Sen. Durbin to Chair First-Ever Hearing on Civil Rights of American Muslims

Photo credit: CBS

The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs applauds Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) for organizing a congressional hearing on the civil rights of American Muslims. As a country committed to religious freedom and civil rights, we need to ensure that all religious groups are protected and welcomed into the rich and diverse fabric of our society. The Jewish community knows too well the dangers of bigotry and hate speech. JCUA welcomes hearings to protect the civil rights of a community increasingly under attack. [See the below news release from Sen. Durbin's office for more information.]

Durbin to Chair First-Ever Hearing on the Civil Rights of American Muslims

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) announced today that he will hold the first-ever congressional hearing on the civil rights of American Muslims on Tuesday, March 29, 2011. The hearing will be the first hearing before the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. Senator Durbin is the Subcommittee’s Chairman.

“Our Constitution protects the free exercise of religion for all Americans,” Durbin said. “During the course of our history, many religions have faced intolerance. It is important for our generation to renew our founding charter’s commitment to religious diversity and to protect the liberties guaranteed by our Bill of Rights.”

The hearing is in response to the spike in anti-Muslim bigotry in the last year including Quran burnings, restrictions on mosque construction, hate crimes, hate speech, and other forms of discrimination. Next week’s hearing will consider measures to protect the civil rights of American Muslims.

A distinguished panel of witnesses will testify including Muslim civil rights leader Farhana Khera; Cardinal Theodore McCarrick; Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez, the Obama Administration’s top civil rights official; and former Assistant Attorney General Alex Acosta, the Bush Administration’s top civil rights official.

The Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights was formed by merging the Constitution Subcommittee and the Human Rights and the Law Subcommittee, which Durbin previously chaired. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over all constitutional issues, and all legislation and policy related to civil rights, civil liberties and human rights. The Ranking Member of the Subcommittee is Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

The hearing will be held at 10:00 a.m. ET in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.

[View a live feed of the hearing on C-SPAN]

Garment of Destiny: Blacks, Jews, Chicago

To celebrate Black History Month, JCUA is producing “Garment of Destiny,” a month-long online multimedia project with the goal of highlighting the rich history Chicago African-Americans and Jews share.

This project uses a wide array of media and voices to highlight relationships and experiences shared by African-Americans and Jews in Chicago. It’s a pathway to further collaboration and understanding between the two communities.

What is the Garment of Destiny?

Katherine Randall, Communications Coordinator, JCUA

The “Garment of Destiny” refers to a line from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

The Garment of Destiny represents the fact that in one way or another, we are all connected. For the purposes of this project, the garment of destiny is the past, present and future relationships/partnerships of Chicago African-Americans and Jews.

Stay tuned for insightful stories, videos and discussions.

For more information on the project contact JCUA Communications Coordinator Katherine Randall at katherine@jcua.org.

Jerry Solovy: A One-of-a-Kind Charming and Warm Person

Jerold Solovy, noted lawyer and JCUA Board member. He died today at the age of 80. Photo taken by Marc Harris at the 2010 JCUA Jurisprudence Dinner.

By Jane Ramsey
Executive Director, JCUA

Jerry Solovy, an advocate for social justice and a committed member of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs board of directors, was a great servant to the Jewish community, the city of Chicago and beyond.

Jerold “Jerry” Solovy was chairman emeritus of Chicago’s Jenner & Block law firm. He tried a number of cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. As well, he led Jenner & Block in several key pro bono cases. He died today (Jan. 19) at the age of 80 at his winter home in Naples, Fla.

A keen observer of the Chicago political scene, Jerry was a trusted friend and advisor. He was a one-of-a-kind, charming and warm person, who gave of himself in a profound way to JCUA and many other organizations.

Jerry was a bridge between and among many groups. He was a good friend who stood by us, even when it was not easy to do so.

As the chair of JCUA’s annual Jurisprudence Dinner, it was Jerry’s role to select a member of the legal community to receive the Arthur Goldberg Social Justice Award. (The 2010 recipient was William A. Von Hoene, Jr., executive vice president of Exelon Corporation.)

“Unbeatable Passion”

Knowing Jerry, it’s no surprise at all that he was named as Chicago Lawyer’s 2007 Person of the Year for his “unbeatable passion, strong leadership, and unending commitment to pro bono work.”

His pro bono work ranged from voting rights of minorities to the rights of the criminally accused; and from free speech to protection of victims of international human trafficking.

In legal action well-remembered by Chicagoans, Jerry represented the adoptive parents of the child known as “Baby Richard,” in a adoption-rights case.

But it was his role in Witherspoon v. State of Illinois that he once described as “the biggest milestone in my life.” Jerry was on the Jenner & Block team that helped to block a planned state execution of Mr. Witherspoon on constitutional grounds, just a few weeks before the sentence was scheduled to be carried out. The team’s work eventually led to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that resulted in the re-sentencing of an estimated 350 people on Death Rows across the country.

Reforming the Judicial System

Jerry’s legal work notably included groundbreaking efforts to institute wide-ranging reforms in the judicial system. He chaired a special commission that, in 1993, issued comprehensive reports to the Illinois Supreme Court on how to improve the justice system in Illinois.

Among Jerry’s many awards, he received The American Lawyer magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2007), the Cook County Public Guardian’s Advocate of the Year Pro Bono Award (2007), the Decalogue Society of Lawyers Lifetime Achievement Award (2004), the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award (Outstanding Service to Clients and Community) (2004) and the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence (2003).

In 2002, Jerry was the first lawyer outside of New York presented with the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Judge Simon H. Rifkind Award.

Other recognition from the Jewish community included the American Jewish Committee Judge Learned Hand Human Relations Award (1988), the Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award (1997), the Anti-Defamation League Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Civil Rights Award (1996) and the Decalogue Society of Lawyers Award (1971).

Making Connections

Among his many talents was Jerry’s ability to support the group’s fund-raising efforts by connecting JCUA with people in the community who support its mission. He played a similar role for other organizations as well.

Jerry will be greatly missed by his friends, colleagues and the many people who admire his work.

Solovy obituary on Jenner & Block website

Jenner & Block official bio of Jerry Solovy

 

JCUA Education Coordinator Recognized as One of 20 Emerging Jewish Community Leaders

One of JCUA’s own, Miriam Grossman, education coordinator, was recently recognized by the Jewish Educators Assembly (JEA) as an emerging leader in the Jewish community. Below is a news release from JEA about the award and the event honoring Grossman and other young Jewish educators. Learn more about the program Grossman coordinates at JCUA, Judaism and Urban Poverty, at jcua.org/jup.

P.O. Box 413, Broadway & Locust Ave., Cedarhurst, NY 11516
516.569.2537 jewisheducators@jewisheducators.org

20/20 – The Future Is Clear

JEA Celebrates 20 Emerging Leaders of the Jewish Community in Their 20’s

Miriam Grossman, JCUA education coordinator

The Jewish Educators Assembly is pleased to be honoring Miriam Grossman of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs on Sunday evening, Jan. 23, 2011 at the opening night of its 59^th Annual Conference at The Westin Mount Laurel Hotel, Mount Laurel, N.J.

The program will be a celebration of the future as 20 young people who are already making creative and substantive contributions to the Jewish community are recognized.

The honorees represent a broad cross-section of Day Schools, Congregational Schools, Informal Education, Summer Camps, Hillel and the College Campus, and a variety of other Jewish Communal Service Agencies.

The evening will begin at 7:00 p.m. with a Dessert Reception. Each honoree will then be called up and presented individually. A concert will follow featuring the cutting edge sounds of the David Morgan Band with special guest Noah Solomon of Soulfarm. The general community is invited to attend. The cost is $36 per person and advance reservations are required.

The Jewish Educators Assembly is the professional organization of educators in the Conservative movement. Our mission is to promote excellence among educators committed to Conservative Jewish education by advancing professionalism, encouraging leadership, pursuing lifelong learning and building community.

The Annual Conference takes place this year from Sunday, Jan. 23 through Wednesday, Jan. 26 at the Westin Mount Laurel Hotel. More than 150 Principals, Heads of School and educational leaders from across North America will gather to further their professional growth and knowledge.

The theme for this year’s conference is “From Sinai to Cyberspace: Exploring the Impact of Technology on Jewish Education.”

The Jewish Educators Assembly believes that the grooming of a new generation of teachers and leaders to inspire the next generation is critically important to our Jewish future. We take great joy in applauding the talents of these exceptional young leaders.

JCUA Named One of North America’s Most Innovative Jewish Nonprofits

CHICAGO, Oct.19, 2010 – The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs has been named one of the nation’s 50 most innovative Jewish nonprofits for the second year in a row in the annually released Slingshot, a resource guide for Jewish nonprofits.

(Read the write-up about JCUA.)

Steve Keen and Jane Ramsey at the 2010 "Slingshot Day"

Slingshot identifies organizations finding innovative ways to deal with concerns in Jewish life such as identity, community and tradition. Finalists are chosen for the guide based on their strength in four areas: innovation, impact, leadership and organizational efficiency.

Since 1964 JCUA (www.jcua.org) has been working to educate and mobilize the Jewish community in response to policies, practices and issues affecting both our region and the nation at large, which among other things include the lack of affordable housing, the need for comprehensive immigration reform, the lack of government accountability and the rise of Islamophobia.

“This recognition honors and endorses the type of work that JCUA has been doing,” said Steve Keen, JCUA president. We are pleased to be included with so many other innovative Jewish non-profits.”

About JCUA, one of the Slingshot evaluators said that JCUA “has been around since the 1960s can still be innovative. Others should take note of their ability to roll out relevant programming, work with effective partners and remain focused on the issues of the day. If I had to pick one Slingshot organization guaranteed to be relevant 10 years from now, it would be JCUA.”

Major Jewish Organizations Unite for Historic Voter Initiative

Introducing Define America 2010, the First Coordinated, Multi-City Voter Engagement Effort of Its Kind Mobilizes the Jewish Community, Voters and Volunteers in Seven Major Metro Areas

OCT. 4, 2010 — In recognition of the importance of this year’s midterm elections, five members of the Jewish Social Justice Roundtable (JSJR) are joining forces to launch the Roundtable’s first major initiative: Define America 2010.

• View JCUA’s Define America page and volunteer to get out the vote
• Join us on Facebook

This collaboration is the first national coordinated voter outreach effort of its kind from the Jewish community. Working across lines of race and faith, the Roundtable’s Define America 2010 initiative will give people opportunities to register voters, talk to people about the issues they care about, and turn out to vote.

Exelon’s William Von Hoene Receives JCUA’s Arthur Goldberg Social Justice Award

CHICAGO — William A. Von Hoene, Jr., executive vice president, finance and legal, at Exelon Corporation, is the 2010 recipient of the Arthur Goldberg Social Justice Award, presented in Chicago Sept. 20 by the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs.

The award was presented at JCUA’s annual Jurisprudence Dinner, co-chaired by such prominent Chicago lawyers such as Jerold S. Solovy, Jenner & Block; Lee I. Miller, DLA Piper; Frank M. Clark, Commonwealth Edison Company; Anton R. Valukas, Jenner & Block (2009 recipient of the Goldberg award); and David F. Graham, Sidley Austin LLP.

Von Hoene leads finance, legal, communications and public affairs, federal governmental and regulatory affairs and public policy, audit and controls, investments and strategy for Exelon, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities and operator of the largest fleet of nuclear plants in the nation.

• Read the full news release (with photos)
• Read Von Hoene’s remarks on accepting the award

JCUA and Jewish Leaders Sign On to Interfaith Call for Prayer on the Weekend of 9/11

Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders are sending out a “Call for Prayer” on the upcoming weekend of 9/11 and in light of recent hate speech and crimes against Muslim Americans. Here is the statement and signatories:

United interfaith response to the call for burning a sacred text day and in respect for memory of the victims of 9/11 and in support of vulnerable among us:

AN INVITATION TO PRAY TOGETHER FOR THE EXTINGUISHING OF FIRES AND THE KINDLING OF A FLAME

What could inflame hatred and violence more than to set afire that which others hold sacred?

In the past, burnings of the Talmud were often a prelude or accompaniment to killings of Jews. And today again, hatred and violence can be the only source and purpose of those who promise to burn the Holy Quran on the day we Americans and the whole world remember the tragic events of 9/11.

We — who thank God for the diversity and vitality of religious commitments in our nation and who seek, from the wellsprings of our many faiths, to promote mutual understanding and respect and to advance justice and peace — cannot remain separated and silent on the 9/11 weekend. Our own religious commitments call on us to speak out.

We ask you, therefore, to join us in prayers that will kindle a different flame –

a prayerful spark that will ignite us again to bring comfort to those who lost loved ones on that terror-filled day and in the wars that followed from it;

a prayerful spark that will ignite us again to stand against the forces of distrust, hostility, and cruelty;

a prayerful spark that will ignite us again to stand with the documented and undocumented immigrant, the homeless and those losing their homes, the jobless and the despairing;

a prayerful spark that will ignite us again to seek healing and reconciliation at home and abroad for the cause of justice and peace.

In whatever way is in keeping with your own religious tradition, we ask you to pray with us on the weekend of September 10 -12 that the fires of hatred and violence in our nation and in our world will be extinguished and that, together, we can stand in mutual dignity and respect, see the image of God in every human being.

Signed:

In Support of Plans for Park51 in Lower Manhattan

CHICAGO, Aug. 20, 2010 — This statement was released today by the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs:

In response to the ongoing debate about the plans to build an Islamic community center (“Park51”) in Lower Manhattan, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs states that it fully supports these plans.

The attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, was horrific, evil and tragic. The pain of the victims’ families is beyond description, and that tragic legacy should be commemorated. But we must not turn that pain and loss into fear and intolerance.

The attacks on the World Trade Center were an attack on our values and way of life. We must stand strong in the face of such an attack. Out of this tragedy, let the American spirit of freedom, tolerance and collaboration across racial, ethnic and religious lines prevail.

This is a unique moment in which we, as a society, can declare that we shall remain true to a core value upon which this country was founded: that no one among us should fear persecution or intolerance based on his or her religion, as guaranteed in the First Amendment. Let us send a message to Muslim Americans that we embrace them as full and equal American citizens.

As a minority faith community, Jewish Americans must stand for religious tolerance and pluralism. We must reject discourse around the plans for Park51 that is infused with fear and hatred, and deeply divisive. For decades JCUA has stood for equal rights and the full acceptance of diverse communities within our society. We are compelled to speak out when the freedoms of others are in jeopardy, just as we expect others to do so for us.

May Park51 be a beacon of hope and peace.

Iftar in the White House signals a time for communal respect, according to Jewish Council on Urban Affairs

For Immediate Release
Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, Chicago

CHICAGO, Aug. 16 — One of the two Jewish guests at this year’s White House iftar meal says the interfaith event should be viewed as an opportunity for a new level of communication and understanding between the Jewish and Muslim communities in America.

Jane Ramsey, executive director of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA), wrote in a blog post today about the iftar meal held last week at the White House. Iftar, a communal meal at which Muslims traditionally break their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan, should “embody the foundation enabling us, ultimately, to act together to create healthy and just communities and to jointly tackle Islamophobia and anti-Semitism,” Ramsey wrote.