In Pursuit of Just, Compassionate, and Comprehensive Immigration Reform

by Rabbi Alison Abrams
Director of Organizing, JCUA

There has been much energy, media coverage, excitement, and debate this week about both the Senate’s Blueprint and the President’s articulation of his vision for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR).   At JCUA, we are glad to see Immigration Reform return to the national radar and hope the urgency and momentum we have seen in recent days remains strong over the coming months.

Members of JCUA’s Immigrant Justice Action Team are again organizing and mobilizing a Jewish voice for a just and compassionate response to our broken immigration system through CIR legislation.  We will continue to advocate for a plan with a clear, effective path to citizenship that upholds civil rights and honors the humanity of undocumented immigrants (click for interactive timeline of our immigration work in recent years).

In  early 2010, JCUA drafted our “JCUA Statement of CIR Principles” which remain relevant in the current conversation about CIR.  Committed to human rights, we also want to see legislation which includes protection for LGBTQ people and their families.

Jewish tradition demands that we care for the “stranger” in our midst and our history compels us to fight for immigrant justice.  We invite you to join us in making just, compassionate, and comprehensive immigration reform a reality in 2013.

To get involved, contact:
Rabbi Ali Abrams
Director of Organizing, JCUA
alison@jcua.org

People Responding to JCUA’s Social Media Anti-Hate Campaign

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2012, JCUA responded to anti-Muslim ads posted on CTA buses by launching a social media campaign titled “Not in My Chicago.” Since then, JCUA’s response has been covered by many media outlets (see here for full media coverage).

But perhaps most inspiring have been the responses in the community, of Jews and non-Jews alike. We thank you for your support. Here’s are just a bit of your comments:

Thank you for your support and commitment to our work!

JCUA in Letter to Rahm: Keep Lathrop Homes Public

JCUA speaks up in solidarity with Lathrop Homes residents in a letter to city officials, stating: Keep Lathrop Homes 100% public housing, and lease up the hundreds of units at Lathrop that are currently vacant.

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Lathrop Homes

Sefer Hasidim (a 12th-century legal text) teaches that “if a community lacks a place of worship and a shelter for the poor, it is first obligated to build a shelter for the poor.”

Since 2010, JCUA has been working directly with residents at the Lathrop Homes public housing development, to empower the voice of the residents in the debate over the future of Lathrop Homes. The future of Lathrop Homes is critical for the following reasons:

• There are tens of thousands of families in Chicago on the waiting list for public housing.
• There are tens of thousands more who could not get on the waiting list since it was full and closed.
• Even with all this tremendous need for housing in Chicago, under 150 of Lathrop’s 900 units are currently occupied. Over 750 units of housing stand vacant in this development alone.
  

JCUA advocates for affordable housing protection in Cook County human rights ordinance

JCUA amplifies a Jewish voice in a campaign to amend the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance to make discrimination based on Section-8 housing vouchers illegal (read JCUA’s letter to Cook County’s Board President here).

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JCUA members and allies at a housing rally

Background

One important focus of JCUA’s work is to prmote access to affordable housing for low-income people in the Chicagoland Area. One such affordable housing option is through “Section-8″ vouchers. Section-8 housing vouchers allow low income families to live in privately owned buildings. Section-8 residents pay 30% of their income in rent (similar to public housing residents). In the voucher program, the program pays landlords the difference between that 30% and the ‘fair market rate’ for the housing unit (up to a limit).

Jane Ramsey to retire Sept. 1, capping off more than 30 years of social justice work with JCUA

For Immediate Release

Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, Chicago | http://www.jcua.org
Media: Jonathan Lehrer | jonathan@jcua.org
312.663.0960 x. 126  |  After Hours: 312.521.0892

Jane Ramsey

CHICAGO, Aug. 15, 2012 – After three decades during which she defined the Jewish social justice agenda in Chicago, and shaped the organization that carried out the mission, Jane Ramsey has announced her retirement from the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs – the organization that she led for more than 30 years.

Founded by Rabbi Robert Marx in 1964 as a Jewish response to the emerging civil rights movement, under Ramsey’s leadership JCUA expanded its social justice role and has become the ”go-to” organization for those seeking allies in the fight for justice.

When then long shot mayoral candidate Harold Washington became the object of racial slurs, JCUA called for Chicagoans to act on their better nature. When CHA residents sought allies to ensure that their rights were honored as the city tore down its high-rises, JCUA pulled together the coalition of religious and civil rights institutions that became the tenants’ allies. In the wake of September 11th, 2001 when Chicago’s Muslim community became the target of hate crimes, JCUA reached out to offer support and solidarity, subsequently founding the Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative.

More recently, when Chicago’s Mexican communities were threatened by both gentrification and deportations, JCUA fought for immigration reform and battled the now-infamous practices of the Agriprocessors, Inc., a kosher meatpacking plant in Iowa. This led to a nationwide effort, the “We Were Strangers Too Jewish Campaign for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.”

JCUA and Chicago Jewish Leaders Condemn Shooting of Mosque

The Muslim Education Center in Morton Grove

UPDATE [8/13/12] Since this statement was drafted, we have learned of yet another attack on a Muslim institution in Chicago’s suburbs; a home-made bomb was thrown at an Islamic day school during the evening prayers on 8.12.12. See details here, including JCUA’s response.

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August 13, 2012

The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and the undersigned community leaders are outraged and saddened by the violent assault on the Muslim Education Center (MEC) mosque in Morton Grove, IL, this past Friday night (August 10, 2012).

