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Unless you are living under a rock and wearing super-sonic earplugs, you know there's an election coming up and you know how important it is that you need to vote on November 4th. Just as important as getting to the polls, is making sure that your rights are protected and that your vote gets counted.
There have been a number of challenges to voter rolls and attempts at voter purging. Information and judicial decisions are starting to come down. Take a look at the New York Times articles on Ohio and Colorado and this NAACP-Legal Defense Fund press release on foreclosure in Indiana for some recent examples. However, despite rulings that are erring on the side of providing provisional ballots and rejecting voter purge attempts, there is a concern that many will be discouraged from going to the polls. Despite rulings protecting voting rights, voter caging and other attempts at voter suppression could weigh more heavily than under-publicized court decisions.

There's your background information, now you need to figure out what can you do about it. First, you should learn about your rights as a voter. Then, after you are armed with this knowledge (because we all know that knowledge is power!) you can be a keen set of eyes, a watchdog if you will, on Election Day. If you experience any problems voting or notice problems at your poling place, visit the Election Protection website and call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

So much hangs in the balance during this election and it is crucial that every person has an equal opportunity to take part in the process.

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Rebecca Blake Chaikin is a former Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center whose portfolio included Judicial Nominations.

 

Pop Quiz:

Can you name all 9 Supreme Court Justices?
 
Can you name even one judge who sits on the Circuit Court in your district?
 
What courts comprise the federal judiciary (hint, I've already mentioned two of them)?
 
If you couldn't answer all (or any) of these questions, you are not alone. In fact, I think it would be safe to say that few people who aren't actually paid to know such things have any inkling as to the answers. For the average American, the judiciary system remains an intangible--better known through Law & Order repeats and the occasional call for jury duty than through any substantial personal interaction or study. But why is that?

As many have said repeatedly throughout the media and in civics classes (and, notably, in this very blog's Focus on the Courts series), the Judiciary plays a vital role in determining our rights and liberties. So why aren't more people intimately and ferociously concerned about what goes on in the courts, and importantly, about who is appointed to make the decisions that define what the Constitution says and what it means for your life?
 
I think it may simply be a case of not comprehending the tangible and powerful impact the courts can have. I also think that there are some very real reasons for this, ones that champions of the Constitution and stewards of the American spirit have been grappling with and doggedly trying to overcome for years.

When I first started as a Legislative Assistant at the RAC last year, I was pleased to take on the issue of judicial nominations, mostly out of an ongoing curiosity about and polite interest in the courts. Like many, I had a general and abstract understanding of this third branch, born out of many U.S. History classes and an above-average fascination with government. However, most of my teachers and professors were enamored of the Legislative and Executive Branches--arguing with themselves over which was the most powerful, fastidiously dissecting the minute changes in structure and character of both those branches and the politicians that inhabited them. The Courts were often left behind, forgotten, turned to mere days before the upcoming standardized test; with a slightly embarrassed, apologetic smile, the teacher attempted to sum up the complex system of courts and the overwhelming influence they've borne on the political, cultural and social landscape of our nation in 30 minutes or less. Hardly enough time to truly impart on fidgety students the immense changes court opinions have wrought both on the philosophical definition of American democracy and the perceivable rights and liberties exercised by citizens on a daily basis.

But it wasn't long after my first judiciary-related assignment that an appreciation of these qualities of the oft-neglected branch began to take root. I soon became absorbed with, then devoted and passionate about the issue. The courts were no longer the keepers of esoteric, though imperative rights - such as habeas corpus, which to this day I still think is Latin for "you shall never in your life be able to remember what this means." They were the guardians of my right to not languish forever in prison subject to a prosecutor's whim, of my freedom to say whether I think this president has made a muck of things without fear I'll be spirited away by the Secret Service, as well as of my freedom to praise the President gleefully without fearing cronies of the Democratic Party will be awaiting me 'round the next corner. My rights went from abstract and assured to tangible and fragile.

And I realized our downfall is that we feel too secure in our liberties - even as we hear report after report of rights being denied:

--Apparently, we are not guaranteed fair pay, and our recourse in situations of wage discrimination is subject to our ability to develop ESP and miraculously discern that our paycheck isn't as hefty as others' within 180 days of our first compensation.

