December 23

PROTECTING OUR GLOBAL FUTURE

Sign the Jewish Energy Covenant Campaign Pledge

With world leaders having come together in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference, a historic opportunity is provided for us to focus our attention on what we can do to reduce our use of energy and leave a smaller carbon footprint. The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL), of which WRJ is a member, has developed a campaign to enable us to join hands with a broad community of Jews working together to address the challenge to protect our global future.

 

The Religious Action Center alert on Copenhagen notes "As Jews, we are called to be good stewards of our planet,...and to protect ...the poorest and most vulnerable... Climate change threatens all people, especially those around the world who have done the least to cause the problem but stand to suffer most immediately and severely from its effects. If we act now, we can not only mitigate the effects of climate change, but build a more just, more sustainable future..."

 

Sign the Jewish Energy Covenant Campaign Pledge to commit to working together for a healthy environment, green jobs, and a secure energy future.

 

Support Strong Climate and Clean Energy Legislation

The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act would establish a nationwide plan to control global warming and provide green jobs. The bill has been passed by the House of Representatives and discussed by one Senate committee.

 

Please urge your senators to swiftly pass strong, science-based climate and energy legislation.

Click here to access resources from the Union of Concerned Scientists on the Senate’s Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.

December 16

Action Needed on Health Care Reform

We are at a challenging moment in getting the sixty Senate votes for health care reform, the determining vote is just a few days away.

 

Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121, ask for your senator’s office, and urge your senators to vote YES on the health reform bill or click here to go to the Religious Action Center’s Jews for Health Care Reform project to sign a petition (you must scroll down to find the petition) calling on Congress for health care reform now.

 

Move Reauthorization of Juvenile Justice Bill

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2009 is before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, but has not yet been considered.  JJDPA was adopted 35 years ago and works with states to implement practices to avoid the detention and incarceration of young people in juvenile or adult facilities.

Young people do not belong in adult jails or prisons and effective juvenile justice programs need resources. Click here for information and to send  letters urging your senators to take positive action on the JJDPA bill.

 

Immigration Reform Bill Introduced

Yesterday, Representative Gutierrez introduced the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009. The Immigration Policy Center has provided a summary of the bill. This bill includes the provisions sought by WRJ’s resolution on immigration, adopted at the 47th assembly, and the Jewish Task Force for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. For more information, read the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) and the American Jewish Committee press releases on the bill.

December 9

WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND WELL-BEING

 

Call For Foreign Aid That Addresses Women’s Poverty

For the one billion people around the world, living on less than a dollar a day makes survival a struggle, and for the majority – the 829 million impoverished women – merely making sure that their families have food to eat is a struggle.

 

Lynn Magid Lazar, WRJ's president, spoke of women's rights as the "cause of our time" in her installation address at our 47th assembly.  She cited an August New York Times article in which Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn wrote of a growing recognition that focusing on women and girls is an effective way to fight global poverty. 

 

The Obama Administration is currently working on a new strategy for foreign assistance. We urge sisterhood leaders and members to click here now to call for a U.S. strategy that “gives development a strong voice in foreign policy decisions and coordinates our efforts to alleviate global poverty, fight disease, and create economic opportunity.”

 

The coalition of organizations working on this petition hopes to deliver 150,000 signatures to the White House on December 18th.  Act on Lynn Lazar’s challenge to us to use WRJ's collective power to make a difference in an imperfect world, sign the petition now.

 

Support The U.N. Convention On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW

WRJ also urges you call on your Senators to protect women's rights and women's health by ratifying CEDAW. WRJ has supported CEDAW since its introduction 30 years ago. The United States is one of the few nations in the world that have not ratified CEDAW, along with Iran, Sudan, and four others.

 

Physicians for Human Rights, PHR, has organized a 10,000 in 10 Campaign with the goal of delivering 10,000 signatures to the Senate in support of CEDAW.

 

Take action today, read PHR’s fact sheet and other information in support of CEDAW and sign the petition. Help PHR remind the senators that women's health in the US and abroad depend on the protection and promotion of women's rights.

December 2

Woman in Tallit Arrested at the Wall in Jerusalem
On Wednesday morning, November 18th, Nofrat Frenkel, a young Israeli medical student was arrested while participating in the Women of the Wall (WOW) Rosh Chodesh service at the Kotel.  Wrapped in a tallit, she was holding the Sefer Torah given to WOW, in honor of incoming WRJ president Lynn Magid Lazar, by her congregation, Temple Sinai, Pittsburgh, PA, at WRJ's 47th assembly in Toronto.
 
Anat Hoffman, chairperson of WOW, has commented that this was the first time a woman was arrested at the site for wearing a tallit and the first time the Torah was brought to the wall. The photograph below was taken outside the Jerusalem police station after Nofrat Frenkel was subjected to almost three hours of interrogation. In an article on the event Frenkel says "I was banned from visiting the Kotel for two weeks, and a criminal file has been opened against me. I hope that the file will be closed, especially so that my medical studies will not be jeopardized."
 
Read Women of the Wall Arrest: A First-Hand Account and Anat Hoffman's commentary, which provide important background on the incident.
 
How can WRJ sisterhood members help Nofrat Frenkel and Women of the Wall at this time?  Some suggestions follow:

 

• Write to Ambassador Michael B. Oren, Embassy of Israel, 3514 International Dr. N.W., Washington DC 20008 or send e-mail messages to info@washington.mfa.gov.il.
• Explore the WOW website.
  
• Go to Israel and pray with WOW on Rosh Chodesh (all dates are listed on their website). Anat Hoffman suggests that this is the most difficult and the most important way to help Women of the Wall.

November 24

WRJ 47th Assembly Film Festival
Four moving documentaries were shown at WRJ’s assembly film festival: Blessed is the Match, on the life of Hannah Senesh, a World War II Hungarian Zionist poet and resistance fighter; Praying with Lior, a family-focused film depicting the early years, joyous prayer, and bar mitzvah preparation of Lior Leibling, a youngster who has Down Syndrome; The Longing, which describes the experiences of five South Americans who believe they are descended from Spanish Jewish conversos and are eager to affirm their Jewish faith; and The Gefilte Fish Chronicles, a high-spirited nostalgic story about a family’s long-term and chaotic celebrations of Passover.
 
Hold a film night or a film series for your sisterhood, congregation, and/or community. Popcorn, candy, and soda add to the atmosphere. Click here to learn more about the films mentioned above.
 
Health Care Reform: Protect Women’s Reproductive Health and Rights
Unfortunately, the U.S. House of Representatives included the Stupak amendment when it passed its otherwise historic health care reform bill. This amendment bans abortion coverage in the public option and with public funds, which would make it much more difficult for private insurance companies to offer coverage for abortion services under the new health reform, resulting in the loss of coverage for millions of American women.
 
The health care reform bill which the Senate voted to bring to the floor for discussion does not include an abortion ban. We need to let our senators, congressional leaders, and the president know that the groundswell of public opinion in the United States is in favor of protecting women's reproductive health care and the right to choose in the final health care reform legislation.
 
