The Second Tzedek

By Emma Drongowski
JCUA’s AVODAH Organizing Fellow

This past week, we read Parshat Shoftim, from the book of Deuteronomy. This Torah portion outlines a set of guidelines for ethical and moral behaviors- a very common theme in Jewish holy texts. Shoftim identifies the proper methods for appointing judges, procedures for  judicial systems, warnings against worshiping idols, condemnations for cutting down trees, and finally it reads “Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof- ”Justice, Justice you shall pursue.” This statement is a direct call for action; a commandment to pursue justice with very little wiggle room for interpretation or negotiation. This parsha is one of the most frequently cited passages from Jewish activists as a prime example of the way that Judaism calls upon us to pursue social justice.

But this phrase (the very phrase that appears on JCUA t-shirts) is not as straightforward as it first appears. Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof- Justice, Justice, you shall pursue. The Torah is a concisely written document, with little that is superfluous. With the understanding that every word holds meaning, what does it mean that tzedek is repeated twice? As one can imagine, there are a few Rabbis who have a thought or two on the topic. The 11th century French rabbi Rashi tells us that this line means you should seek out a good court. The duplication is calling our attention not only to the obligation of the judges to judge wisely, but of the people to seek out good judges and to make sure that the court system is a good one. Another thinker believed that one tzedek is what we bring to those who are hurting and one tzedek is how we motivate those who are complacent to do more to affect change. Another, less sophisticated way to think about it is that justice is simply really, REALLY important, and the Torah is jumping up and down and waving its arms at us to understand how crucial it is for us to pursue justice.

There is no one correct answer to this Talmudic puzzle. For me, the double usage of “justice” reminds me to be intentional and insistent on incorporating Tzedek into all aspects of my life. As I have grown into adulthood, I have attempted to pursue justice by donating to charity, by volunteering for local campaigns, and by buying ethically sourced food products. Around this time last year, I read Parshat Shoftim as a direct call to me, as a moral imperative to pursue justice in my professional as well as my personal life. I made the decision to join AVODAH, the Jewish Service Corps, and will be working this year at JCUA as the AVODAH Organizing Fellow. For me, Parshat Shoftim instructs me that I cannot opt into tzedek when it is convenient, and that there are no days off from pursuing justice. It calls on me to pursue justice in my work, in my relationships with friends and family, in my interactions with strangers, in the way I spend my money, the movies I watch, the news I consume, and the things that I post on social media.

For me, Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof means to continually explore what it means to pursue justice as both a Jew and as an activist. One tzedek calls me to explore how my Jewish values hold me accountable to pursuing justice, and one tzedek compels me to ensure my Jewish community is doing the same. This year, I am so excited to explore this duality, and engage in conversation on what it means to be both Jewish and an activist, and therefore how to go about being a Jewish activist. Becoming a part of JCUA was simply the first step in my lifelong journey to pursue and maybe one day achieve, justice.

Rabbi Robert Marx, JCUA’s founder, reflects on the second tzedek:

Jewish Journey to Justice

By Eliana Chavkin
JCUA Member

“These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out from the land of Egypt in troops by the hand of Moses and Aaron…”

–Parshat Masei, Numbers 33:1

We read in Parshat Masei the full list of stops the Jewish people made from Egypt to the land of Israel, where they stop at the end of Numbers. They will spend all of Deuteronomy outside the Promised Land, reviewing the steps they have taken to get there and the rules that will govern their lives when they finally enter.

In some ways, this is a different kind of journey than the one Dr. King described after his march in Marquette Park fifty years ago, one which he called “the first step in a journey of a thousand miles.” For the Israelites, their journey—at least, the exodus from Egypt—is over. For those of us who gathered with JCUA last Saturday to retrace Dr. King’s steps, the journey is still just beginning, although we have been in the desert far longer than the Israelites, and although we do not yet know what the end of our journey looks like.

Still, the emphasis Masei makes on looking back on our journeys was one that carried over our entire weekend, in the unveiling of the new MLK memorial in Marquette Park, the march itself, and the speakers who spoke about the original march fifty years ago. Hearing those veterans of the Civil Rights Movement reminded us both of how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.