--Over 6 million women in America become pregnant each year, but as Gretchen Voss's wrenching story in the Boston Globe shows us all too starkly, pregnancy does not guarantee a healthy child, and sometimes worst fears are realized and excruciatingly difficult choices have to be made. But in 2007 the Supreme Court decided that the government, not the family who is responsible for creating, protecting and raising a child, is best equipped to make these determinations. That a one-size-fits-all law (which, according to Justice Ginsberg herself, fits hardly any situation that it might be applied to) is a better decision-maker than a woman, her family and her doctors. What is even scarier is that verdicts like these pave the way for women's rights to become subject to fetal rights, and for more and more health care concerns to be under the government's fickle prerogative.

--And, to be blunt, for Troy Davis "Give me liberty, or give me death!" is not a hypothetical, patriotic declaration, but rather a tragic reality; should the Courts decide that the Eighth Amendment does not guarantee an innocent person the right not to be executed, he will die.

It is so easy to dismiss the courts because one never thinks they will have to personally avail themselves of the system. But, with tens of thousands of cases pending every year, just on the federal level, odds are that you may, eventually, be relying on a judge for your livelihood, your health, your liberty or your very life.

It is out of personal preservation, as well as our ages-old call to ensure true justice for all, that we must actively commit to ensuring that rational, progressive and inclusive candidates are considered and appointed to preside over our courts on all levels.

It is time again to seek out righteous persons and ask them to shepherd this nation into a new era of inclusivity, pragmatism and compassion, that speaks to the better angels of our interpretive instincts and upholds the Constitution for what it is intended to be: the insurer that all people are created equal and the securer of "the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity."

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If you haven't seen this YouTube video yet, you've absolutely got to. Right now. Seriously, stop whatever you're doing & watch this video of the seventh graders at Atlanta's Ron Clark Academy performing "Vote However You Like," their election-inspired parody of rapper T.I.'s hit song, "Whatever You Like."



Last month, NFTY Social Action Vice President Michelle Cravez blogged about the importance of youth involvement in the election process, starting at a young age, and even though they aren't old enough to vote yet, the young performers/politicos featured in this video have the right idea. The chorus to their song goes like this: "Obama to the left, McCain to the right: We can talk politics all night, but you can vote however you like. Democratic left, Republican right: November 4th we decide, and you can vote however you like."

When politics get dirty or overwhelming or pervasive, we often forget how blessed we are to live in a country where we have the power to elect our officials and decide who governs us. So next Tuesday, take a cue from these kids, and vote however you like - as long as you make your voice heard.

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Earlier this month in New York, I visited a few of the city's renowned landmarks: Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and Zabar's. It's true that as the old Sesame Street song goes, one of these things is not like the others, though Zabar's is arguably a living monument to the gastronomic inclinations of American Jews.

Today's New York Times has an interesting story about a project started by Carol Zabar, wife of store proprietor Saul. The Other Israel Film Festival, now running at the JCC in Manhattan, focuses on the experiences of Israeli Arabs. According to its mission statement, the Festival's goal is "to promote awareness and appreciation of the diversity of the state of Israel, provide a dynamic and inclusive forum for exploration of and dialogue about the Arab experience in Israel, and encourage cinematic expression and creativity dealing with these themes."

Not surprisingly, the two-year old festival has raised some controversy.  But in a city that offers just about any cultural experience one could want, this seems like a good addition to the landscape.

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With special thanks to Legislative Assistant Micaela Hellman-Tincher for her contributions to this post.

Last week, Mayor Ron Dellums and Rep. Barbara Lee unveiled the Oakland Green Jobs Corps, a program designed to train young city residents to participate in green industry, which is rapidly expanding throughout California. While the program starts small by giving 40 young adults skills in green construction and solar panel installation, advocates hope that it will become a pilot for green jobs programs around the country.  At a time when both jobs and new energy solutions are in high demand, there is clearly fertile ground for such initiatives. Weatherization programs, like the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program, have already provided 8,000 jobs weatherizing homes in low-income communities.  These workers not only help communities reduce their carbon footprint, but they also help to lower the cost burden of heating and cooling by an average of 15% for low-income families.

Americans are ready for green jobs, and scholars and advocates already have plans to put the green economy into action: Van Jones, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and longtime environmental activist, recently wrote The Green Collar Economy, a plan to solve the economic and environmental crises at once by focusing on creating jobs in the clean energy sector. A recent New York Times Magazine cover story on the new green economy explains how entrepreneurs with millions to invest have ideas to revolutionize our economy and our environment with everything from plug-in hybrid cars to algae-based biofuels. The message is simple: Green is good- not just for our planet, but for our national bottom line.