Click here to sign a petition to convey your opposition to the Stupak amendment.

November 18

Social Justice at WRJ’s 47th Assembly in Toronto
Sustaining Our World – Shmirat Olameinu – aptly describes our 47th assembly. Lynn Magid Lazar, WRJ’s new president, wove together the strands of WRJ’s social justice history, what we need to do regarding women’s rights and well-being world-wide as we move into the second decade of the twenty-first century, and why “the collective power of women” – of sisterhood – is needed, now, as much as ever. Read the entire installation address.
 
In workshops, plenaries, resolutions, and Or Ami awards we learned about the myriad of  exciting ways that we, WRJ women individually and collectively have sought to sustain and will continue to work to sustain social justice in our world.

• Workshops focused on the proposed resolutions and why WRJ addresses social justice issues, health care coverage for all, implementing the social action rings program in sisterhoods, women’s health, and environmental responsibility. Joint learning sessions with the URJ examined – “just congregations,” women’s equality, human trafficking, and welcoming GLBT Jews.
• Plenary speakers addressing social justice concerns included Doctor Izzeldin Abuelaish, a physician from Gaza, who eloquently spoke of peace between Palestinians and Israelis and Judy Feld Carr who movingly described her twenty-five years of courageous efforts for the release of 3,200 Jews from Syria.
• Delegates discussed and adopted the three proposed resolutions: Immigration, Elder Abuse, and Food Production and Distribution.
• A large proportion of the Or Ami award submissions involved community action, programming, and projects of community service: they include projects regarding hygienic products for girls and malaria nets for families in Sudanese communities; programs on addiction and recovery, interreligious dialogue, and disability inclusion; community services for hospice patients and staff and abused and battered women; and an environmental action project.

 

We are indeed stronger together!
 
A guide for advocacy and action on the resolutions, as well more details on Or Ami winning projects, should be coming out in a few weeks.

Washington area women – save the date: 
On Dec. 2, join hundreds of pro-choice, pro-health reform activists for a lobby day and rally in Washington DC.  Meet with your members of Congress and gather for a lunchtime rally on Capitol Hill to ensure that women’s reproductive health is protected as our nation’s health insurance system is made more just.

November 4

Locating Social Justice Materials on the WRJ Website
This is the first of two Wednesday e-mails on our social justice website resources. WRJ has a wealth of web-based social justice resources to help new leaders, but the materials may be a bit elusive if you are not familiar with the website’s structure.

Social justice materials can be found in four different sections of the website: What’s New at WRJ, Advocacy, Leadership Materials, and WRJ Catalogue. The materials will be reviewed in the order in which they appear in the menu at the right side of the WRJ homepage. This week What’s New at WRJ and Advocacy will be discussed.  Next week we will cover the resources under Leadership Materials and WRJ Catalogue.

• What's New at WRJ includes advocacy alerts, under which the Social Justice: WRJ Advocacy and Programming are posted. Issued weekly, by e-mail, the social justice e-mails include critical issues alerts and reports and programming recommendations.
• Advocacy is the primary location for WRJ’s social justice materials:
• Resolutions and Statements – WRJ policy positions which enable our social justice action.
• Critical Issues Action – an ongoing listing of WRJ advocacy. 
• Advocacy Resources – the Guides for Advocacy and Action. Prepared following each WRJ assembly, they provide recommendations for implementing new resolutions and statements.
• Or Ami Awards – Or Ami Light Of My People Award for Excellence in Sisterhood Programming pamphlet presents the sisterhood projects and programs receiving Or Ami awards, which are outstanding models for sisterhood replication.

Please share this update with your social justice leadership.

October 28

Emergency E-Mail Alert: World Zionist Organization 
For many years Women of Reform Judaism has worked closely with ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America, on the quadrennial World Zionist Organization (WZO) election of delegates to the World Zionist Congress. This has been an important effort because the WZO is involved in funding the many institutions of the various religious movements in Israel. WRJ’s involvement has led to success. In one recent campaign we registered the largest proportion of Reform Jewish voters. 

This year, however, we are calling on you and your sisterhood members to fulfill a different role. We have received an emergency email alert from Rabbi Robert Orkand, president of ARZA, who informed us that the current economic situation mandates a careful and thoughtful allocation of the greatly diminished resources and staff now available to the worldwide Zionist community. Leaders of Progressive and Reform Zionist organizations around the world have agreed that it is necessary to avoid a costly election that also demands much staff and volunteer time.

The Zionist Supreme Court of the World Zionist Organization will rule on November 15th whether or not ARZA and other Zionist organizations will be allowed, on a one-time basis, to avoid election campaigns for the June 2010 World Zionist Congress. The ARZA leadership believes that the Zionist Supreme Court will be very responsive to an outpouring of emails in support of avoiding an election, so long as they are received by October 31, 2009.

We are asking you and your sisterhood members to adapt the sample letter, paste it into an e-mail, preferably today, but no later than October 30th, and send it to: Rami Kornblum, Secretary of the Zionist Court, RamiK@wzo.org.il and to Rabbi Richard Hirsch, Chair of the Zionist General Council, RichardH@jafi.org. 

Thank you for participating in this important effort.

October 21

End Violence Against Women
The Religions for Peace Global Women of Faith Network, on which WRJ is represented by Past President Judith Hertz, is working on the Restoring Dignity initiative to end violence against women. The initiative network has prepared a letter to the UN Secretary General that we would like you and your sisterhood members to sign. This letter will be presented to Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, by a multi-faith delegation that will include representation from the North American Women of Faith Network. Please download the letter, collect as many signatures in your sisterhood and congregation as possible, and send them by November 18th to Ms. Erin McNamara (Religions for Peace International Secretariat, Religions for Peace, 777 UN Plaza, NY, 10017).

Click here for additional information about the Restoring Dignity initiative.

Action Needed: Good Jobs, Green Jobs
As we alerted you in last week's Social Justice, today, Wednesday, October 21st, is the day to make your Fighting Poverty with Faith: Good Jobs, Green Jobs calls to Capitol Hill.  Participate in the national call-in day to ask your senators and representatives to help low-income Americans by supporting federal programs that invest in good jobs and green jobs. You can reach congressional offices through the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

Urge your representative and senators to support the Green Construction Careers Demonstration Project and funding for the Green Jobs Act in the House version of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act and ask them to work to assure that it remains in the final version of the bill (for background see: Green Jobs in Climate Bill).

The Fighting Poverty with Faith: Good Jobs, Green Jobs initiative is a coalition of national faith-based groups speaking with one voice about the importance of making poverty reduction a central component of efforts to create a new "green" economy.   As a community of faith, we believe that every person is entitled to a life of dignity and opportunity, and that it is our responsibility to advocate for legislation that awards our brothers and sisters that opportunity.

October 14

Historic Beginning for Health Care Reform

Yesterday the Senate Finance Committee passed the America’s Healthy Future Act, which in an effort to control costs, requires purchasing of insurance coverage by most Americans and includes a purchasing exchange that facilitates competition, but does not provide a public option – a government-run insurance plan that would compete with the private market. This and the previous House committee votes have made a historic beginning for providing health care coverage for American citizens, but negotiations over the final bill will now move to the full House and Senate and much work remains.

