Guest Op-Ed: Guns are Not Toys

The following is an op-ed piece by Sophie Leff, a junior at Northside College Prep. Sophie did Or Tzedek’s Activism and Community Organizing  summer program in 2011 and Advanced Activism in 2012. She was a part of the leadership team who planned Or Tzedek’s first Winter Leadership Retreat in 2011. Sophie is currently the Social Action Vice President of Beth Emet Synagogue Senior Youth. In this op-ed, she writes, “There are times when I have to wonder how many young people my age will actually live to be the age where they can say they were born and raised here in Chicago.”

Guns are not toys. This, I think, we can all agree on. I would venture a guess that even those who don’t believe in stricter gun control laws accept that guns can be dangerous and should be used with care, and most importantly kept away from children.

 Imagine my surprise when, the other night, I stopped in my local Mexican restaurant to pick up a burrito and was met with a 50 cent machine dispensing very realistic-looking, if less than life-size, “Guns n’ Grenades” key chains. For the low price of half a dollar, you too, can arm your son or daughter with a training weapon.

One of the reasons I was so shocked was that it seems so obvious. Giving a child a toy gun will not teach them how serious and dangerous such weapons are. It will not teach them to avoid guns for their own safety. It will not teach them to approach guns, if they ever must, with a strong sense of responsibility.

Meet the Slowbots: Bringing World Influences to Cafe Finjan

Cafe Finjan 2013 will bring together a variety groups in performances ranging from dance and spoken word to music and stand up comedy. One of the most excitingly diverse groups performing is the Slowbots. Their musical influences include soul music, Pakistani and Indian poetry, hip hop and R&B. Meet the Slowbots…

The Slowbots

Cafe Finjan 2013:
Thursday, April 4, 6:00pm
American Islamic College
(640 W. Irving Park, Chicago)
$5 Suggested Donation
Get more details.

About the Slowbots:

The Slowbots’ music is a soulful rendering of influences from all over the world. Their style at times bucks the trend, and at times pays heartfelt tribute to the classics. Sultry, powerful vocals, strong melodies, and expressive music combine to pay homage to those broken moments in life that define us.  The Slowbots are currently working on their first album.

A little about the band members:

Nick Jaffe, the guitarist, is Chief Editor of the Teaching Artist Journal, a publication for the Center for Arts Policy at Columbia College.  He has also backed the performing artists Bobby Brown, Common, Dwele & Estelle.  His other musical projects focus on a wide variety of genres including soul, hip hop, rock and r&b.

Yasmin Ali, the lead singer, was trained from childhood in a sung form of poetry known as a Naat in India and Pakistan.  She seeks to combine that art form with a more contemporary one.

Angela Salva, the violinist, performs in the Dupage Symphony Orchestra among other projects. Katie Chow is the Slowbots’ intrepid drummer, and Todd Swope backs them on bass.  Rashik Farhan Rashid joins them on back up vocals and lead guitar.

Rakae Jamil

For their performance at Cafe Finjan, the Slowbots will be joined by Rakae Jamil.  Rakae Jamil began learning the sitar when he was 12. His first teacher was Ustad Ashraf Sharif Khan of Poonchwalay, who was the son of one of the greatest exponents of the sitar and vichitra veena, Ustad Sharif Khan of Poonchwalay.  He has performed at the All Pakistan Music Conference, which was held in memory of its founder, the late Ustad Hayat Ahmad Khan, and has performed several recordings of it at the Sanjan Nagar Institute of Philosophy and Arts.

Rakae received the Ustad Fateh Ali Khan Gold medal for 1st place at the All Pakistan Music Conference in March, 2006, and the Ustad Sharif Khan Poonchwalay gold medal in April, 2007. In December 2005 he participated in the British Council “Music Masti” program in November 2005, and was awarded a 2-week trip to the United Kingdom for a music exchange program: Trinity College; Warwick University; University of Edinburgh & University of Glasgow.

[Action Alert] Support Illinois Legislation to Stop Gun Violence

Join JCUA and our community partners in pushing for effective legislation in Illinois that can greatly reduce gun violence in Chicago. Sign the petition asking that all guns in Illinois be titled like cars. We need 100,000 signatures of concerned citizens, to bring lawmakers to vote on Illinois House Bill 5831.

by Lauren Goldstein
Organizing and Advocacy Intern, JCUA

On Wednesday, February 6, Marci Richards – director of the Peace Coalition Against Violence – presented to JCUA staff and lay leaders the important work she is doing to reduce violence in Chicago.

By promoting legislation targeting gun violence, and working with neighborhood clergy members to address root causes of violence, the Peace Coalition Against Violence hopes to see a sharp reduction in the number of lives lost in our city. One life lost is one life too many. Hence, JCUA is standing with the Peace Coalition to bring peace to our streets and to, as Ms. Richards stated, respect the sanctity of human life.