Building the green economy fulfills two of our most important obligations as Jews; to 'till and to tend' our Earth, and to care for the most vulnerable among us.  In fact, Judaism teaches that the highest form of tzedakah is to help another person towards being self-sufficient, and new green jobs are a big step forward for those struggling though our economic and energy crises.  The new green economy could cut carbon emissions drastically, putting us on the path to 80% emissions reductions by 2050, the standard recommended by the International Panel on Climate Change.  If we build the green economy right, we can also ensure access to productive jobs with competitive wages to Americans currently facing unemployment, unpaid mortgages, and heaps of debt. 

We need a massive undertaking to rebuild our transportation infrastructure, retrofit old buildings for greater energy efficiency and water conservation, and build a national network of solar panels and wind turbines to help power our electric grid.  This transition will require massive amounts of labor, and as unemployment insurance runs out for thousands across the country, Americans are ready to step up and take these jobs. Finally, economists and environmentalists are realizing that they are allies, not opponents, and that together, we can be the innovative America we want to be. 

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 6:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here in North America, it is election season. Canadians returned the Conservative party of Stephen Harper to lead a minority government last week, and Americans will finish the two-year journey of choosing a new President in just days.

In Israel, however, the situation is different.

In Israel's system of parliamentary democracy, campaigns are much shorter, so with the announcement today that the Shas party will not join the Kadima party in forming a new coalition under Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni, the prospect of early elections became much more likely.

Livni will meet with President Simon Peres Sunday to indicate whether she will form a government or head for elections.

Barring a reversal or other unlikely scenarios, early elections are now deemed "almost inevitable" by Ha'aretz. Livni appears to have been unable to come to an agreement with the conditions presented by Shas, which included guarantees to not negotiate the status of Jerusalem in peace talks, and added welfare benefits.

Should Israel end up heading to new elections, the election season that seems endless to this American Jew might be extended a few months longer. 

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Last week, I wrote about the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to deny the appeal of Troy Anthony Davis, a Georgia death row inmate. Death penalty abolition advocates, yours truly included, were left with little hope that Mr. Davis's life would be spared when an October 27th execution date was set. But in a shocking and exciting turn of events, I am thrilled to tell you now that Troy Anthony Davis will NOT be executed on Monday--"The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 25-day stay of execution."

The court determined that after a "thorough review of the record...Davis has met the burden for a stay of execution."  This comes after Davis's appeal to the court of appeals earlier this week "for permission to pursue another round of appeals in federal court on claims he is actually innocent," permission which is required under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996.

Although "the stay of execution is conditional" upon Davis providing proof that he will "meet the 'stringent requirements' to pursue another round of appeals," advocates for Mr. Davis are hopeful and relieved.  Attorney Jason Ewart noted that this decision "is the first step toward a court hearing to consider the new evidence" of Mr. Davis's innocence which they have tried to get a court to hear for over a decade.   

The outpouring of support for Mr. Davis has been remarkable.  A petition with 140,000 signatories was delivered to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles; another letter to the Board was signed by such notables as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Susan Sarandon, John Grisham, and Representative John Lewis (D-GA); one letter to Governor Perdue contained the signatures of an interfaith group of over 100 Georgia clergy, another was signed by over 350 clergy worldwide, including Reform rabbis from Georgia and elsewhere.

Just when I start to lose hope in our judicial system, a case like this comes along and reminds me that all is not lost and that this is a cause truly worth fighting for.  

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I have an unblemished record with one of my political prognostications.  Every four years I have predicted, usually with great certainty, that the future of the Supreme Court would be a critical issue in the Presidential campaign.  And every four years, as long I have been predicting, I have been wrong.  But, like a stuck clock, my prediction is being proven right this time out.

With less than two weeks until the Presidential election, the nation is buzzing with talk of the candidates and the potential change that they will bring to our country.  In the past few weeks, pundits and voters have begun to talk more about the potential impact of the incoming President on Federal Bench and, in particular, the Supreme Court.  This conversation is long overdue. 