 

In his statement on the Senate Finance Committee’s vote, Mark J. Pelavin, associate director of the Religious Action Center, said “In moving forward, we will work to see the expansion of quality, affordable care include comprehensive protection of low-income and vulnerable populations, and rest on a financially sustainable foundation. We also hope to see a public option and sufficient subsidies to assist middle income people purchase health insurance.”

 

The insurance lobby has just released a study contending that the bill being considered by the Senate Finance Committee would increase health coverage costs. This study, though described as deceptive and deeply flawed, is being used to rally opposition to health care reform legislation. Let your members of Congress know that you support reform.

 

Fighting Poverty with Faith

 

On September 2nd our social justice alert (below) urged sisterhoods to participate in the Fighting Poverty with Faith: Good Jobs, Green Jobs week of action, which begins today and continues until October 21, 2009. Be a voice in this important effort by taking part in the October 21st Fighting Poverty with Faith call-in-day to Capitol Hill. Urge your members to call their senators and representatives next Wednesday.  See the alert for full instructions, including the telephone number of the Capitol switchboard.

October 7

Your Sisterhood and the Baby Boomer Majority

WRJ board member Cynthia Wolf is our board liaison to the URJ Sacred Aging Program, which is part of the Jewish Family Concerns Committee. She has been asked to co-present a Learning Session at the upcoming URJ biennial: “Longevity Revolution: Baby Boomers as the New Congregational Majority.”

 

As part of the learning session, Rabbi Address would like her to describe what WRJ is doing with regard to baby boomers. Cynthia needs information from you about the programs and strategies that are being used by your sisterhoods and/or congregations to address programming for baby boomers as the new sisterhood and congregational and majority. She has prepared a letter with a few questions, please respond directly to Cynthia.  When thinking about her questions, you may develop some new programming ideas for your sisterhood.

Pacific Communities Bear the Brunt of a Devastating Typhoon and Earthquakes

As you’ve seen in the news, at the end of September, Typhoon Ketsana struck the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia, causing hundreds of deaths and displacing thousands of families. A few days later, powerful earthquakes struck the Pacific near American Samoa, triggering three separate tsunami waves, killing over a thousand people, many in the West Sumatran capital of Padang. Subsequent storms killed hundreds of people in the Philippines and millions have been displaced from their homes due to flooding. Numerous organizations are providing life-saving aid in these areas. For a list of some of the organizations that are accepting donations for this effort go to www.urj.org/relief. 

 

September 30

Now is the Time to Deliver on Health Care Reform

 

In his powerful September 9th address on health care reform to a special joint session of Congress, President Obama said  “…The time for bickering is over. … Now is the time to deliver on health care.”  Urge your senators to do so now – and vote for key proposals to provide essential and affordable health care for our nation’s women and families.

 

Act to End World Hunger

The world-wide economic crisis and environmental catastrophes have worsened the ongoing tragedy of world hunger – globally, more than one billion people  are living in hunger. In recognition of World Food Day, coming up on October 16th, you can take action to help the world’s poorest provide food for their families. Urge your members of Congress to co-sponsor the bi-partisan bill, The Roadmap to End Global Hunger and Promote Food Security Act of 2009.

 

From WRJ Present and Former WRJ Leaders...

Rhoda London, WRJ board member, informed us about the possibility of refurbishing and recycling hearing aids for those in need in the United States and around the world. Rhoda and her sisterhood (Congregation Ahavath Chesed, Jacksonville, FL) “have been doing some local collecting and public education.” According to her, the Starkey Hearing Foundation is a worldwide, public, and tax-exempt charity. The collection of the hearing aids requires little or no expense except the cost, if any, of PR and mailing the hearing aids to the Starkey Hearing Foundation, 6700 Washington Ave. S., Eden Prairie, MN 55344, For more information see, www.sotheworldmayhear.org.

 

Read the article by Helene Zukoff (The Temple Sisterhood, Louisville, KY), WRJ board alumna, about how she dealt with the grieving process, on the Jewish Sacred Aging page of Rabbi Richard Address’ website www.jewishsacredaging.com.  Click here here for resources on the URJ Sacred Aging Programs.

September 23

President Obama at the United Nations

President Obama is having a busy schedule at the United Nations meetings this week, meetings which address issues crucial to our country and nations worldwide.  His plans included participation yesterday, in a summit meeting on climate change organized by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

 

Today, President Barack Obama will address the United Nations General Assembly, in which more than 140 heads of state from around the world will participate. Tomorrow, he will chair a U.N. Security Council meeting, dealing with arms control and disarmament. This is the first time a sitting United States president has chaired a U.N. Security Council meeting.

 

The United Nations Association of the United States of America has developed a homepage through which you have the opportunity to participate in a discussion of the issues such as advancing peace in the Sudan, reducing global poverty, dealing with climate change, and putting the brakes on nuclear proliferation. Click here to take this opportunity to include your voice on the issues. 

 

Take a Stand on Global Warming

The Senate is about to vote on an appropriations bill to which amendments have been added that would obstruct the efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency  to combat global warming. Support the international efforts at the UN to address climate change by calling for such efforts in the United States. Click here to urge your senators to vote against amendments that would block the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to curtail the heat-trapping emissions that pollute our atmosphere and cause global warming.  

September 16

Reproductive Rights

Some senators are attempting to include language in health care reform legislation that would eliminate the insurance coverage of abortion that millions of women currently have. Call or e-mail your senators and the White House now to let them know that this should not happen — comprehensive reproductive health care is basic health care for women.

 

Women's Rights: The GEAR, UN Gender Equality Architecture Reform Resolution

 

Exciting news! The UN General Assembly adopted the GEAR Resolution on Monday, September 14. This resolution enables the creation of a new UN unit to deal with women's rights and well-being. For more information read the GEAR campaign September 14th Statement.

 

Seeking Peace for Darfur

 

Urge President Obama to use his leadership to build international resolve to end the crisis in Darfur. The coming U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York and that of the G-20 nations in Pittsburgh provide opportunities to do so. Click here to sign the petition to President Obama urging him to make peace in Darfur a priority when he meets with world leaders at the U.N.

September 9

Health Care Reform Moving Ahead

The health care reform picture is not bleak, as has been presented in the media. Members of Congress, returning from their August recess have heard a more complex narrative than that portrayed and are facing a more nuanced situation than reported.

 

National religious groups, including WRJ and the Union for Reform Judaism, organized hundreds of thousands of people to take action during the August recess, demonstrating commitment by religious voters of all political backgrounds to a common value - that providing affordable, quality health care for all families is morally requisite.

• Please urge your members to keep up this momentum! Watch President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress tonight, Wednesday, September 9 at 8:00 E.S.T, on the White House website. To read it later, go to the same website, scroll down and click on speeches under the heading, Briefing Room.
• Read today's article "Despite Fears, Health Care Overhaul is Moving Ahead" in The New York Times and share it with family and friends.
• Sign this petition to let President Obama know that you support a public health insurance option and are counting on him for bold leadership to bring about quality, affordable health care including a public health insurance option.