Pashat Masei also establishes the “safe city”: cities where one who has committed murder by accident may flee to escape blood vengeance. The removal of the murderer from a community gives residents a chance to heal, because, as the parsha says, “blood pollutes the ground.” Injustice, in other words, intentional or otherwise, pollutes entire communities, and each community member has a stake in restoring justice wherever possible. It is this mentality, I think, that spurred so many members of the Jewish community to come to the march: the feeling that we all have a part to play in fighting injustice. Certainly it was a key component in my decision to join the march and ultimately to join JCUA.

Looking around at the many races, religions, and communities that I saw both at our Shabbat service Friday night and at the march Saturday morning, however, I was conscious that reviewing our journey is not enough. As wonderful as it was to retrace Dr. King’s steps and to visit a part of Chicago that I rarely see, I couldn’t help but wonder how such a march would have been received in the city’s wealthier, whiter neighborhoods. Parshat Masei tells us clearly that reliving and honoring the past is only one aspect of fighting injustice: we also must move forward and try new tactics. I look forward to seeing how JCUA and the Jewish community approaches the next nine hundred and ninety-nine miles in our journey, now that we have honored the first steps.

Or Emet: Advocacy in Action

By Deborah Goldberg
JCUA’s Teen Programs Coordinator

Yesterday, Or Emet teens put their advocacy skills into action.  We met with State Senator Daniel Biss, the chief of staff in Senator Julie Morrison’s office, and State Representative Julie Fine to talk about state licensing of gun dealers in order to reduce gun violence in Illinois.  Our meetings were the culmination of several months of learning about gun violence, listening to community partners engaging with this issue, researching legislation, and preparing remarks for our meetings.

JCUA knows that teens’ voices and power are an important part of building a more just Chicago and world.  Each of the legislators’ offices we visited shared how much they appreciated hearing from informed, passionate young people.

Last weekend, many of us participated in a Passover seder.  The seder is full of social justice themes, but as someone who has the privilege of working with youth as a part of my professional life, I am always struck by the section on the four children.  Tradition tells us that there are four children: the wise child, the wicked child, the simple child, and the child who doesn’t know how to ask.  They ask different questions and we respond to them differently.  I think each of us has a bit of each child within us at all times, and I think our work as social justice activists cycles through each of the four children.  The wise child asks, “What can we do together to make the world a more just place?”  The wicked child asks, “Why should I care when nothing we do makes a difference?”  The simple child asks, “What is injustice?”  And the one who doesn’t know how to ask doesn’t know where to begin.  On any given day, I can feel myself, and I see our teens, embody each of the four children.

During the Passover seder, we specifically encourage our young people to ask questions—to understand our own history as a Jewish people, our individual family’s history, and the issues that plague our cities and world today.  Throughout this year, the teens participating in Or Emet have asked thoughtful questions about injustice and inequality in our city; they have also asked questions about how we begin to undo structures that preserve and protect injustice and inequality.  Meeting with legislators to ask them to enact legislation that would reduce and prevent gun violence feels especially powerful on Passover.

Even though yesterday was a culmination of our Or Emet Year of Action program, I also hope that tomorrow is just the beginning of our teens’ involvement in advocacy, activism, and community organizing.  Be sure to click on the photos below to see our teens in action in our meetings with Senator Biss, Senator Morrison’s chief of staff, and Representative Fine!

If you or an 8^th-11^th grader you know would like to be involved in Or Tzedek, register for our immersive summer session!  Spend 12 amazing days in the city of Chicago building your leadership skills, creating change, and making friends from around Chicago and the country.  For more info and to register, visit http://www.jcua.org/ortzedeksummer 

Before our first meeting with State Sen. Daniel Biss.

Students sharing their remarks with State Sen. Biss.

Group photo!

Leah, Max, and Gracie delivering remarks to State Senator Julie Morrison’s chief of staff.

Group photo with Joe, Senator Morrison’s chief of staff.

Before our meeting State Rep. Laura Fine.

Ilan and Camey sharing their thoughts with State Rep. Fine.

Group photo!

