the widespread denial of vital health information. Sexual activity prior to marriage is a common reality in our society, however, most people dangerously lack the tools or information they need to protect themselves—and as a result they are endangering their own health and others’. One in four teenage girls has a sexually transmitted disease! The Guttmacher Institute’s fascinating short brief on sex education in the United States compellingly demonstrates just how much our nation’s current policies are shortchanging both students and teachers.

Let’s face it, many parents just aren’t comfortable sitting down with their kids to have an earnest discussion about sex, and many teenagers aren’t particularly keen on it either. Not to mention that some parents aren’t all that up to date on the variety and efficacy of prevention methods or the myriad of risks and diseases. Let’s remove the gag on public schools and let qualified teachers fill this serious void by educating students about the most important topic of all: themselves.

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you have been watching TV at all this week I’d be willing to bet you were bombarded with a variety of energy conservation ads and environmental programming, Tuesday was Earth Day after all. But, just in case you have missed any of the fabulous eco programming this week, my top suggested commercials are from Fox, the WE campaign, and (shockingly) Wal-Mart; the most useful ‘news’ segments I saw were on NBC, Oprah, and, of course, the Colbert Report.

However, the most interesting and moving TV show I watched this week was on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. The episode, “Closet,” was about the still devastating consequences and stigmas associated with coming out. Thus far, most of my friends and family have been relatively fortunate in receiving acceptance when they come out. And so, sometimes I forget how intolerant people can be towards the GLBT community. This week’s SVU painfully freed me from blissful ignorance and reminded me of just how urgently we need to pass state hate crime laws and federal employment non-discrimination policies.

For more information about standing in solidarity with those who are forced to hide and suppress their sexuality or gender identity, check out the National Day of Silence website. NDOS is this Friday, April 25th.

(Oh, and if you want to help protect the earth, please advocate for America’s Climate Security Act)

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

crossposted from The New York Jewish Week blog

I have never experienced such a diverse array of emotions as when I was in New Orleans this past week.  From excitement to disappointment, devastation to hope, exuberance to exhaustion, hopefulness to discouragement, inadequacy to usefulness—every ephemeral emotion was overwhelming.

The main purpose of my trip was for a meeting of the Commission on Social Action (CSA), the Union for Reform Judaism’s policy-making body. My co-workers and I also managed to clear our schedules for a couple of days so that we could have a mini-vacation before the meeting actually started.

 

These first two days were a great taste of New Orleans culture.  We sat in the warm Louisiana sun listening to zydeco music, walked along Bourbon Street with fruity drinks in our hands, and ate beignets at various cafes throughout the city.  The city certainly felt, s many people have described it, like a European enclave in the middle of the South. 

During the CSA meeting, we explored the parts of New Orleans that were most affected by Hurricane Katrina and the rush of water that broke through the levees.  We took a bus tour around the city visiting sites of devastation and meeting incredible people who were taking part in the efforts to rebuild.  Despite the large numbers of people who seem to be involved with rebuilding, progress is happening incredibly slowly.

Certain neighborhoods and communities, especially those close to the levees, are still completely devastated and abandoned.  They almost seem like ghost towns.  As you drive down the streets, you can’t help but imagine the people who used to live in the gutted homes.  Where are these people now?  What did they lose?  Who did they lose?

The most powerful stop on our New Orleans tour was at a modern orthodox synagogue that had been submerged under 10+ feet of water.  Every religious object in the building, including hundreds of tallitot and three sacred Torah scrolls were drowned and destroyed by the waters.  For some reason, I was particularly struck by the devastation in the synagogue.  It felt personal.  The synagogue could easily have been my synagogue and the Torah scrolls could have been the ones that I carried at my Bat Mitzvah. 

For some reason, I didn’t have the same feelings when I was driving through the neighborhoods looking at homes.  I was shocked, angered, disappointed and disheartened, but I didn’t feel like I was able to empathize.  Only in the synagogue could I envision the incredible spirit of the community before it was devastated. 