September 2

Fighting Poverty With Faith: Good Jobs, Green Jobs

Join Women of Reform Judaism, the Union for Reform Judaism, and over 30 other national faith organizations for the Fighting Poverty with Faith: Good Jobs, Green Jobs week of action October 14-21, 2009. With this mobilization, co-chaired by The Jewish Council for Public Affairs and Catholic Charities USA, faith groups are seeking to build a strong voice to call for meaningful poverty-reduction opportunities in the transition to a greener economy. For more information about this crucial effort, read Fight Poverty With Faith This October.

 

We are asking you to be a part of this year's Fighting Poverty with Faith: Good Jobs, Green Jobs mobilization by organizing an event in your sisterhood, congregation, or community during the October 14-21 week of action. Go to the Religious Action Center (RAC) website, to participate.

 

The Fighting Poverty With Faith mobilization is hosting a free webinar on September 14, at 2:00 PM E.S.T., to provide more information about how to engage your community in the mobilization. Click here to register for the webinar.

 

Review the resources developed by the RAC to help you organize your community and please check out the act now section of the mobilization's website for event recommendations.

 

Sign-up now!

August 26

Mental Health Programming for Your Sisterhood
Women of Isaiah, Lafayette, CA, provided the leadership for planning and implementing a half-day Jewish community conference, "P'tach Libeynu: Open our Hearts, Beginning a Conversation about the Stigma of Mental Illness."  Look over the overview and the linked materials thoroughly because you can adapt the parts of P'tach Libeynu that would work well for your sisterhood.

 

It was planned and implemented by Women of Isaiah and Temple Isaiah, as well as by several other congregations and Jewish agencies, and was funded by a local federation, community foundations, and a corporate donor.  Planners saw it as an initial step for reducing the stigma of mental illness in their community and encouraging acceptance and compassion. They invited knowledgeable and thoughtful speakers for workshops and discussions and provided comprehensive resource materials for those living with mental illness, their loved ones, and compassionate friends.  A Jewish healing service was used to conclude the afternoon. 

 

Our tradition regards mental health as a basic part of total health and a 2001 WRJ resolution called on sisterhoods to destigmatize and provide a supportive atmosphere regarding mental illness. The project chair has informed WRJ that the "initial conference provided clients and their families new avenues of support and . . . moved people and synagogues toward harboring less stigma, showing more compassion, and greater understanding of those suffering from and caring for those with mental illness." An ongoing support group, spin-off programs, advocacy, and a model of inclusion for their religious schools and temple committees have built P'tach Libeynu into the lives of their sisterhood, temple, and community.

August 19

Commemorate Women’s Right to Vote by Speaking Up For Global Women's Rights 

Join a nationwide call-in day to urge US ratification of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) on Wednesday, August 26th, or send an e-mail letter in support of CEDAW to your senator now.

 

Thanks to the long and courageous struggle of the suffragists, U.S. women won the right to vote on August 26, 1920, a historic day commemorated yearly as Women’s Equality Day. This August 26th you can celebrate their achievement by participating in a call to strengthen America's ability to support global women's rights.

 

The United States is the only democracy in the world that has not ratified the CEDAW treaty, along with Iran, Somalia and Sudan. Drafted thirty years ago, CEDAW provides a structure for ending violence against women, ensuring girls’ access to education, and promoting economic opportunity and political participation for women worldwide – all of which are not only basic human rights, but are essential to reducing world poverty!  The time is long since been past due for United States’ ratification.

 

Call your senators on August 26th at 202-224-3121 and urge them to support ratification of CEDAW!

 

SAMPLE MESSAGE:

"Hello, my name is ________,  I'm a constituent of the Senator's from ________. I'm calling to urge the senator to support immediate US ratification of CEDAW, the treaty for the rights of women. We cannot afford to be one of the only countries in the world that refuses to support this important treaty."

 

Read background material and a summary of the treaty here. 

 

To send an e-mail to your senators or for additional information, go to www.womenstreaty.org and click on “Take Action Now.”

 

WRJ Participates in United Nations Population Fund Meeting with Faith Based Organizations

Janet Stovin, WRJ's representative to the Department of Public Information at the U.N., represented WRJ at a United Nations Population Fund Meeting with faith based organizations. The majority of those present were from Protestant, Muslim humanitarian, and multi-faith organizations. Janet was able to raise concerns that are being addressed by our WRJ communities. She was gratified to hear the representative of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) speak of his close ties with URJ and WRJ.

 

Conferees set priorities for future combined efforts and commitments: maternal health and violence against women. Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon joined the conferees at the reception held for the delegates.

August 12

Exciting Health Care Opportunities for Learning and Action 

Be on a telephone call with the President of the United States!

How would you like an opportunity to participate in a phone call with President Obama?  You have an opportunity to do so next week.

 

President Obama will take part in a phone call with members of national religious denominations and groups on Wednesday, August 19 at 5:00 P.M. EST, to energize the countless people of faith nationwide who care about access to health care and its spiraling costs. Go to Cover All Families

for more information. 

 

RSVP for the call here. You will receive a reminder next week with the call-in number. Call organizers want as many people as possible, tens of thousands, on the call.  Please circulate this information to your sisterhood, congregation, friends, and family.

 

Get the Facts

Health insurance reform is being increasingly challenged with false rumors and scare tactics, making it essential to know the facts about the security and stability that would be provided by health insurance reform. The White House has launched a vibrant new online resource — WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck— with videos by major health care players to help separate fact from fiction.

 

Take Action on Health Care Reform

The Religious Action Center has introduced an exciting new campaign: "40 Days for Health Reform," to call for comprehensive health care reform! Click here for more information and to send an email to your members of Congress. You can also find up-to-date materials on the new Health Care Reform Resource Page.

August 5

Program Opportunity to Fight Poverty with Faith this October!

The creation of "green jobs" is an important part of the stimulus package to reduce poverty, return our economy to health, and help put the United States on the path to reducing our carbon footprint and its impact on world climate. WRJ has joined with other national organizations for the second annual Fighting Poverty with Faith week of action, October 14-21, to advocate policies that will give individuals and communities with the greatest need the resources to lift themselves out of poverty in the new green economy.

 

The Fighting Poverty with Faith mobilization is an important program and advocacy opportunity for your sisterhood. To find out how your sisterhood, congregation, and community can be involved, read the Statement of Principles and then sign up to participate in this exciting week of action. Together, our voices will be stronger in calling for an anti-poverty, pro-environment agenda to lead to green pathways out of poverty.

 

WUPJ Response to Tel Aviv Murders 

Deeply distressed about the tragic attack on the Gay and Lesbian community in Tel Aviv, we thought you would want to read the statement of the World Union for Progressive Judaism.

July 29

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on the Crisis in The Sudan

Congressional hearings this week are addressing the crisis in Darfur. Key government figures, such as U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice and U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, Major General Scott Gration, will be questioned by senators and representatives about the administration's approach to advancing peace in Darfur.