The current makeup of the Supreme Court is four (moderate) liberals (Associate Justices Breyer, Ginsberg, Souter, and Stevens), four conservatives (Chief Justice Roberts and Associate Justices Alito, Scalia, and Thomas) and one swing vote in Justice Kennedy.  Experts anticipate that the next President will have the opportunity to replace at least two (and perhaps three) Supreme Court Justices during his first term. 

The New York Times describes the future of the court as a "last 30 days issue."  During the third Presidential debate on October 15th--only 20 days before the election -- the candidates finally discussed how they would approach nominations to the bench and the criteria that they would use to evaluate potential nominees.  Since then, we have seen an increase in the number of articles and editorials about judicial nominations.  Last week, Alan Dershowitz wrote an intriguing article for The Forward, and just yesterday Deborah O'Malley of the Heritage Foundation wrote a piece for the Washington Times focusing on the Vice Presidential candidates and the USA Today featured thorough and informative a cover story on the topic.

Throughout the election cycle, conservative and liberal activists alike have communicated to their constituencies the need for a leader who will put appoint the "right" people to the Federal Bench.  However, in the past few weeks, these groups have produced more pointed and direct messages.  A conservative group called the "Judicial Confirmation Network" recently released an ad that questions Senator Obama's ability to evaluate character and suggests that he might put dubious, and even dangerous, people on the bench.

On the Left, People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch posted a video on its blog of right wing televangelist declaring that liberal Justices do not "fear God" and that they are therefore ill-equipped to determine what is righteous and just.  PFAW identifies this video as part of an effort to push right wing 'values voters' to maintain solidarity with the Republican Party. 

These left and right may disagree on many things, including the criteria by which nominated judges and Justices should be evaluated.  But, they agree on one thing:  The upcoming election is critical.  The next President will have the opportunity/responsibility to reshape the Court and have an impact on jurisprudence and American society that will far exceed his four (or eight) years in office.

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I am lucky enough to have grown up in a place where my neighbors and members of my community also stood up to ensure that people are safe and treated fairly. However, our gay and lesbian family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances in Arizona, California, and Florida need our help to make sure that their rights are protected.

These three states each have initiatives and amendments on the November ballot that will write discrimination into their state constitutions, preventing same-sex couples from obtaining the same rights and benefits as heterosexual couples.

The RAC just posted resources that will be helpful fighting the Arizona, California, and Florida amendments, including the Reform Movement's stance on equal marriage rights, talking points, and sample op-eds and sermons. Please use these resources and share them with your friends and family to help preserve equal rights for all Americans.

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Emily Schwartz is an intern at the Religious Action Center and a senior at The George Washington University.

Children in Northern Uganda are rarely first and foremost on our minds, but this weekend more than 30,000 people all over the world will be marching to focus our attention. It is time for the fourth annual Gulu Walk, to raise money and awareness in order to promote peace in an area former U.N. Under-Secretary General of Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland called "the world's most neglected humanitarian crisis" and "one of the biggest scandals of our generation." According to a recent United Nations report, at least 30,000 children have been kidnapped in Uganda over the last 22 years. After their abduction, many are forced into becoming child soldiers and sex slaves. 

A group of Jewish British students will be marching in Jerusalem. The students who organized the march are all part of the RSY-Netzer Reform Judaism youth movement.

They plan on bringing to the march many of their peers from other movements who are also in Israel for the year to learn about Judaism, Zionism and youth leadership. These students are an inspiration. One of the organizers, Deborah Blausten, stressed her Jewish identity as the reason for her activism. She said, "Judaism says you mustn't stand idly by while your neighbor's blood is being shed. Even more so now, when we live in a global village? It makes their plight even harder to ignore. We have no excuse for not knowing."

What's happening to children in Uganda is deplorable. As the British Students in Jerusalem have exemplified, we have an obligation as Jews to do something about it. There are Gulu Walks going on in dozens of cities in the next few days: Find one near you!

In the past few weeks, the US Government has taken steps to speak out against child soldiers. On October 3^rd, President Bush signed a law making it possible to arrest and prosecute leaders of military forces and armed groups who have recruited child soldiers.  This bill was unanimously passed by Congress. It sends a powerful message to the world. "The US is saying to the world that using child soldiers is a serious crime and that it will take action," said Jo Becker, children's rights advocate for Human Rights Watch. The law makes it a federal crime to knowingly recruit or use soldiers under the age of 15 and permits the United States to bring charges under the law against both US citizens and non-citizens who are in the United States. The law imposes penalties of up to 20 years, or up to life in prison if death results, and allows the United States to deport or deny entry to individuals who have knowingly recruited children as soldiers.  