 

Always the Stranger

On  April 11, Northwestern Hillel’s Executive Director and JCUA Member Michael Simon spoke at JCUA’s 2016 Freedom and Justice Seder: The 11th Plague – Standing Against Islamophobia. In celebration of Passover this week, we are honored to share his inspiring presentation in full.

By Michael Simon

I am the Executive Director of Northwestern Hillel, the center and catalyst for Jewish life at Northwestern.  We work to enrich the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world.  But beyond those lofty goals, we work in the day-to-day, here-and-now of campus.  The rhetoric related to issues of diversity and inclusion, of Israel and Palestine, of intersectionality and marginalization, of power and privilege – all have become more intense and more strident in the past couple of years. What drives me in my work, in general and also, particularly, in working with Sister Tahera on Muslim-Jewish and other interfaith and intercultural initiatives, is to fully bring myself and ourselves to conversations that put the particularism of Jewish identity into tension with the universalism of being human.  How do I bring my full self, flaws and inconsistencies and all, to this or any table?

In a moment, we’ll drink the 2^nd cup of wine.  Traditionally, this comes at the end of the maggid section, in which we ask the four questions and tell the story of the Exodus.  In this section we also talk of four children:  one who is wise, one who is wicked, one who is simple, and one who does not know how to ask a question.  When I was younger, I wanted to be the wise child.  I saw myself as the good one, the one who always tried to do the right thing.  But I’ve found myself drawn more and more over the years to an idea expressed by Rabbi Israel Salanter in the 19^th century, that “We each have all the four children within us.”  We have a desire to fight bigotry and a streak of bigotry.  A desire to stand up against injustice and a desire to just stay quiet and hope no one will notice.  A need to scream at authority and a lack of knowing even where to begin.

A couple of weeks ago, a member of the Chicago Jewish community who happens to be a Northwestern alum wrote to challenge the very premise of this event.  He asked, “Are you perhaps also ‘standing’ against radical Islamic violence directed at Christians and Jews?”  I responded that I do, indeed, stand against such violence – terrorism – done by Muslims against not only Christians and Jews but also other Muslims and many others, done by Muslim extremists who justify their actions through a twisted and hateful reading of their religious precepts.

I reminded this person that I have my own experience with terrorism – my intended fiancée was murdered by the Hamas terrorist bombing at Hebrew University in 2002.  I understand – viscerally – the need to stand against terrorists and those who honor and support them. 

Meet the Summer 2016 Or Tzedek Staff

Or Tzedek Summer 2016 is right around the corner (88 days and counting until our first session begins!), and we are so excited for another amazing summer of activism, advocacy, and community organizing.

My name is Deborah Goldberg, and I am the Or Tzedek program coordinator.  My work at JCUA combines three things I’m passionate about–working with young people, engaging in social justice work, and exploring what Judaism has to say about our imperative to pursue justice.  I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and spent my summers as a camper and staff member at URJ Camp Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute.  Before working for JCUA, I worked as an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, D.C.  I am so excited to spend another summer with an amazing group of teens committed to making the world a more just and equitable place!

Below, you can read more about the staff members who will be joining us this summer.  They are experienced and talented educators and counselors, and all of them are excited to be connecting (and reconnecting) to Or Tzedek this summer.

We will be joined all summer by Aryeh Bernstein, Or Tzedek’s lead Jewish educator:

Aryeh Bernstein returns for his second summer as Or Tzedek’s lead Jewish educator. He is also the Founding Director of the Hyde Park Teen Beit Midrash, the Program Coordinator for the Avodah Chicago Fellows program, and a resident Jewish educator for Farm Forward’s Jewish Initiative for Animals, is a Senior Editor of Jewschool.com, and teaches Torah for Mishkan Chicago, the University of Chicago Hillel, and elsewhere. He is a 5th-generation South Sider, who lives in Hyde Park, previously lived in Israel for 14 years, and has taught Torah in many settings, including Mechon Hadar, Drisha, the TAKUM social justice beit midrash, Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, the National Havurah Institute, and synagogues and campus groups across the denominational spectrum. He has studied at Columbia University, JTS, YU, YCT, and Yeshivat Maale Gilboa.