 

Tomorrow, Special Envoy General Scott Gration will appear before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Obama administration's plan for peace in Sudan. This hearing could influence the implementation of the plan--and the fate of the Darfuri people.

 

The civil wars in the Sudan have been long and cruel.  According to a letter published in The Guardian, in the twenty years since President Al-Bashir took control over the Sudanese government, "he has waged two civil wars, taking the lives of more than 2.6 million people, and displaced a further 6.5 million."

 

We call on those of you with senators on the Foreign Relations Committee to urge them to seek answers about the Administration's plans for peace in the Sudan. Click here to send your senators an e-mail suggesting important questions prepared by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Please do so now!

July 22

Call for Comprehensive Reproductive Health Services in Health Care Reform

Several senators on the Finance Committee are seeking to eliminate comprehensive reproductive health services that include abortion in the health care reform legislation. Indeed, anti-abortion lobbyists and some legislators have indicated that if abortion is included in health care reform they would work to derail the legislation. If they are successful, low-income women will continue to be most heavily impacted but it could also lead private insurance plans to drop their current abortion coverage with many insured women losing coverage for abortion services.

 

Let your members of Congress know that comprehensive reproductive health services must be included in health care reform legislation.

  

Call for a New Trial for Troy Davis:  Stop the Death Penalty

 

Despite the lack of physical evidence connecting Troy Davis to the murder of a Georgia police officer, he was convicted and sentenced to death. Seven of the nine witnesses have since recanted their testimony. The Washington Post has reported that “several people have said that one of those who testified at Davis's trial, Sylvester "Redd" Coles, has admitted to them that he was the killer.”

 

Larry Chisholm, Chatham County District Attorney, has been asked to reopen Troy Davis's case to permit information that has emerged subsequent to the 1989 trial to be considered. Sign the petition to ask District Attorney Chisholm to reopen the case.

July 15

Follow Judge Sotomayor's Hearings

This past Monday, July 10th, the Senate Judiciary Committee began its hearings on Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court. The hearings provide an opportunity to hear the questions asked by the senators and Judge Sotomayor responses regarding her judicial philosophy and positions on legal issues important to us.

 

The National Women’s Law Center, NWLC, has prepared “The Thinking Woman’s Guide to the Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings,” on legal rights and protections, important to women, on which the court may have enormous impact in the coming years. Read the NWLC guide for background on key issues likely to be explored in the hearings, including the "right to privacy and Roe v. Wade, equal protection under the law, anti-discrimination, affirmative action, health and safety, and more."

 

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism will be covering the hearings on its blog and through video clips, so that you can see what is happening regarding issues that concern us as Reform Jews. For additional background, visit the RAC's judicial nominations issue page.

July 8

Immigration Reform 

Immigration reform appears to be the next major issue on the US national agenda - probably by mid fall. From its earliest history, the United States immigration policy has reflected the tension between policies of welcoming new immigrants and those of limiting immigration. Over the years, Jewish immigrants, our families, experienced both welcome and closed doors. We are now seeing failed policies for controlling immigration through raids and other punitive tactics.

 

HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, which welcomed so many of our grandparents to this country, has initiated We Were Strangers, Too, a new Jewish immigration campaign to urge our nation to pass comprehensive and humanitarian immigration reform in 2009.

 

Involve your sisterhood:

• Ask your rabbi to do a sermon on immigration policy this fall
• Urge your congregational leaders to have the campaign postcards in your temple's sukkah.
• Host a "Welcome the Stranger" program, which focuses on immigration from a historical and values perspective.

For more information and the HIAS resources for the programs listed above, contact Stephanie.Grosser@hias.org 

July 1

Call for Quality, Affordable, and Comprehensive Health Care

 

Many health care reform proposals are currently before Congress.  Urge your sisterhood members to call for legislation that will meet the needs of women and their families. Making our voices heard is more important than ever!

• Sign the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) pledge to speak to your family and friends about the urgent need for health care reform that will work for women and their families.
• Join the NWLC Health Care Reform Call-in Day on Monday, July 6. Sign up to contact your Members of Congress to urge them to support quality, affordable, and comprehensive health care for all.

Rallying for Health Care

 

Thousands of people rallied in Washington and around the country last week to call for quality, affordable health care this year. The Washington rally was held in front of the Capitol building, with actress Edie Falco and Dr. Howard Dean firing up the crowd. Senators Brown and Schumer and Representative Schwartz and others spoke of their work in Congress seeking real health reform. People from throughout the country addressed the rally about their problems with our nation’s inadequate health care system.

 

Click here to watch a video of the event.

June 24

A wonderful program - twin with an Israeli WRJ women’s group!
WRJ has a wonderful program for your sisterhood – twin with an Israeli WRJ women’s group!  This spring fifteen Israeli congregation-based women’s groups came together to found “WRJ-Israel.”  Individually, each of these women’s groups will formulate goals and develop programming to “energize the women of the congregation, support the congregation, reach out to one another, and empower their members, thus becoming stronger together”
 
The twinning program offers the opportunity to excite the women in your sisterhood and congregation by enabling them to make personal connections with Israeli women, create new social action and education programs, and learn first-hand about Israeli society and the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, while assisting the Israeli sisterhoods to meet their goals. 

 

Please contact Carolyn Kunin at ckunin@urj.org for all the information you need to develop an ongoing twining program for your sisterhood.

June 17

WRJ Social Action Rings – An Eight-step Program to Advocacy in Action

The “WRJ Social Action Rings – An Eight-step Program to Advocacy and Action” provides easy “how-to” guidance to help your sisterhood set up a vibrant social action program.  In providing an exciting vehicle for recruiting women from your sisterhood and congregation, WRJ Social Action Rings can also serve as a membership tool. It makes full use of the WRJ social action resources on the website to help your sisterhood advocate important social justice policies.

 

By focusing on women’s personal priorities, the rings program can generate enthusiasm and commitment and energize your sisterhood’s social action programming and advocacy.  The program also enables you to promote your social action image in the congregation through personal stories, scrapbooks, and Shabbat presentations. It also suggests steps for keeping the enthusiasm high.

 

As you begin to program for the 2009 – 2010 sisterhood year, plan to include an introductory meeting for the WRJ Social Action Rings program. Click here for full information about how to implement the program.

June 10

Seeking to Prevent Child Marriage Worldwide

 

Since its founding, Women of Reform Judaism has sought to advance children’s well-being in resolutions and with advocacy and community service projects. Based on this history and concerned about the often devastating impact of early marriage on girls’ health and lives, WRJ’s Board of Directors adopted a statement on June 8, 2009 that calls for legislation to provide for diplomatic and programmatic efforts to prevent child marriage. For more information see UNICEF’s Child Marriage. Watch for WRJ alerts on child marriage in the coming months.