According to the Human Rights Watch, in a statement issued on October 3, Senator Dick Durbin said: "The United States must not be a safe haven for those who exploit children as soldiers. Period. The use of children as combatants is one of the most despicable human rights violations in the world today and affects the lives of hundreds of thousands of boys and girls who are used as combatants, porters, human mine detectors and sex slaves. The power to prosecute and punish those who violate the law will send a clear signal that the US will in no way tolerate this abhorrent practice."

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If you're looking for a quick and easy dose of tikkun olam today, why not head over to this post at the PopJudaica.comblog? For every thoughtful comment left on the entry, PopJudaica has pledged to donate $1 to Sharsheret, an organization geared specifically toward Jewish women who have been affected by breast cancer.

Why? Well, for starters, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and sadly, chances are good that you or someone you know have been affected by the disease. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that about 1 in 40 Jewish women of Ashkenazi descent carry one of three common mutations that may result in an increased risk for breast and/or ovarian cancer. So for the sake of your mother, sister, daughter, wife - or, heck, for your own sake - take a minute to do a quick but meaningful mitzvah.

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Earlier this month, I blogged about the Americans With Disabilities (ADA) Amendments Act and the work the Jewish Disability Network engaged in to see it passed this year. With one success under our belts, the coalition is now looking ahead to the future: Among our immediate priorities is making sure that the 37 million Americans with disabilities who are eligible to vote get to the polls on Election Day.

• One crucial step is encouraging trustworthy people to check in advance that local polling places are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. Keep an eye out for elevators, lifts, ramps, disability-accessible parking spots, etc. Where such accessibility aids do not exist, contact your local Board of Elections to address these issues.
  
  
• Last month, I encouraged rabbis to appeal for congregants to volunteer to be poll workers. To volunteer, just contact your local election board: Just about every jurisdiction is still short of poll workers for the upcoming election.
  
  
• Some synagogues have developed a list of volunteers who will drive people with disabilities and/or seniors to polling places. Now is the time to create such a list; then, by means of emails, fliers and Web sites, publicize that rides are available and detail how they can be ascertained. (Note:  Because synagogues are tax exempt, you'll have to refrain from actually discussing politics during the synagogue-sponsored car ride to the polls because, well, it's illegal.)  

The number of Americans with disabilities is staggering; an invisible minority. If these Americans turned out to vote, they could have a significant and tremendous impact on each party's agenda for the next presidential administration, as well as on the 111^th Congress as a whole. 

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Well, consider me relieved. On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a challenge to the voting eligibility of nearly 200,000 Ohio voters - myself possibly included, although there's no way of knowing for sure. Hoping to challenge the validity of many newly registered voters' eligibility, the Ohio Republican Party (ORP) recently filed suit demanding that Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner hand over a list of all those newly registered Buckeye State voters, many of whom are Democrats. A little back story: As a direct result of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, states have slowly made the transition from locally managed voter lists to centralized statewide databases that allow voters verify their registration and polling information online. During database implementation, however, voters' names and personal information are cross-checked with other state records (i.e. driver's licenses and Social Security data) to determine eligibility. Each state has its own laws about what makes for a match, including whether or not nicknames count - which could mean trouble for Ohio voters like me who go by their middle names but are registered as different first- and middle-name combinations on different records.

Brunner expressed concern that an ORP challenge of new Ohio voters' eligibility would ultimately result in disqualification of legitimate voters based on nicknames, misspellings and database glitches. Accusing the ORP of trying to disenfranchise Ohio voters (particularly Democrats), Brunner refused to turn over the requested list.

The district court sided with Brunner, but the conservative Sixth Circuit court then reversed the decision, leading Ohio Attorney General Nancy H. Rogers to request that the Supreme Court reconsider the Sixth Circuit's ruling - and reconsider it did. Despite widespread concern on behalf of voting rights advocates that the Court would rule in favor of the ORP, on Friday the justices ruled that the state GOP didn't have standing to bring the case, therefore securing voting eligibility for nearly 200,000 at-risk Ohio voters.