SESSION 1 STAFF

Talia Barzel:“I cannot wait to return to staff Or Tzedek this June.  As a second-generation Chinese American Jew and a former Hebrew School teacher, I have lots of experience discussing race, ethnicity, and immigration within Jewish circles and the United States as a whole.  I love how Or Tzedek is a respectful, supportive community where teens can explore many kinds of social justice and discover which causes most inspire them to take action.   I also enjoy exploring different Chicago neighborhoods through Or Tzedek and weaving Torah discussion into our advocacy.

I have a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of Chicago and I am currently studying for a Master’s in Social Work at Columbia University in New York.  My favorite Or Tzedek activity is the Neo-Futurists show and one of my Jewish social justice heroes is Rose Schneiderman.”

Emma Epstein: “I am so excited to return to Or Tzedek this summer!  I am looking forward to continuing to learn about how awesome Chicago is and how much incredible work is happening in this city.  I will be graduating with a Masters in Social Work 3 days before the beginning of Or Tzedek, and I am looking forward to building relationships and continuing learning.

A particularly memorable experience from last year was when we visited the KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation in Hyde Park.  They showed us their massive volunteer-run garden that they built on the front lawn of the synagogue (right next to Obama’s house!). In just a few years, they have been able to grow enough produce to deliver 1000s of pounds of fresh produce to soup kitchens and food banks. Incredible!”

SESSION 2 STAFF

Emily Isaacson: “I am so excited to be staffing the second session of Or Tzedek this summer!  I was a participant in the program in 2011-2013, and last summer I was a programming intern at JCUA.  As a participant, Or Tzedek was such a formative experience in developing a relationship between my Jewish and Social Justice values, and I care deeply about the work JCUA is doing.  I’m excited to help make this summer an amazing experience for a new group of teens.

I’m looking forward to getting to know the city of Chicago better with a new group of people from a variety of Jewish backgrounds, learning about systems of oppression and community organizing models, and doing it all through a Jewish lens!”

Lili Gecker: “I am so excited to join Or Tzedek this summer! After graduating Brandeis University, I did a year of service with AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps. It was through AVODAH that I first began connecting my value for social justice with my Jewish identity. Since then I have worked in political and labor organizing, and I am currently an active member of JCUA’s organizing campaigns. I believe that young people have the power to make real social and political change, and Or Tzedek gives young people the tools to begin. In my free time I enjoy seeing contemporary art and taking improv class at iO. This fall I will begin graduate school at University of Chicago pursuing my master’s in social work.”

See Something, Say Something

Illinois State Budget Crisis Continues
Join JCUA in Springfield on January 27!

By Lisa Bendoff
JCUA Member

I’m writing this post as Illinois slogs into its sixth month without a budget. Governor Rauner, aided by a divided legislature, seems to be showing a tremendous indifference towards the citizens of his state. Illinois’ residents are being pushed into more and more vulnerable positions, as Gov. Rauner continues to prioritize reforms that will benefit his friends and business supporters rather than his suffering citizens.

When I look at Illinois right now, I see pain. But I also see hope.

This past year, I had the opportunity to participate in several Moral Monday actions with JCUA and its coalition partners.  Every Moral Monday had a theme or focus. For example, Jane Addams Senior Caucus led a Moral Monday around senior care funding and independent living assistance, and the final Moral Monday of the year in November focused on promoting the proposed LaSalle Street Tax. Though each Moral Monday was “sponsored” by different organizations, at each event there were members of other groups marching in solidarity with their fellow frustrated citizens, helping to bring a louder voice to their cries for justice. Chicago’s Moral Mondays became larger and larger, more and more inclusive, and, consequently, more empowering for the movement as a whole. Although frustration and anger were increasing at each action, each action made me more hopeful about Illinois’ future.

Governor Rauner is trying to use the budget hold-up and his non-budgetary concerns as divisive devices. But when I was at these Moral Mondays, I saw mutual respect. Groups of people coming together, supporting one another – that is where the respect is. When the governor and the government can’t respect us, when the government is, in fact, the cause of the citizen’s fear, it is empowering to remember that we can all respect one another, and continue moving forward together.