 

Pray With Thousands to Support Health Care Reform

 

More than forty national faith organizations are planning the Wednesday, June 24th Interfaith Service of Witness and Prayer to call for comprehensive health care reform. This unprecedented interfaith event will take place at Freedom Plaza, Washington, D.C., from 5 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Guest speakers include: Rabbi David Saperstein, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism; Dr. Sayyid Syeed, Executive Director, Islamic Society of North America; and Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Pastor Emeritus, Riverside Church, NYC, and Executive Director, The Healing of the Nations Foundation. Attendees are encouraged to bring signs and banners of support. To learn more and to find local events around the country, visit:

• Website: http://www.webelievetogether.com/
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-DC/We-Believe-Together-Health-Care-for-All/80760168810?ref=ts 
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/believetogether

June 3

Interfaith Week of Prayer for Health Care for All: June 19-26

WRJ’s social justice e-mail last week alerted you to save the date for the biggest faith-inspired interreligious mobilization for health care reform that has ever been held.  The mobilization includes an interfaith service in Washington DC, as well as local events nationwide, from June 19th to 26th.

 

The Interfaith Service of Witness and Prayer for Health Care for All will be held on June 24th, 2009 from 5 – 7 PM in Washington DC at the Freedom Plaza (13th and Pennsylvania, near the Metro Center stop). We urge all sisterhood members from the Washington metropolitan area to attend the prayer service and, if possible, to come at 4 PM for a health fair. Thousands of religious advocates will gather to call on Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform this year.  Download the flier.

 

For sisterhood women around the country who want to participate in the mobilization, plans are in the works for candlelight vigils, health care Sabbaths, call-in days, letter-writing parties, and media events for a week, beginning on Friday June 19th, to focus attention on the urgent need for universal health care. Find an event in your community by going to webelievetogether.org and clicking on “Local Events” in the upper right hand corner. If no event is nearby, your sisterhood could sign up to host an event such as reaching out to women’s church groups to hold a community candlelight vigil – make sure to let media outlets know of your plans. This is the time to act – together we can make a difference!

May 27

A Sacred Aging Congregational Survey

The Sacred Aging program works with congregations to develop and implement creative and meaningful programs and resources. The program has developed a survey “Growing Older- Growing Better:  A Series of Questions On the Intersection of Judaism and Aging” to provide background for program and resource development. Cynthia Wolfe, WRJ’s representative to the Sacred Aging program, has worked with Rabbi Richard Address, director of the Department of Jewish Family Concerns, to bring this survey to WRJ. Please download the survey, respond to the questions, and send the completed survey to Rabbi Richard Address, Union for Reform Judaism, 633 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10017.

 

Take Action:  Ask Judge Sotomayer

The media has been full of the news of President Obama’s historic nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Judge Sotomayor brings outstanding intellectual, academic, and legal qualifications, including years as a practicing lawyer and as a judge. This background, as well as her life experience, has not been previously seen on the Supreme Court. For more information see the National Women’s Law Center’s statement

on Judge Sotomayer’s nomination.  The Senate confirmation process will provide us with even more knowledge about her background and how she understands the constitution and the affect of law on people.

 

The Religious Action Center (RAC) has set up a website to make sure your questions about Judge Sotomayer are heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Supreme Court is vital to the protection of our rights and liberties - so send in your questions to http://www.askjudgesotomayor.com/ and the RAC will make sure the Judiciary Committee sees them!

 

Make Health Care For All A Reality: Save The Date

Increasingly our nation’s families find health care unaffordable – reform of our health care system is essential to provide the services they need. On Wednesday, June 24th, thousands will gather in Washington, D.C.'s Freedom Plaza for an interfaith prayer service.

 

Beginning on Friday June 19th, for a whole week, religious advocates across the country will hold candlelight prayer vigils, health care Sabbaths, call-in days, letter-writing parties, media events and more to increase awareness of the ethical imperative of universal health care.  More information on the June 24th prayer service and local events will be provided in next Wednesday’s Social Justice e-mail.

May 20

Jewish Pluralism in Israel-- Exciting News

It is a hot day in Israel but we all have goose-bumps.
Anat Hoffman, IRAC Director

 The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) has just won a landmark case in the Israeli Supreme Court which ruled that conversion programs run by all streams of Judaism should be supported by the state. Anat Hoffman, IRAC’s Director, wrote “This is the first time that the Court has declared that government funding must be provided to non-Orthodox Jewish religious services in Israel.” Read the IRAC newsletter for more information about this precedent setting decision.
 
An Agenda for Affordable, High Quality Child Care
Last year, WRJ endorsed the National Women’s Law Center’s (NWLC) proposal for the future of child care, Developing America's Potential: An Agenda for Affordable, High-Quality, Child Care. Since then, several bills dealing with the goals sought by the Agenda have been introduced in this Congress. NWLC has prepared a new website to provide the current information needed to continue moving forward on the Agenda’s reforms with opportunities for child care advocacy.

We urge your sisterhood to endorse the child care agenda. Please ask your members to call on your Members of Congress to support increases for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and for Head Start in the FY 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. Both opportunities for advocacy are available on the NWLC’s new website.
 
Take action today by checking out NWLC's new agenda-based website.

May 13

The Torah: A Women’s Commentary Study Guide Program
Enliven your Torah study with the rich insights and thought-provoking suggestions in The Torah: A Women’s Commentary Study Guides. You can now access the study guide program directly.  You no longer need to register to access the site or to download the guides. 
 
Juvenile Justice 
The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) which has protected our nation’s youth for thirty-five years, is once again up for reauthorization. Since 1975 WRJ has strongly advocated juvenile justice legislation and has signed on in support of S 678, the current reauthorization bill, which strengthens and expands several of the JJDPA’s core protections.
 
The National Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Coalition is seeking support for the reauthorization bill by local organizations, such as your sisterhood, in each of the fifty states. To facilitate support, the coalition has drafted a sign-on letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee leadership, which contains the background you need to make an informed decision.
 
Sisterhood  Presidents: To sign on, email Shanta Gray at sgray@cfyj.org with the following language:  

• (Name of your sisterhood) signs-on to the letter regarding S 678 in support of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2009.
• Make sure to include your name, title, and sisterhood address.

The deadline to sign-on is: 5:00 pm EST on Tuesday, May 19th.

May 6

Thank Michelle Obama for Supporting Affordable High-quality Child Care

Access to safe, affordable, and high quality child care continues to be a problem for working families, particularly during these difficult economic times. Quality, affordable child care is essential when both parents work, but even more it provides children with a strong foundation for school and in social development. 

Michelle Obama has been helping to focus attention on the importance of affordable, high-quality child care for all families. The National Women’s Law Center has prepared a Mother’s Day message that you can send  to the First Lady, thanking her for her commitment to the child care needs of all women and families. You may want to take a few moments to add your own personal story about what child care means to you, your family, and the children in your community.

 

Reform Foreign Aid
Women and children are among the poorest of the global population. In many parts of the world women are not free to earn an income, feed their families, or protect themselves and their children from violence. U.S. Foreign Assistance has the potential to be a major force for good – and has done much good – but our assistance system is outdated and unable to help women escape poverty.
 
Our foreign assistance needs to be invested in economic opportunities for women, who may then lift themselves, their families and communities out of poverty. Those implementing our assistance programs need to listen to the needs expressed by those in the local communities for which it is intended.
 
Congress and the administration are increasingly interested in seeing more effective use of our foreign aid funds. But we need to let them know that we care about this issue and want to see our foreign assistance dollars used to efficiently fight world poverty.
 
Sign the Women Thrive petition asking President Obama and Congress to reform foreign assistance!

April 29

Urge the Senate to End Wage Discrimination Against Women
In the current economic climate an increasing number of families are dependent on women’s salaries. The disparity in earnings, with women earning seventy-eight cents, on average, to every dollar earned by men, is not only unjust to the 69 million American working women, but is damaging to them and their families. It not only keeps women’s take home salaries significantly lower than that of men—negatively impacting family income, it also reduces their potential total lifetime earnings, as well as benefits from Social Security and from pension plans.  For additional information, read Barbara Weinstein’s statement on the Religious Action Center website.
 
Call on your senators to end this unjust wage discrimination against women by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act and help to support families now and in the future.

April 22

WRJ Calls Needed for Senate Action on Breast Cancer Research

 

The National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) has alerted WRJ to call the Senate about the bipartisan dear colleague letter for the Department of Defense (DOD) Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP).  Senators Harkin (D-IA), Leahy (D-VT), Snowe (R-ME), Specter (R-PA) and Collins (R-ME) are currently circulating this letter, asking senators to sign a supportive letter to the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee calling for $150 million in appropriations, at the current funding level, for the DOD BCRP for 2010 fiscal year. The two letters are attached.

 

Please urge your senators to sign the letter to the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and show their support for ending breast cancer.  You can reach your senator’s office by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask for the senator or the staffer who is handling breast cancer legislation and convey the following message, as suggested by NBCC:

 

I urge you to show your support for ending breast cancer by signing the letter to the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee calling for $150 million - level funding – in appropriations, for the DOD peer-reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program for FY 2010.

 

If your senator agrees to sign the letter, ask that a call be made to one of the following staffers of the letter’s sponsors to make it happen: Jenny Wing in Sen. Tom Harkin’s office at 202-224-3254, Daniel Ginsberg in Sen. Pat Leahy’s office at 202-224-4242, Amy Pellegrino in Sen. Olympia Snowe’s office at 202-224-5344, Chris Bradish with Sen. Arlen Specter’s office at 202-224-4254 and Priscilla Hanley in Sen. Susan Collins’s office at 202-224-2523.

April 7

Introducing the New National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths Manual

 

The Children’s Defense fund has just introduced its multi-faith manual for the 2009 National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths. "Create Change for Children Today: Bring Hope and a Better Tomorrow" is the theme of its 2009 Children's Sabbaths weekend. Although our nation is in the midst of a severe economic challenge, and millions of children live in poverty, lack health care coverage, and do not have adequate educational resources, new policy initiatives in support of children and families are essential. We need to speak up for policies that will provide for the well-being of our nation’s children. The Children's Sabbaths manual includes resources for worship, educational programming, and advocacy to enable us to take action to create better lives for children. Stronger together, we can bring about our vision!

 

Become part of a nationwide effort by faith communities; pre-order your manual today –  $8.00 plus shipping and handling!

 

 

When working on next year’s sisterhood calendar, include a program focusing on the well-being of children for your sisterhood, work with your clergy to hold a children’s Shabbat service, or work with one or more local women’s church groups to plan an interreligious Children’s Sabbath event in October ‘09.

March 31

Sisterhood Alert! Send In Your Or Ami Submissions Now!
Send us your submissions for consideration for the 2009 Or Ami "Light of My People” Award for Excellence in Sisterhood Programming, to be presented at WRJ’s 47th Assembly in November. The deadline is April 24th, 2009; please submit electronically. Click here for guidelines and an application.
 
Advocate Humanitarian Immigration Reform
We recently sent you information about the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, HIAS, Progress by Pesach petition that calls on the administration and Congress to choose humanitarian immigration reform rather than the failed policies of enforcement through raids and other tactics for controlling immigration. If you have not yet signed the petition, this is your last opportunity to do so because they will be delivered tomorrow. Sign the HIAS Progress by Pesach petition now.
 
Welcome the Stranger:  An interactive Program for Your Sisterhood
Follow-up your seder’s inspiring words and urge your sisterhood to host a “Welcome the Stranger” program. It is an interactive program that looks at the history of Jewish immigration on a very personal level and also examines US immigration policies from the perspective of Jewish values. 
 
The Welcome the Stranger program uses multi-media resources to convey immigration themes. The event kit comes with a moderator’s reference guide, a 30-minute Welcome the Stranger DVD, and the materials you will need to hold the program. Moderator phone training is provided by HIAS. Contact Stephanie Grosser, Assistant Director, HIAS Washington Office (202.212.6024 or Stephanie.Grosser@hias.org) to request a Welcome the Stranger program kit and to sign up for moderator phone training.

March 25

Urge Your Members of Congress to Support the President’s Budget
In January 2009, WRJ’s Executive Committee adopted the statement Economic Priorities for the New Administration and Congress,which called for new budget priorities including expansion of child care and Head Start, creation of new jobs directed towards rebuilding and greening the infrastructure, and helping families stay in their homes. It also called for health care reform to cover all Americans.
 
President Obama’s budget addresses these needs and more. It provides funds to initiate the development of comprehensive health reform, for education, and for clean renewable energy, which will create jobs. For more information on the impact of President Obama’s budget on women, go to the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) website.
 
The budget process will be difficult, those seeking to pare and defeat President Obama's budget are mobilizing. The NWLC action page will provide information about calling Congress and telephone numbers for your senators and representatives: call today. Urge them to support President Obama’s budget.
 
Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education in 2009
On March 23, 2007 we urged you to call on your senators and representatives to co-sponsor the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg and Representative Barbara Lee, which would have provided the sexuality education needed by young people to make healthy and responsible decisions. It did not move in Congress.
 
Senator Lautenberg and Representative Lee have now reintroduced the REAL Act to fund medically accurate comprehensive sex education. Reverend Carlton W. Veazey, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) President and CEO, has written “this is morally right, politically smart and policy wise.”  Comprehensive sexuality education that teaches about both abstinence and contraception are effective in delaying the onset of sexual activity and increasing the use of protection when youngsters become sexually active.

This time around, with your help, it has a good chance for passage. Visit the RCRC Action Center to urge your senators and your representatives to support the REAL Act.

March 18

Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur
On 3/4/09 the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir, president of Sudan, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Read the court’s press release.  Almost immediately, the Sudan government expelled sixteen aid organizations from Darfur. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicates that nearly 1.1 million people will soon be without food, 1.5 million without medical care, and more than one million without drinking water.  With the loss of these vital resources, starvation and infectious disease are becoming rampant.

Please send a letter circulated by the American Jewish World Service to your representatives and senators. Let them know that you and your sisterhood members care about the plight of millions who are at risk because the humanitarian aid providers were expelled.