Late Friday, registered Ohio voter David Myhal, brought a similar case against Brunner in the Ohio Supreme Court, "seeking an order that all absentee ballots cast by new registrants be checked against mismatches to determine voter eligibility before they are counted." Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has called the accusations against Brunner a distraction from real issues, but if Myhal wins this lawsuit, thousands of Ohio voters may never get to have their say on those issues. Stay tuned to see how this saga plays out.

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A recent Washington Post article describes how in this time of economic uncertainty many families are turning to their spirituality and religious values for guidance. As they reprioritize family and community over material goods, the need to cut back on spending becomes less of a loss. As the article points out, however, "This concept is easier for those whose losses are few or more abstract -- say, in retirement accounts that might not be touched for a decade. It is tougher for those who feel immediately imperiled by the downturn, who have lost homes, jobs or money they need now."

The community of religious advocacy groups have also been looking to faith to guide us in action on the financial crisis. Bread for the World president Reverend David Beckmann issued a statement highlighting the importance of relieving the economic crises Americans face daily, saying that "As people of faith, we know that the Lord's Prayer petitions for daily bread and for the forgiveness of our debts and of debtors. In rescuing the U.S. economy, our leaders and Congress must ensure that both are done at the same time, too."

Faith groups realize that the ultimate test of any government policy is how it affects the most vulnerable, and so we have been working to make sure policies and programs for these people are strengthened and are not allowed to falter as purses are tightened. A recent Time article describes the increased vulnerability of those programs that are devoted to helping others get through times of need. The articles explains that "the crisis couldn't come at a worse time: many charities, such as City Harvest, which delivers leftover food from restaurants to the needy in New York City, collect the bulk of their donations during the holiday season."

But as people turn from material items to spiritual roots, however, there is a chance the most vulnerable in our community will not be abandoned. As the article explains, "the hopeful surprise is that in past recessions, donations to human services, like feeding the hungry, fell the least; in some downturns, they even rose. 'That says something good about us as human beings,' says Del Martin, who chairs Giving USA. We'll need a bull market in goodness."

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This weekend, as Jews around the world meet, greet, and eat in a Sukkah built to honor our relationship with our earth, the environmental community will commemorate a different kind of annual event: the anniversary of the Clean Water Act, signed into law on October 18, 1972. Along with the Clean Air Act and Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Clean Water Act is considered a cornerstone of our national environmental policy. Under the Act, more than one billion pounds per year of toxic pollutants have been removed from our nation's waters, moving us far along the path to make all rivers, lakes, and coastal waters in the United States 'fishable and swimmable,' the original goal of the Act.

This year however, debate over the Act reminds us that the fight for a healthy environment is never fully won, and that we must continually engage in the effort to preserve our natural resources for ourselves and our children.
Progress on water issues is in danger following a series of federal court cases that restrict protection by narrowing the definition of waters that fall under the Act. In response to the 2006 Supreme Court decision on the definition of 'navigable waters,' 22 Senators and 177 House members are co-sponsoring the Clean Water Restoration Act (CWRA). The CWRA ensures that the Clean Water Act can be effectively enforced to protect all of the nation's waters from pollution. Since clean water is the backbone of the healthy ecosystems that provide barriers against natural disasters and climate change, a strong Clean Water Act is more important today than ever before.

Clean water is essential to us all, both as users of the public water supply and as Jews.  The history of the Jewish people- dating back to the Great Flood and the Exodus from Egypt and continuing with the modern struggles of Israeli society to adequately hydrate its people and its fields - is the history of our relationship with water.  The Baal Shem Tov, the Jewish mystic and scholar, explained, "If we were to walk in the woods and a spring appeared just when we became thirsty, we would call it a miracle. And if on a second walk, if we became thirsty at just that point again, and again the spring appeared, we would remark on the coincidence. But if that spring were there always, we would take it for granted and cease to notice it. Yet is that not more miraculous still?"  If we stop to appreciate the miracle of water, we realize that we also must also act to ensure that we keep our water clean and safe for us and for generations to come.

Many experts fear that the next great resource wars will be fought over water, as millions around the globe still lack access to safe, drinkable water.  While we cannot fix this problem with national legislation alone, we can start facing it by fighting for clean water here at home, and raising awareness about water issues. As we celebrate the harvest festival of Sukkot, take action by supporting the Clean Water Restoration Act and speaking out on the importance of water issues in your community, in our country, and in our world.

Posted by Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism at 2:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Does it seem like it should be illegal for someone to be fired for participating in an internal sexual harassment investigation? Well, it's not illegal. At least, not yet.

Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Crawford v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville, a case that asks whether the anti-retaliation provision of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act extends to employees who participate in sexual-harassment investigations in their workplaces but do not bring individual claims themselves. The case was filed by Vicky S. Crawford, who was fired from her job in the Nashville school district soon after revealing that she was sexually harassed by her superior, who was being investigated for alleged harassment of other female employees.

The URJ signed onto an amicus brief for this case, arguing that the anti-retaliation provisions of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act must protect workers who participate in internal sexual-harassment cases.  The brief highlights pervasiveness of sexual harassment and its detrimental effect on women's abilities to participate fully in the workplace. (If you are interested in learning more about the details of this case, I recommend the podcast from Ohio State University with L. Camille Hébert, who effectively deconstructs the legal complexity of the case.)

According to an analysis by SCOTUSblog (a great Supreme Court resource), during the arguments, the Justices' comments and questions suggested that they would rule in favor of employee protection.  However, it remains to be seen whether the Justices will rule only on the question presented or attempt to broaden the anti-retaliation statute and determine whether every internal investigation should be considered a Title VII investigation.  Transcripts of the arguments and an argument analysis can provide more details.

Sexual harassment unfortunately remains an insidious and pernicious facet of workplace life for many individuals.  We hope that the Supreme Court will seize this chance to make a statement against such degrading and destructive behavior so that no one will have to risk their jobs in order to allege harassment.

 

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There is no hyperbole in the title of this blog-- I could not be more disappointed in the U.S. Supreme Court right now.  On Tuesday, the Court decided not to hear the appeal of Georgia inmate Troy Anthony Davis, only "three weeks after temporarily sparing [him] from the death penalty."  The reprieve was indeed temporary as he will now almost certainly be executed on, or shortly after, October 27. 

Were they to have taken the case, the question before the Court would not have been whether Mr. Davis is guilty or innocent, but instead more broadly, "whether the death penalty is barred for an individual with a strong claim of innocence."  I certainly would have been interested to see what kind of arguments would have been made on the "no" side of this question.

Mr. Davis was accused of killing a police officer named Mark Allen MacPhail in Savannah, Georgia and was convicted despite the fact that "no DNA or other physical evidence was found."   In fact, his conviction was based "solely on the testimony of nine witnesses...[and] seven of these witnesses have recanted" their testimony since, with "two claiming that the police had pressured them to testify against him."

I wish I could provide some glimmer of hope that Troy Davis's life will be spared, but unfortunately I cannot.  Only the Georgia Board of Pardon and Paroles could grant him clemency, and they would have executed him three weeks ago had the Supreme Court not intervened; the odds are certainly against him. 

Though there is little hope now that the fight to save the life Mr. Davis will end in victory, it does not mean that we can completely give up hope.  Each individual case, each letter writing campaign, each statewide ban, brings us one step closer to nationwide abolition of capital punishment.  In Mr. Davis's own words, "may God keep us all safe to do all we can to change the world, one state at a time." 
 

 

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The fight for marriage equality is heating up in California, Florida and Arizona, states that will see November ballot initiatives to amend their state constitutions to prohibit same-sex marriage. Here's a quick update on each state's grassroots campaign to oppose these dangerous and discriminatory initiatives (including a little help from Ellen DeGeneres!) and some insight into how Reform rabbis are helping out:

• Arizonans voted no on a similar measure in 2006, and now they're up against the same thing this year. Now, Vote No on Prop. 102 is seeking volunteers to help spread the word about this dangerous initiative and offering $5.00 yard signs that advertise opposition to the amendment. Reform Rabbis Helen. T Cohn and Thomas A. Louchheim joined an oppositional statement with other faith leaders, saying, "This amendment is morally, religiously, and financially divisive, and would be destructive to many Arizona families." 
  
  
• Clergy of varied religions and denominations, including Rabbi Jack Romberg of Temple Israel in Tallahassee, came together to launch Florida Clergy for Fairness, a coalition of religious leaders opposed to Florida's Amendment 2. Sunshine State rabbis and cantors (and other clergy, if you're reading this!) are invited to join. And in other Florida news, Fairness for All Families has posted its list of the top 10 reasons Floridians should vote no on Amendment 2. 
  