To be honest, I am still processing all of the emotions that I had on this trip and figuring out now to translate my thoughts and feelings into actions.  I know that I want to help--somehow.  But, I haven’t yet figured out how.  We as a country have not yet figured out how.   And we must.  In the words of Mitch Landrieu, Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, saving New Orleans is not just a question of saving the people affected by the hurricane, it is a matter of redeeming ourselves.

 

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On April 13^th, my colleague Debra Eichenbaum and I drove up to Messiah College in Grantham, PA, to attend the Compassion Forum, sponsored by Faith and Public Life.  All three presidential candidates were invited to engage in a candid conversation with the moderators and the audience and share their political views, explaining how their faith and religious beliefs help shape their public policy opinions.  Only Senators Obama and Clinton accepted the invitation.  Senator McCain declined. 

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There has been, of course, an avalanche of commentary concerning Pope Benedict’s visit to the United States.  (The official web site for the visit from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which includes links to the texts of the Pope’s speeches, is here.)

The always interesting “On Faith” website – a project of the Washington Post and Newsweek – has a rich array of commentary on the papal visit.  Today they feature a great post from Rabbi Michael Signer, co-chair of the Commission on Interreligious Affairs of Reform Judaism, analyzing the importance of the Pope’s visit for Jewish-Catholic relations.

Among those commentating on the New York Times' special site is Rabbi James Rudin, Senior Interreligous Adviser to the American Jewish Committee.  I have also found the comments by blogger Amy Welborn to be particularly interesting.

And for the post-modernists among you, the most insightful coverage of the coverage of the Pope’s visit I have read is at Get Religion.org (a terrific site, which takes its name from CNN pundit William Schneider’s observation that “the press…just doesn’t get religion”).

Posted by Religious Action Center at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sherry Levy-Reiner, Ph.D., is the director of development at the RAC.

Last week, I attended the 119th convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The meeting’s theme was “Challenges of Moral Leadership.”  Although social justice was not an explicit theme, it was clear to me that the issues on which the Reform Movement takes a stand are the very issues that call for the greatest – and often the most courageous – moral leadership.

This was a very special occasion for me personally because I spent 11 years in Cincinnati as a student and then graduate student at the University of Cincinnati.  This June marks the 35th anniversary of my husband’s ordination as a rabbi from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati.  

This meeting also focused on the fact that this June is also the 36th anniversary of the ordination of Sally Priesand, the first woman rabbi in the U.S., with whom I shared an apartment for four of the five years that she was at HUC-JIR.  

And finally, the meeting gave me the opportunity to observe our son, now a rabbinical student at HUC-JIR in Cincinnati, as he begins to absorb the complex responsibilities of being a moral leader of the community.

Sally’s moral leadership was highlighted at the opening banquet, when we watched a video prepared by the American Jewish Archives entitled “Voices of Moral Leadership.”  We heard a snippet of an address Sally delivered at the 1975 CCAR Convention, held in the same hotel, in which she spoke out strongly against language and custom and practices that continued not only to be simply male-oriented but exclusionary two years after she was ordained.  Now that approximately 1/3 of the Reform rabbis in the U.S. are women, conditions have improved, though there are still “glass pulpits.”  

Rabbi Peter Knobel highlighted this issue in his Presidential Address, albeit as one among many areas in which discrimination persists.  Rabbi Knobel, who is rabbi of Beth Emet – The Free Synagogue in Evanston, IL, called loudly and clearly for rabbis to exercise moral leadership from their pulpits, particularly on the morality of the Iraq war, the need for universal health care, and peace in the Middle East.

Another voice of moral leadership we heard was that of the president of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, whose comments on pastor John Hagee drew applause not only from those who heard him, but considerable media attention in the days following his remarks.  The debate continues to rage on the front page of Ha’aretz

The convention began with a focus on the courageous rabbis of the American South who risked their lives by supporting the Civil Rights Movement; it ended with a focus on what we all must do to maintain the integrity of the Reform Jewish Movement and the integrity of the State of Israel.  While the rabbis can provide moral leadership, the responsibility falls on each of us – even if we are not rabbis – to sustain whatever social justice cause matters most to us.