This attack on a house of worship is only the most recent in a dangerous string of incidents in the Midwest:

• On August 5, 2012, six people of the Sikh faith were murdered at their temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
• On August 6, 2012, a mosque in Joplin, Missouri, was deliberately set on fire.

In destroying property and taking the lives of innocent people, the crimes of the past week do immeasurable harm to the sanctity of the American values of religious freedom, diversity and equality.

JCUA Board Chair Writes Letter to Rep. Joe Walsh in Response to Anti-Muslim Comments

U.S. Representative Joe Walsh (R-IL) of the 8th Congressional District, recently made bigoted comments regarding Muslim Americans (see here). In response, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago has called upon people of all faiths to contact Rep. Walsh and voice their condemnation of his remarks (see contact info below). JCUA Board Chair, Rabbi Bruce Elder, heeded the call and sent a message. Read Rabbi Elder’s message below, and then contact Rep. Walsh with your message.

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Rep. Walsh,

Rabbi Bruce Elder, JCUA Board President

I was at the vigil at which you spoke at the Sikh Temple in Palatine Monday evening. It was wonderful to see you there and share words of support for a community devastated by the tragedy of the hate crime carried out in Wisconsin. We must all do our best to rid our society of the prejudices that lurk in its corners and the opportunities fear-mongers utilize to seize upon those prejudices and prey upon any of our nation’s vulnerable populations…

… which is why I cannot reconcile the words you shared with us on Monday evening with your comments about Muslims revealed last night. As an elected official, don’t you have a responsibility, not to reinforce and enflame, but to rise above petty stereotypes and generalizations to move all Americans forward, in unity, toward the realization of our collective dreams and aspirations? How can you speak of peace, justice, and support for some of your constituents one day while disavowing the legitimacy of others the very next? Had the tragedy in Wisconsin been at a mosque, would you not have shown up at a mosque here the very next day to show your support? Your sentiments indicate otherwise.

JCUA Condemns Murder of Sikhs in Wisconsin and Arson of Mosque in Missouri

Rabbi Capers Funnye and Eiman Abdelmuneim at “Iftar in the Synagogue” last Thursday evening.

Last Thursday on August 2^nd, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) hosted 900 Jews and Muslims for “Iftar in the Synagogue” along with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago and numerous other Jewish and Muslim community institutions. This was our largest “Iftar in the Synagogue” to date – an unprecedented interfaith celebration of diversity and solidarity.  But in the wake of this event, we are now witnessing violent acts of hatred and racism devastating communities of faith in the Midwest.

Drawing on our founding principles and our basic understanding of the imperative to view every person as created in the image of God, JCUA strongly condemns the horrific murder of six members of the Sikh faith in Oak Creek, WI and mourns this terrible loss of life. Furthermore, JCUA is deeply saddened and concerned to learn that a mosque in Joplin, Missouri has been destroyed by a suspected arsonist earlier today.

“JCUA and its members continue to affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every human being.  We are more committed than ever to build bridges across all races, ethnicities, and faiths,” said Judy Levey, JCUA’s CEO.  “This is the only way to fight hate – through understanding and respect.”

Make the Vision Possible, Says JCUA’s CEO

Judy Levey, JCUA’s chief executive officer, was a featured speaker at our recent “Acts of Change” event (June 20, 2012). She identifies JCUA’s main issue areas as immigration, housing, Jewish-Muslim community building and empowerment of Jewish teens. The event honored immigration attorney Kalman Resnick and Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia with the Rabbi Robert J. Marx Social Justice Award.

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Judy Levey, JCUA CEO

It is an honor to be here, following the great tradition of Rabbi Marx, Jane Ramsey, and others have led this organization. Our honorees, Kalman and Chuy are role models for social justice. They, together with our community partners, and all of you – are Actors of Change.

I would like to illustrate several of the ways JCUA, with your help, makes our world more just. These examples make clear what a group of committed and focused people can accomplish when we work together.

Proposed Crete Detention Center

Let’s begin with the dramatic recent events taking place in the Village of Crete. The Corrections Corporation of America was hoping to construct a private immigration detention center there. But the CCA has a bad track record, and their profit incentives lead them to skimp on food and health care. Private detention centers in general are notorious for violations of basic human rights.

JCUA has been working in Crete since late last year, joining forces with the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants, of which we are a founding member. With our help, the residents of Crete got organized and fought to make their voices heard.

There were some setbacks, but a couple of weeks ago the Village Board of Crete voted to kill the project.

Did it happen overnight? No, it was the result of the sustained efforts of the residents of Crete, JCUA, and allies, working together, building relationships, and persevering even in the face of what looked like defeat.

From JCUA’s CEO: ‘Our Imperative to Help Repair the World’

Justice, Justice You Shall Pursue

By Judy Levey
Chief Executive Officer, JCUA

JCUA CEO Judy Levey

I recently spoke with many JCUA leaders and supporters at a wonderful meet-and-greet opportunity at Yusho, a hip and happening new restaurant in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood.

Our focus was on the enduring value and impact of JCUA’s social justice work and where we are going as an organization.

Together with the JCUA board of directors and staff, I am laying out a vision for JCUA that includes the active engagement of more young people in initiatives and campaigns and the shifting culture of our work into a human rights framework.

JCUA’s work is central to our collective Jewish tradition. There are a few guiding ideas that we typically use to describe the foundation for our work.

From Deuteronomy comes “Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof,” which means “Justice Justice You Shall Pursue.”

From the Sayings of our Ancestors there are two: