Muslims, Jews and Christians Have to Work Together

JCUA’s Jane Ramsey and Rabbi Robert Marx were the “special honorees” at the Inner-City Muslim Action Network’s end-of-year dinner, Dec. 11, 2011.  This is Ramsey’s acceptance speech, along with a video message from Rabbi Marx, who was not able to attend in person.

On behalf of Rabbi Robert Marx and myself, and all of us at the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, I am deeply honored and moved to accept this extraordinary award from you and the Inner-City Muslim Action Network. [Ramsey's remarks continue below video link.]

I think back 10 years ago, when IMAN and JCUA became partners, recognizing that we shared a common vision for a just city and nation, and of working from the grassroots up to tackle poverty and inequities, and to build bridges across racial, religious, ethnic and class lines.

JCUA Sukkot Action Demands Housing Justice from Mortgage Bankers

Chicago Jews and community groups held an action on Oct. 11, 2011, outside a meeting of the Mortgage Bankers Association in Chicago, demanding a Sukkat Shalom (“shelter of peace”) for Chicago families. The action was sponsored by the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and A Just Harvest.

Outside the conference, the group constructed a sukkah, inside which Sukkot-related rituals, an interfaith clergy press conference, and community testimonies took place.

Or Tzedek: Jewish Teens Working for Justice

Or Tzedek helps teens strengthen their Jewish identity and commitment to social justice.

As part of the program teens: work in Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods; explore Jewish approaches to social justice; develop leadership skills; examine urban issues and their impact; live in Chicago and enjoy the city in the summer; and earn 30-40 community service credit hours.

There’s still time to register for a summer session:

Advanced Session
June 19-26

Regular Session #1
July 10-17

Regular Session #2
July 31-Aug. 7

 

“Tied in a Single Garment of Destiny”: Chicagoans Give Their Take on Dr. King’s Powerful Words

Watch as these Chicagoans share their interpretation of some powerful lines in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” on which JCUA’s Black History Month project, “Garment of Destiny,” is based.

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

Twenty-Seven Community Groups Unite for a New Chicago at Mayoral Candidates Forum

There was an electric energy in the air the night of the New Chicago 2011 Mayoral Candidates Forum.

About 2,900 Chicagoans, representing 27 community organizations, showed up to hear top mayoral candidates Rep. Danny Davis, Gery Chico, City Clerk Miguel del Valle, Carol Moseley Braun, State Sen. James Meeks and Rev. Patricia Van Pelt-Watkins, state their views on issues of housing, immigration, violence, job creation and education.

[JCUA's Brian Gladstein talks about the importance of the 2011 municipal elections]

Get a glimpse of what happened that night in this video:

JCUA Founder Rabbi Robert Marx at Annual Dinner: “The Choice Is Always There”

Each year at the Rabbi Robert J. Marx Social Justice Awards Dinner, JCUA honors socially conscious individuals who act on the values that Rabbi Robert Marx, founder of JCUA, lives and teaches. This year, the Saks Family received the award.

Esther Saks, lifelong social activist, and her late husband Alan Saks dedicated their days to fighting for causes they believed in, and in their 50-year marriage, raised four daughters who’ve devoted their lives to working on issues of human rights, women’s rights, race, hunger, and equitable business practices.

In this video from the dinner, Rabbi Marx talks about the impact oppression has on society and the choice we have as human beings to do good in the world.

Rabbi Marx makes reference to the days of creation as described in the book of Genesis.

JCUA Gets Award for Collaboration, Annual Dinner Coming Up, Get-Out-the-Vote Opportunities and More

Don’t miss out on our latest news! Check out the October JCUA eNewsletter and find out about:

• JCUA receiving an award for collaboration from A Just Harvest
• Our Annual Dinner coming up November 18
• The multiple upcoming get-out-the-vote opportunities through our Define America 2010 campaign
• Other ways to get involved with JCUA

View the newsletter here and share it with your friends!

Iftar in the Synagogue: Slideshow

More than 250 Jews, Muslims and people of other faiths attended Iftar in the Synagogue on Aug. 19, 2010. The event was held at Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel Congregation in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Get a feel for Iftar from this slideshow:

Photos: Jonathan Lehrer / Slideshow production: Katherine Randall

Read Aaron Cohen’s account of this inspiring evening

Interfaith Vigil Highlights Broken Immigration System

By Katherine Randall
Communications Coordinator/Video Editor, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs

On April 26, 2010, hundreds of people gathered outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement center in Broadview, Ill. for an interfaith vigil– calling on President Barack Obama to stop raids of communities and deportations of undocumented immigrants.

This action took place in solidarity with immigrants in Arizona as a response to the passage of SB 1070 just a few days earlier. The law, provisions of which later were put on hold by a federal judge, has been considered one of the harshest anti-immigrant bills in history.

Deportations have increased steadily over the past few years– with more than 400,000 people expected to be deported in FY 2010.

“We are witnessing now a surge in deportations–even while the Obama administration acknowledges the immigration system is broken,” said JCUA Executive Director Jane Ramsey in a note about the April vigil.

JCUA supports the push for comprehensive immigration reform– as it is not only a push for new legislation, but also a push for human rights.

Jewish Leader Cheryl Gutmann Applauds Decision of Federal Judge in Arizona SB1070 Case

At a Chicago City Hall news conference, immigrant rights activists and faith leaders applauded the decision of a federal judge (July 28), putting key provisions of Arizona SB1070 on hold. Vowing to continue the fight for comprehensive immigration reform, they spoke in support of a proposal to discontinue official city travel to Arizona or business with companies located in the state.

Cheryl Gutmann, M.D., a member of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs board of directors, was among the speakers.

• See the complete coverage on ABC7
• Complete coverage of the news conference by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Remarks by Cheryl Gutmann, JCUA Board Member

As a board member representing the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs I am humbled by the opportunity to speak in support of those who have come this country hoping to be welcomed to their new home as productive, contributing members of our society. Our country has from its very inception been a nation of immigrants, a small “d” democratic nation that has been strengthened, generation after generation by their contributions. You, your parents, your grandparents, and generations before them who came to this country have built this country.