  
• In California,  synagogues like Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood (where Rabbi Denise Eger was one of the first clergy to officiate a California same-sex wedding in May!) are joining in by participating in phone banking and engaging in interfaith work to actively oppose the initiative. Even Ellen DeGeneres has teamed up with the No on 8 campaign, Equality for All, to encourage voters to oppose the proposed constitutional amendment that would overturn the California Supreme Judicial Court's May ruling that the state's ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional.

The Union for Reform Judaism has long been a supporter of equality for same-sex couples. If you vote in California, Florida, or Arizona, I encourage you to learn more about the ballot initiative in your state and then, come Election Day, to vote in favor of fairness and equality.

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Michelle Cravez is Social Action Vice President of the North American Federation of Temple Youth. She is a recent graduate of Miami Killian Senior High and a current freshman at the University of Florida, where she intends to major in non-profit organizational leadership.

Entering the University of Florida as a freshman this August, I immediately took advantage of the political atmosphere on campus and became involved in our ongoing voter registration drive. I also attend debate-watching parties, cheering with other students as we support our favored candidates, hearing from guest speakers and student representatives voicing their own opinions and urging us to play an important role in this election. Can you imagine the excitement and the passion in a room of 500 cheering college students as one of the candidates shares his belief that every American should be able to afford a college education?

This is what it's all about, the youth vote. As a representative of the youth voter population, I find the combined power and influence of our votes to be surreal. Take the 2000 election, for example: Al Gore lost the Florida vote by 537 votes, which is fewer than the amount of students in one of my classes. Whether we agree or disagree with the outcome of the Supreme Court case and the election in general, these 537 very well could have changed history. Recent reports show that young voter turnout for the 2008 primaries was nearly double the percentage of their voter turnout in the 2000 election. Nearly 6.5 million voters below the age of 30 participated in the 2008 primaries and caucuses, proving that we have begun to understand the importance of fulfilling our civic duty to vote.

The 26th amendment establishes a minimum voting age at 18, but it does nothing to restrict youth involvement in the political process surrounding the campaign. It's imperative to ensure that our next generation is able to follow along with the campaign and understand the issues appropriate to their age level. My 6th grade civics class put me to sleep three out of the five days I attended school, proving that I was never particularly interested in politics at that young of an age. Why? I was fully competent in understanding many of the issues, but nothing drew me into the process or caught my attention. Now, with the influence of the media and celebrity involvement in the presidential campaign, younger children are turning toward their TV and computer screens to listen to what society has to say. Using Internet sites like Youtube and Facebook, the under 18 population has become active and interested in the outcome of this election.

In fact, my 9-year-old brother is so interested in this election that he TiVos the debates so he can watch them the following day because they run past his bedtime. He may not understand the complexity of the issues at hand, but he's still capable of formulating his own opinions based on the facts and details he does comprehend. When you engage in any sort of political discussion with him, his face lights up at the chance to voice his opinion and at being given the attention children need to push them to learn more. We must succeed in teaching our children about the electoral process and providing them with an understanding of the status of the election and the issues of concern. We can provide them with early building blocks upon which their comprehension can grow.

As the voice of the Reform Youth Movement, the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) strives to keep our members active and engaged in the upcoming election. Our "Voice Your Choice" initiative provides NFTYites with information regarding the election and the candidates, including links to various candidate Web pages and personal views and opinions from fellow NFTY leaders across the continent. Each of our 19 regions is represented by one Social Action Vice President who keeps their region up to date regarding the election and encourages their senior members to register to vote. As Jews, we've been brought up learning about the tikkun olam and our responsibility to ensure that social justice is properly administered through our country's policies. As in every election, important issues of concern to the Jewish people must be considered when making our choice for president; however, this election is key for a few reasons:

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Rabbi Michael Namath is the RAC's Programming Director.

Each year just after Yom Kippur, the RAC staff goes outside to build a sukkah on the front lawn. We don't have any structural engineers or carpenters on staff, and as a result, the structure always looks a little shaky. It does, however, manage to remain upright for the entire week-long holiday. There are many important social justice themes of hunger and homelessness that are present in the symbols of this holiday and the Sukkot: A Season of Gathering and Giving social action guide explores these themes in detail. 

One of the traditions related to Sukkot is the inviting friends to join for a meal in the sukkah. The RAC staff hopes you will be our guest.  You are invited to bring your lunch and join us in the sukkah on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Monday (October 15-17 or 20) between noon and one. I hope to see you there!