We have momentum, and I am excited to see that momentum continuing into 2016. JCUA is part of the Responsible Budget Coalition (RBC), which is planning a trip to Springfield on January 27th. We, along with other RBC member organizations, will be going down to Springfield to respond to Gov. Rauner’s State of the State address, and speak with Illinois legislators about the State of OUR State. I look forward to standing with hundreds of RBC members as we come together and inject reality into Gov. Rauner’s annual State of the Fairy Tale.

Sometimes there really is a difference between right and wrong; sometimes it is just not that complicated. The government is always telling us, if you “see something, say something.”  The government is playing political games with people’s lives and well being. We see it. We need to say something.

As James Madison wrote in Federalist 51, “Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.” Tzedek, tzedek tirdof – Justice, justice shall you pursue. We as Jews need to call for justice, as Jews we need to ensure justice for all. Join us on January 27th, and call for justice in Illinois.

For more information on how you can be a part of this important action, please contact Marla Bramble or Anna Rubin.

Members Make A Difference

By Randi Stern
JCUA Member

The day after Randi presented this reflection, the University of Chicago announced they would open a Level I Adult Trauma Center on their campus. You can read the coalition’s statement about the announcement here.

It has been quite an inspiring and educational year for me to be a member of JCUA and to have had such an active role in the success of the Trauma Center Coalition campaign. Before becoming a member of JCUA I had never worked for a social justice organization or thought a lot about the many social and economic injustices happening in the Chicago land area. Before joining the campaign I didn’t realize that there was even a trauma center desert on the south side of the city and that I was working in this desert as a long time employee of the University of Chicago.

There are a couple key moments that stand out this past year for me.  This past summer I was proud to march with my daughter Stacy, an Or Tzedek alum, as we joined with the coalition to walk from Washington Park to President Zimmer’s house to publicize the trauma center desert during the public meetings for the Obama Library.  It was so meaningful to have the support of my family and I feel fortunate that Stacy and I share this special bond and passion for JCUA.

I was also proud to march with the Jewish community and especially with those whose lives are most dramatically impacted by the lack of health care on the south side of Chicago.  It felt good to live out the values of Judaism–Tikkun Olam–to do good in the world and to help move the campaign forward.   In Judaism, Pikuach Nefesh teaches us that one must do whatever possible even to save one life.  This is what this campaign is about.

I was also proud to participate in the disruption at Rockefeller chapel during Alumni weekend. I almost didn’t go because I felt uncomfortable creating a disruption inside an alumni event, but am glad I did because it was important to be there to support JCUA and the Trauma Care Coalition. The actions during this weekend proved to be pivotal in pushing the U of C to join with Sinai Health Care for the new Level I Trauma center.

Or Tzedek–At It Again!

By Deborah Goldberg
JCUA’s Coordinator of Teen Programs

It seems like yesterday that the second session of our summer Or Tzedek program came to a close. In just 10 days, we were able to build an incredible community, engage with Jewish texts and traditions, explore social justice issues and campaigns happening in Chicago today, and take action to make Chicago a more just city.

The 11 teens who participated in this session were curious, energetic, excited, inclusive, and eager to put our Jewish values into action.  We started Or Tzedek as individuals and left, 10 days later, as a community.  Every step of the way–from deeply engaging in workshops on identity, privilege, and systemic causes of injustice to celebrating two Shabbatot as a community, from advocating to Illinois State Senator Julie Morrison’s Chief of Staff on the Domestic Worker’s Bill of Rights to leading a prayer vigil in support of the Trauma center Campaign—the teens’ commitment to Jewish social justice work was inspiring.

It’s impossible to capture everything we did in 10 days in one paragraph.  The photo essay below shares some of the highlights of our 10 days together: (Click on any photo below to see a slideshow with comments!)

Emily Isaacson, our amazing Or Tzedek summer intern, gets ready to welcome our second session participants!

Izzy and Lauren share things they’re excited for during the session!

On Friday, we attended the Chicago Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago’s event, “Prayer for Peace and Reconciliation.”

Jessica Havens teaches a workshop on identity and privilege at our home for the week, the Br. David Darst Center.

A group photo after the event on Friday!

Or Tzedek takes a selfie!

Hannah, Izzy, and Jenna as we waited to see the Neo-Futurists “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind” show on Saturday night!

Getting ready to welcome Shabbat as an Or Tzedek community!

Outside KAM Isaiah Israel before our tour of KAM’s urban garden and conversation about food justice issues.

Working on our ‘root causes trees’ as a part of a second workshop with Jessica Havens!

Learning about community organizing with Jim Field, Associate Director & Director of Organizing at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

On the 606 trail!

Or Tzedek takes a(nother) selfie at the Bean!

Emma Epstein, an Or Tzedek staff member, leads a workshop on the Trauma Center Campaign.

Another shot on the 606 trail!

Text study outside Gracie’s Cafe!

Exploring Albany Park with Antonio Gutierrez, an organizer at Centro Autonomo!

Max, Adam, Rachel, and Sam connect our Jewish history to economic justice issues.

Or Tzedek with Myrla Baldonado, an organizer with Latino Union.

Or Tzedek met with Joseph Piasecki, Illinois State Senator Julie Morrison’s Chief of Staff, about the Domestic Worker’s Bill of Rights!

Outside the University of Chicago Medical Center for the interfaith prayer vigil.

Or Tzedek took point on leading an interfaith vigil in support of the Trauma Center Campaign.

After our final havdallah in the park!

Our last group photo of the session!

I tell people all the time—I have the best job in the whole world and that I get to work with young people from around the country who all have the power to create positive, systemic change.  On our final morning together, I shared with the teens that I hope Or Tzedek and the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs are always places they will feel at home (I shared the same hope with our first session participants).  It was sad to depart on that Sunday morning because the teens had truly built a Jewish social justice home in 10 short days together.  At the same time, I am so excited to continue working with all our teens throughout this coming year and beyond as they continue to work to make the world a more just place!

Reflecting on 10 Days of Change: Or Tzedek 2015 Summer Session 1

By Deborah Goldberg
JCUA’s Coordinator of Teen Programs

It’s hard to believe that at this time two weeks ago, our first summer 2015 session was just getting under way!  It was an incredible 10 days of activism, advocacy, organizing, and having fun together.  If I could sum up 10 days in 10 numbers, here’s what I would say:

10 amazing teens

9 workshops on social justice concepts and campaigns

8 partner organizations visited

7 hours of prep for two prayer vigils and an advocacy visit with the President of the Illinois Senate

6 amazing staff members

5 states represented

4 jumbo bags of M&Ms consumed

3 views of Chicago (by boat, by car, and from the 37^th floor of a downtown office!)

2 Shabbatot

1 incredible Or Tzedek session

There’s no possible way to capture the enthusiasm and passion of our first session teens in words and numbers alone.  From participating in meaningful workshops to advocating to the president of the Illinois State Senate on the Domestic Worker’s Bill of Rights, from leading a prayer vigil in support of the Trauma Center Campaign to celebrating two Shabbatot together, the teens’ energy, curiosity, and willingness to give 100% of themselves in every workshop and meeting was inspiring.

Check out the photo essay below for more information on our experiences! (Click on any photo below to see a slideshow with comments!)

Gabi, Roz, and Leora share some of their goals for Or Tzedek!

Brian, Jonah, Sam, Alex, and Leora reflect on identity and privilege in one of our workshops with Jessica Havens.

Getting ready to celebrate our first Shabbat as an Or Tzedek community!

AVODAH-Chicago hosted us for dinner and conversations about social justice work.

Roz, Sarah, and Gabi hang out while waiting their turn to bowl!

On Monday morning, we examined root causes of injustice and learned community organizing skills. Here, Sarah, Gabi, and Emily work on a “root causes tree” for the issue of gun violence.

Gabi, Emily, Parker, and Sarah take time to plan outreach calls for the prayer vigil for the Trauma Center Coalition on Thursday evening.

On Tuesday morning, we visited Gracie’s Cafe to learn about St. Leonard’s Ministries and JCUA’s zero-interest loan program.

Gerald Hankerson, Outreach Coordinator at CAIR-Chicago, hosted us on Tuesday afternoon for a conversation on CAIR-Chicago’s Muslim civil rights and advocacy work.

Alex, Sam, and Roz work together to share info about the Trauma Center Campaign prayer vigil on social media.

Many of our teens called JCUA members and their friends and family to attend the Trauma Center Campaign prayer vigil. Here, Roz and Emily are hard at work!

Brian, Sam, Parker, and Gabi practice one final time before meeting with Illinois Senate President, John Cullerton!

Senator Cullerton listens to our teens share their perspective on HB 1288, the Domestic Worker’s Bill of Rights.

Leora, Jonah, and Brian lead the group in song and prayer outside the University of Chicago Medical Center.

On Friday morning, we woke up early to attend the prayer vigil for immigration reform at the Broadview Detention Center.

Kalman Resnick, an immigration lawyer and former Vice-President of JCUA’s board, talked to the teens about his immigration justice work.

Our teens were all smiles at the beach on Friday afternoon!

Getting ready to celebrate our second and final Shabbat as an Or Tzedek Community!

Saturday evening, we walked to Buckingham Fountain to do Havdallah and then see the fireworks at Navy Pier.

Our teens were so sad to go home on Sunday monring! (We were equally as sad to see them go!)

As our first summer session came to a close on Sunday morning, I shared with the teens that I hope Or Tzedek and the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs are always places where they feel at home.  In just 10 short days, we were able to build a community, take action on several campaigns, celebrate Shabbat, and help prepare our teens to take their new skills and passion for social justice home.  We can’t wait to see these teens again at future Or Tzedek and JCUA programs!

Governor Rauner: Be A Pursuer of Justice

By Guest Blogger Rabbi Frederick Reeves 
KAM Isaiah Israel

On Wednesday, May 13, JCUA took part in a rally with over 200 people to call attention to the devastating impact of Governor Rauner’s “Turnaround Budget” on those who are most vulnerable across the state.  As we gathered in front of one of the Governor’s ten homes, Rabbi Fred Reeves of KAM Isaiah Israel gave the opening prayer, posted below.

Together we turn our thoughts and direct our words to the Eternal in this universe.

Eternal One, we gather together here this day each one of us from our own place. We come from many neighborhoods; we come from many faith traditions, but we are united in our belief that bringing justice into our world is the duty of humanity.

Grant diligence to us as we work for the betterment all the citizens of Illinois. Imbue us with a love of our fellow human beings so that we work not for our self- aggrandizement, but for the improvement of the position of others.

Keep our elected leaders in health as they perform the difficult task of leading this great state, and grant wisdom and discernment to them as they make the choices that determine the direction that this state will go. And especially to our governor, Bruce Rauner, grant a deep and motivating sense of justice for all of the citizens of Illinois. Help him do what is right. Silence those voices around him encouraging him to help those who do not need his help, and strengthen those voices calling on him to help the helpless, lift up the fallen, feed the hungry. Make our governor into a Pursuer of Justice.

For all this, we pray to You, Eternal One. We say together, Amen.

As a rabbi, I am guided by the words of my own tradition, and there are two words which call out most powerfully, so powerfully in fact, that one of them is used twice. Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof: Justice Pursue Justice. We stand here as part of the Responsible Budget Coalition rejecting Governor Rauner’s proposed budget because of the unacceptable way that he has tried to make an unbalanced budget look like a balanced one. A truly balanced budget is not only balanced in terms of dollars and sense, it also is balanced in social responsibility and balanced on the scales of justice for our society.

It is an unbalanced budget that slashes critical investments in Illinois families and our future including transportation, education, and health care.

It is an unbalanced budget that denies Illinois families the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty, make ends meet and send their children off to school.

It is an unbalanced budget that denies access to health care, a good education, quality child care, and universities people can afford, and good roads, buses and trains to get back and forth to work.

It is an unbalanced budget that creates revenue shortfalls by failing to maintain responsible tax rates and instead has harmful and shortsighted tax cuts which have time and again failed to produce the benefits that their supporters promise.

So I call on Governor Rauner to clean up his unbalanced budget, and to present one that balances responsibility with the needs of those whom he was elected to serve. I call on him to put the teachings of justice into practice and become a pursuer of justice for all of the citizens of Illinois.