Posted by Religious Action Center at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There are few for whom tax day is an enjoyable holiday. And as I have learned this year with my first real job, paying taxes in the first place, though essential to sustaining our nation, is an expensive pain in the tuchas! As a disenfranchised resident of Washington, DC tax day has taken on especially bitter ring to me and thousands of others living in our nation’s Capitol.

If DC were actually a state it would have the 5th highest taxes in the nation (an eighteen point ranking difference from my home state of Maryland). This would perhaps be an acceptable reality if it were not for the fact that when I moved to the city I also lost my representation in Congress. I literally moved three miles away from my parent’s house and by crossing ‘state’ boundaries I lost the most fundamental right granted to American citizens: the right to be equally represented in a government of the people, for the people.

You read that last paragraph correctly; DC residents do not have the right to voting representation in Congress! Its 650,000+ citizens have no senators and a non-voting member of the House of Representatives yet they pay some of the highest taxes, serve in the military, and are likely the most politically engaged citizens per capita. Where is the justice in this situation?!

If you too are outraged by this gross inequality I encourage you to make your voice heard. Although tax day may be an unpleasant day for people nationwide, at least those of you living outside of Washington DC have a voice and vote in Congress. It is therefore your unique responsibility to speak for those who have been disenfranchised since the founding of our nation and to help put an end to taxation without representation once and for all.

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 6:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Forty years ago today, civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. was robbed of his life – and this country was robbed of one of the greatest and most inspirational leaders it has ever known. Through non-violence, civil disobedience, community engagement and soaring oratory, King indeed inspired a nation. Forty years later, his ideals still reflect the most sensible, peaceful means of social action.

But are they getting us anywhere? A recent study conducted by CNN, Essence Magazine and Opinion Research Corp found that only a third of Americans (black, white and otherwise) feel the aspirations outlined in King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” have been realized. And 40 years after King’s untimely death, when asked whether his renowned dreams have been realized, I, too, regret to say they haven’t.

Forty years later, this country’s criminal justice system is still flawed in dozens of seemingly invariable ways, implicitly oppressing people of color through racial profiling, unfair sentencing guidelines, unequal prison treatment and more. Forty years later, the events that unfolded at a high school in Jena, Louisiana, shook the nation and made us reevaluate our views on how racial tolerance has – or hasn’t – evolved in America. Forty years later, the NAACP reports, African Americans fare the worst in terms of access to healthcare and housing and numbers living in poverty. And don’t forget that people of color are still at the highest risk of gun violence and of contracting HIV.

Forty years later, there are still innumerous racial disparities to be addressed. On August 28, 1963, King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, in which he spoke the now-familiar words, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’”

I have the same dream Dr. King had, and I am blessed to have the opportunity to work toward the fulfillment of that dream through the RAC’s work on civil rights. In memory of Dr. King, here’s to four more decades of fighting for equality – in the hopes that 40 years from now, when asked whether these goals have been fulfilled, no American will have to hesitate before answering with a resounding “absolutely.”

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As Associate Director Mark Pelavin’s recent blog noted, one of the RAC’s own was published this week – twice. Rabbi Lynne Landsberg, Senior Advisor on Disability Issues, authored an op-ed placed in Monday’s Chicago Tribune about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Restoration Act. On Wednesday, a similar op-ed of Lynne’s was published in the Baltimore Sun.

Lynne isn’t alone in her passionate support of this bill. In fact, the same day her first op-ed appeared, two others on the topic were published in papers across the country. Joyce Bender’s The ADA Restoration Act and Restoring Freedom for Many (The Cutting Edge) and Clay Boatwright’s Protect Aid to Those Living with Disabilities (The Dallas News) both eloquently articulate the need to restore the ADA.

One more thing – the Epilepsy Foundation, a leading disability rights organization at the forefront of the ADARA fight, has launched its new Web site, Restore the ADA. The site directs visitors to news articles, action alerts and general information about the bill, presenting information about the bill in a concise, readable way.

