Or Tzedek Teens Define Activitism in the Facebook Era

“Are you an Internet activist, or are you a real one?”

By Rebecca Katz
JCUA Teen Programs Coordinator

Activism on Facebook: Real or not?

By questioning recently whether a Facebook post can be counted as activism, Rabbi Joshua Salter, of the Southwest Organizing Program (SWOP), concisely articulated the challenge that has been rattling around my head. Can social media truly be used as an effective tool to create systemic social change? In posting, sharing, and liking on Facebook, are we building a modern movement of youth activists, or we only publicly signaling we are a part of the new cool trend of social consciousness?

It is now cool to care, or to at least appear to do so — nothing is real anymore unless there is evidence on Facebook. Is activism merely following the unnatural, but unstoppable Web-based evolution of our social lives?

To find out, I naturally turned to the very form I am questioning, Facebook, to get some answers from Jewish teen leaders who recently participated in JCUA’s Or Tzedek program.

I am still undecided whether my use of the medium demonstrates the effectiveness of it to facilitate meaningful dialogue or that I have lost the art of phone conversation. Judge for yourself, based on the comments I received:

Emily Isaacson    So many people post their beliefs, rationale, and opinions on a wide variety of topics on the Internet. Facebook and the Internet are webs of information that allow people to share and view ideas that are not necessarily the mainstream point of view.

Ilana Esther    Not to mention it’s a great way to get younger people involved.

Eliana Glickman    [On Facebook] people see what you “like,” so then they click on it and awareness is spread…People now have the idea jammed into their brain. It can’t leave…it’s there in your brain and you know what they’re protesting.

Rebecca Katz    Activists can use social media to broadcast instances of injustice that the “mainstream” media ignore. But is Facebook actually creating a counter-narrative of our generation that leads to real change? Or is any effect as ephemeral as a facebook status?

Or Tzedek Alumnus Shares His Passion for Environmental Justice

Sam Cox, Or Tzedek alumnus

My name is Sam Cox and I am an Or Tzedek veteran. You may be aware that I am starting an Environmental Justice Committee, and I would like to tell you more about it.

The goal of the committee is to research environmental justice issues, collaborate with local ally organizations, and support their campaigns by working in solidarity.

Or Tzedek members will run and organize the committee, but, of course, we are happy to accept the support of non-alumni and non-Jewish members.

The overall goal of the committee is to make environmental issues bigger in the public eye of Chicago, successfully combat environmental justice issues that are negatively impacting Chicago communities, achieve a healthier environment, and promote & uphold eco-friendly standards of living.

Currently, far too many Chicago communities are experiencing the destructive repercussions of environmental injustices. Examples of critical issues that we can begin working on are:

• Advocating for clean air: work with community partners to shut down the Fisk and Crawford coal plants that are negatively affecting communities in Pilsen and Little Village)
• Upholding public water access: prevent the city from privatizing the water supply
• Green space: work with community partners on the Southwest Side and advocate for safer green space

If you’re interested or have any questions, please contact me at my email: blacklabel308@yahoo.com or Leah at leah@jcua.org. Please bring ideas, research, and anything else to make the next meeting productive for the group.

I look forward to working with any potential members.