We ask that you join us and please help prevent gun violence in Chicago! By signing this petition, you will help pass Illinois House Bill 5831. This bill will require hand guns in the state of Illinois to be titled like cars, which will, in turn, reduce illegal gun trafficking and hold gun owners responsible for reporting lost and stolen weapons. While this is only a small step in reducing the violence plaguing our city, it is a step in the right direction.

Click here to read more about this bill and sign the petition to stand united as one city against the senseless violence that continues to strike families every single day.

MLK Day of Action: A Declaration of “the Most Evident of Truths”

Roy, Stacy, Hana, Joel, Sam at Bright Star

By Rebecca Katz, JCUA Manager of Teen Programs

On Monday, January 21^st, around 100 people came together for an MLK Day of Action, an interfaith and intergenerational event organized by Anshe Emet Synagogue, Bright Star Church, and JCUA’s Or Tzedek.

Moved by the legacy of Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. on his federal holiday and President Barack Obama’s historic second inauguration, children, teens and adults from Chicago’s Jewish and African American communities committed their considerable energy, time, and passion to renew their shared commitment to create social justice in their city.

While the temperatures outside were freezing, people inside Bright Star Church talked of the warmth they felt, generated by the openness of all participants to share their own experiences and listen to the assets and challenges of another community.

Rabbi David Russo, Pastor Chris Harris and Rebecca Katz emphasized throughout the day that this was only the beginning of a relationship between both communities; “Lehitraot,” or “see you soon,” were Rabbi Russo’s parting words.

CALL TO ARTISTS: Cafe Finjan 2013

by Asaf Bar-Tura
Director of Programs, JCUA

YOU are invited to apply to CAFÉ FINJAN 2013: The 12th Annual Jewish/Muslim Performing Arts Event

Jewish and Muslim poets singer-songwriters, storytellers, comedians, actors, dancers, bands, painters, photographers, and filmmakers: We look forward to seeing your work! Professionals and non-professionals are welcome to apply.

EVENT DETAILS:

• WHEN: 6:00-9:00pm, Thursday, April 4, 2013
• WHERE: American Islamic College, 640 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago

APPLY NOW! DEADLINE: THURSDAY, MARCH 1

To apply, send an email to CafeFinjan2013@gmail.com. Kindly include:

• Your name
• Contact information (phone and email)
• Description of your performance piece
• Samples of your art (mp3s, links, videos, photos) if possible
• Indicate the community (Jewish or Muslim) with which you identify

QUESTIONS?

Contact Asaf Bar-Tura, asaf@jcua.org

Violence in Chicago: Why We Cannot Stand Idly By

by Rabbi Alison Abrams
Director of Organizing, JCUA

“At least 10 people shot Saturday”
“Chicago marks 500 homicides”
“7 shootings in 3 hours leave 2 dead, 5 wounded”

On a daily-even hourly- basis, Chicago is losing lives to violence, many of which are young people. The shootings are so consistent, that when I go to read the paper in the morning, the question is not whether someone was shot, but how many people were shot. Teens dying nightly? Innocent residents shot on their streets? This sounds like a scenario that belongs in a horror film, but it’s not, it is reality in 2013.

Those of us who live outside the communities most impacted by such violence might put down the newspaper after reading such headlines and go on with business as usual – getting to work, going to school, and so on. But there are many communities in our city where a young person dying as a result of violence is business as usual. Communities of families who constantly fear for their own lives and the lives of those they love.

Violence is a problem so overwhelming that some of us feel despair when we think about it. But despair is a luxury that none of us can afford if we are to live in a city that values all people, families, and communities.

At JCUA, we have always worked with the communities that are disproportionately impacted by racism and poverty. Pervasive violence in the city is a manifestation of these social ills. The violence we see is a result of oppressive systems that leave young people without prospects for decent jobs, quality education, and a hopeful future. Inspired by a tradition in which saving a life (“Pikuach Nefesh”) is reason enough to violate almost any Jewish law, we are called to respond to this reality.

Impacted communities are organizing and working to create meaningful change in their neighborhoods through varied and creative models of resistance. JCUA is exploring potential collaborations with our community partners, where we can have a meaningful and effective contribution in addressing these issues. Please reach out and connect with us as we find ways to enact our values and demonstrate our commitment to justice in the coming months. You can reach me at Alison@jcua.org.

Sukkot: An Opportunity for Change

By Rebecca Katz
Or Tzedek Teen Programs Coordinator

Take part in JCUA’s Sukkot Action for Justice, during Sukkot, on Oct. 11. At the Mortgage Bankers Association meeting, we’ll be calling attention to how the foreclosure crisis is affecting Chicago families. Learn more and register for the event.

Download the Family Guide for Sukkot. This booklet, designed to be read in your Sukkah, features true stories of challenges faced by recent immigrants to the U.S.

Teshuva, the process of repentance, occurs on multiple levels: between individuals, the community and the Divine.

During the 10 days of atonement beginning on Rosh Hashanah, we undertake the very human process of repairing fractured relationships. We look at our mistakes, the very acts that demonstrate our humanity, and strive for personal growth. Then, on Yom Kippur, we remove ourselves from the practical demands of every day life — eating, bathing, working — and renew our connection to justice and to a force greater than ourselves.

We come together as a congregation, a kehilla, and ask forgiveness for the sins we have, and the the sins we have not, committed. This act of communal atonement demonstrates our renewed promise to be a more responsible member of our community. “We are truly sorry and we will prove it to you.”

But once God closes the Book of Life and we’ve done our best to assure our future for one more year, who holds us accountable to our grand promises to be a better person?

Sukkot is our first opportunity to follow through on the changes we’ve reflected on during Yom Kippur. Instead of seeking out people in our lives we have wronged, we invite friends and family, neighbors and strangers, to be a part of our homes and share in our food. The past is not forgotten, but has become a foundation on which to build new relationships. During Sukkot, we demonstrate to God and to our community that we have not issued an empty apology and traded action for apathy.

As you seek ways to achieve your New Year’s resolutions, please join us during Sukkot and throughout the upcoming year as we strive to live up to our commitments – commitments to a powerful Jewish voice for justice, to upholding the dignity of the oppressed, and to establishing meaningful partnerships with Chicago’s diverse communities.

When We Truly Know One Another

Imam Abdul-Malik Ryan is a  founding member and past president of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network. He holds a bachelor’s in African-American Studies from DePaul University and is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. Imam Ryan has been working as an attorney for children in Chicago’s  foster care system for more than 10 years, and serves as Muslim chaplain at DePaul University. He has also been actively involved in Iftar in the Synagogue, an annual event of JCUA’s Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative.

Imam Abdul-Malik Ryan

By Imam Abdul-Malik Ryan

Are human beings basically all the same? Are we different? Are our differences merely superficial and unimportant or are they real and significant? If they are significant, what do they mean? What is their origin and what are we supposed to do when faced with difference, should we ignore it? Should we celebrate it? Should we fight about it?

The Qur’an’s answer to this question is pretty clear. In the 49th Surah (chapter) of the Qur’an, God says “O Humanity!  We have created you from a male and female and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may know one another.” The ayah (verse) starts by telling us that all humans do indeed share the same origin and are literally part of the same human family.

Healing the Rift

Reflecting on 10 Years of Jewish-Muslim Community Building
By Samuel Fleischacker

Samuel Fleischacker

Sam Fleischacker is a professor of philosophy and the director of Jewish studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is also the director of UIC’s Jewish-Muslim Initiative and serves on the advisory committee of the Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative at the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs.

The rift between Jews and Muslims is among the most fraught of all religious divides today, yet the Jewish Council of Urban Affairs (JCUA) is still one of the few organizations to address it.

JCUA established its Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative (JMCBI) immediately after 9/11. In a low-key, admirably pragmatic way, it has worked ever since then to help Jews and Muslims reach across the divide between their communities. Its premise is that Jews and Muslims in America share a similar history and have similar needs and interests.

They are both minority religions trying to ensure their integrity in a Christian country; they both consist of fairly recent immigrants, and know the difficulties of all immigrants; and they share many general human values. These similarities make it possible and useful for them to work together on local policy issues, regardless of their differences elsewhere, and that joint work can in turn help members of both communities recognize their similarities more fully.

Jews and Muslims Remember 9/11 Victims, Reaffirm Shared Commitment to a Diverse and Prosperous American Democracy

The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) commemorates and mourns the victims of the horrific attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and the profound loss experienced by their friends and families, and throughout America’s diverse communities. We remember and honor the courage and heroism of the first responders who risked their lives in effort to rescue and recover.

Unfortunately, the justified fear and anger brought about by the attacks was in many cases misdirected. We witnessed the marginalization and demonizing of Muslim Americans, including hateful speech and violent actions. As we collectively mourn and remember the victims of 9/11, we must vigilantly ensure that this shared tragedy does not become an opportunity for scapegoating.

Through the establishment of the Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative (JMCBI) in the aftermath of 9/11, JCUA has fostered strong relationships between the Jewish and Muslim communities, who have been working together for a decade toward a more inclusive, diverse, and just society. As Martin Luther King Jr. wrote from his cell in a Birmingham jail, “an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” The threat of injustice, of discrimination, and of baseless hatred must be confronted through collaborative action for the common good.

JCUA Executive Director Jane Ramsey said that “collaboration must be founded on dialogue, trust, and mutual respect. These are only achieved through direct interaction, whether while studying a sacred text together or while working side by side to combat the foreclosure crisis that is tearing apart our communities.” Rabbi Asher Lopatin, co-chair of the JMCBI advisory committee and JCUA board member, added that “empowering each other by mutually respecting our differences is the spirit on which this country was founded. It is this torch that we must carry forward as we commemorate our darkest times.”