The more publicity ADA Restoration gets, the better. As the old cliché says, knowledge is power – and the more people we can educate, the more minds we can change. Click here today to send a letter to your member of Congress urging passage of the ADA Restoration Act of 2007.

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, gave an important speech last night warning of the dangers of a political alliance with Christian Zionists such as Pastor John Hagee.  

Speaking to the annual convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Rabbi Yoffie argued, first, that “Jews should not enter into alliances of any kind with those who do not speak respectfully of other faith communities.”  But the heart of his argument was that

We should avoid alliances with Christian Zionists because what they mean by support of Israel and what we mean by support of Israel are two very different things. Christian Zionists, and especially Christians United for Israel, do not offer unconditional support for the Jewish state. They offer support for a particular religious vision, particular Israeli leaders, and particular political factions, all of which reflect their own prophecy-driven view of the Middle East.

The full text of Rabbi Yoffie’s speech is available here.

The speech has begun to receive extensive press coverage, including a JTA story  (which also highlights Rabbis Yoffie’s criticism of the Palestinians), an AP report, and a particularly good piece by Shmuel Rosner in Haaertz.

Posted by Religious Action Center at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I am just catching up on some of my TV viewing (gotta love the internet!), and had a chance to watch this terrific NBC News story, “God Goes Green.”

 

It profiles a number of congregations across the country with outstanding environment policies and programs. Temple Emanuel of Kensington (MD), and its outstanding Rabbi, Warren Stone, are featured.  This is not the first time Temple Emanuel has been recognized for its leadership on environmental issues; last year, for example, it was awarded the “Green Menorah” award from the Shalom Center in Philadelphia.

 

For more about Temple Emanuel’s far-reaching environmental work, check out their “Green Shalom” page.

 

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The tide is changing on the use of the death penalty in America.  Well, at least for now.

This morning I awoke to good news, Governor Timothy M. Kaine (D-VA) has stayed the execution of Edward Nathaniel Bell.  This action effectively adds Virginia to the growing list of states who have stayed executions until the Supreme Court hands its decision down in Baze v. Rees, a case which challenges the constitutionality of lethal injection as cruel and unusual, later this Spring. 

Kaine’s move is a bold one not merely because he is the leader of a Commonwealth where the death penalty is quite popular, but also because as the Washington Post points out “Kaine’s move is largely symbolic because the Supreme Court hasn’t allowed an execution to move forward since it took up the Baze v. Rees case in September” and “Kaine’s decision probably will become fodder for his political opponents.”  Kaine openly explained his opposition to capital punishment when he ran for governor in 2005 due to his Catholic faith, but he has not stayed every execution, deferring to the ruling of the courts.  In staying this most recent execution Governor Kaine took a stand based on principle and not political calculation – and for that he should be congratulated.

Yet, while these stays of execution provide hope for those fighting for an end to the death penalty once and for all the United States, we have to be careful of putting too much stock in just ending a particular way of implementing the death penalty.  As long as the practice is on the books in 36 states and carried out by the federal government, it will continue, perhaps just with a new method.  As Ray Krone, the 100th man exonerated from Death Row and the individual who strengthened my personal passion for ending the death penalty recently explained in op-eds in the Arizona Republic and San Francisco Chronicle, “as the Supreme Court contemplates whether killing a person with a particular combination of chemicals is cruel and unusual punishment, all of us should recognize a much larger, more obvious fact. If sentencing to death and possibly executing an innocent person isn't cruel and unusual punishment, nothing is.”

So while I congratulate Governor Kaine for his active approach on the issue, I also hope that this country will use this break in executions as an opportunity to discuss the need to end capital punishment, not just the way in which we do it.

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Rather than summarize Lynne’s essay, I really want to urge you to read it in its entirety.   Lynne is a daily inspiration to us at the RAC, and this moving article will, I am confident, inspire people across the country as well.

And if there is one thing which I’m sure Lynne would want me to add it’s this – you can find our action alert on the Americans with Disabilities Restoration Act here.   Please urge your members of Congress to act now to make the promise of the ADA a reality.

Posted by Religious Action Center at 1:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)