Darfuri Women
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) has recently launched DarfuriWomen.org. Darfuri women have experienced ongoing violence and rape since the onslaught of the violence that forced them to flee their villages. PHR sent a team of three physicians and a human rights investigator to Eastern Chad to interview Darfuri refugee women about the ways their lives were affected by this violence. Go to DarfuriWomen.org to see images from daily life in the camps, read the women's stories and the findings of the PHR team, and take action in support of the Darfuri women.

March 11

White House Council on Women and Girls Just Announced

 

According to the Washington Post, at 2:05 today, as part of the White House celebration of International Women's History Month, President Obama signed a groundbreaking executive order to establish the White House Council on Women and Girls. 

 

Read the entire Washington Post article, "Obama Announces New White House Council on Women and Girls."

 

Comprehensive Sexuality Education – Action Needed

Advocates for Youth, an organization that works for adolescent sexual and reproductive health, has alerted us that “abstinence-only lobbyists are gathering in Washington TODAY! It's time for science to trump ideology. Contact Congress as soon as possible!” This is not a political issue but one of providing the information that young people need in order to make healthy decisions.

 

WRJ considers the need to defund abstinence-only programs urgent, because they don’t work. The federal government has spent $176 million on failed abstinence-only-until-marriage programs annually. President Obama is signing into law a cut of more than $14 million to these failed programs. Abstinence-only programs are facing the possibility of loosing even more millions of funding in current federal budget planning.  To avert full defunding, abstinence-only lobbyists have organized numerous congressional meetings.

 

WRJ has long advocated funding for implementation of comprehensive sexuality education programs that teach both abstinence and safe sex methods. We need to let our elected officials know that America wants comprehensive sex education in schools.  

A New Program Resource for Yom Ha-Atzma’ut 

 

Our sisterhood women throughout North America have demonstrated that they enjoy getting together to study or to enjoy meaningful conversation. ARZA has developed a thoughtful and lovely program packet, Taking a Personal Stand on Israel: A Yom Ha-Atzma’ut, to enable your sisterhood members to reflect and talk about what Israel means to them. It includes a well-known poem by Natan Alterman, reflections on the poem by a young Israeli Jew and a young American Jew, and discussion questions.

 

Yom Ha-Atzma'ut, Israel Independence Day, is on the 5th of Iyyar, which this year falls on Wednesday, April 29th.  Plan a get-together sometime early that month at the home of one of your members or in a comfortable spot in temple and use Taking a Personal Stand on Israel to initiate serious and introspective conversation about our roles as Reform Jews in the Diaspora. The packet is attached, but you can also go to available on the ARZA website.

 

February 18

WRJ Urges Sisterhoods and Districts to Submit Successful Projects and Programs for Consideration for the Or Ami Award
With WRJ’s 47th assembly coming up in November, it is now time for you, as sisterhood and district leaders, to prepare your applications for the 2009 Or Ami "Light of My People” Award for Excellence in Sisterhood Programming. Because we are seeking to limit the use of paper for environmental reasons, all Or Ami communications, including submission of applications, will be handled electronically.  

Download the guidelines and application and submit the completed application electronically to ckunin@urj.org by April 24th, 2009.
 
The awards will be presented during our 47th assembly, which will be held November 4-8, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We will publicize all projects and programs to make them available for sisterhood use to fulfill our traditional mandate of tikkun olam, working towards healing our fractured world. Bring recognition to your sisterhood and share your best efforts. We look forward to receiving your submissions and to seeing you in Toronto.  If you have any questions, please contact Carolyn Kunin at 866-WRJ-5924 or ckunin@urj.org.
 
Support Religious Pluralism in Israel: Petition to Recognize Rabbi Miri Gold
If you have not had the opportunity to sign the ARZA petition “A Call to the Government of Israel to Recognize Rabbi Miri Gold,” do so now. Use this opportunity to support religious pluralism in Israel.
 
Download the URJ "Resolution Calling Upon The Government of Israel to Recognize Rabbi Miri Gold" and the ARZA petition, so that you can print them out to take to Shabbat services for the next two weeks to obtain additional signatures. ARZA leaders plan to present the petition and signatures to Israel's President Shimon Perez at the World Union for Progressive Judaism convention, Connections 2009, in Tel Aviv on March 22nd.  Please send signed petitions to the attention of Sandy Tankoos at the ARZA office (ARZA, 633 Third Avenue, New York, 10017). 

February 10

Federal Drug Policy: Speak Up For Harm Reduction
A New York Times editorial, “Time Lag In Vienna” on January 31, 2009 described the relief of public health experts in response to President Obama’s announcement, as stated on the White House site, that he "supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of [HIV] infection among drug users." Regretfully, the US delegation to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs meeting, to be held in Vienna in early March, does not reflect President Obama's position. Let President Obama know that you consider it urgent that the US delegation in Vienna be quickly advised to represent his policies.
 
ACTION: Send a short message, suggested text below, to the White House. Visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ and use the webform provided.

 

SUGGESTED TEXT FOR WHITE HOUSE E-MAIL

President Obama supports lifting the ban on federal funding for needle exchange, a recognized HIV prevention strategy.  But the US delegation to UN drug policy deliberations in Vienna is blocking efforts to include harm reduction measures such as needle exchange in the UN's drug policy declaration.

Please give the US delegation new instructions immediately, so that they can work with our allies who are supporting harm reduction, and send the message to developing nations that the US seeks to control AIDS and other addiction-related diseases.   

For additional background please see the Harm Reduction Coalition FAQ and a Huffington Post article on the issue.

February 4

Urge Your Senators To Support Economic Recovery Provisions That Help Women And Families 

 

Last week the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1), an economic recovery package that could provide support needed by women and their families. The Senate is now discussing its stimulus proposals.

 

Urge your senators to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and vote “NO” on amendments that would cut back help for women and families. Your participation is essential to assure that this bill is passed in a form that helps women and families while promoting a broad-based economic recovery.

 

Your senators need to hear from you; those who seek to scale back or eliminate the provisions of the bill that aid women and families are flooding the Senate with calls and e-mails. 

 

Click here to learn how the American recovery and reinvestment plan addresses women’s needs.

 

January 28

WRJ  Executive Committee Adopts Statement on Economic Crisis

 On January 26, 2009, the Women of Reform Executive Committee adopted a policy statement, "Economic Priorities for the New Administration and Congress," which discusses the social and economic priorities that WRJ considers important elements of an emergency stimulus package. These include legislation to address to address the urgent needs of impoverished Americans while boosting the economy.

 

Take action now on the WRJ Executive Committee statement by calling on your senators to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), as described below.

 

Senate Action on Expansion of SCHIP Needed!

Dial 1-800-828-0498 now and ask to speak to your senators. Urge them to support reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

 

SCHIP has provided funding for state health insurance programs for more than six million of the nine million uninsured children whose families' income is insufficient to provide for private health insurance but does not qualify for Medicaid.

 

SCHIP reauthorization and expansion are urgently needed. According to Families USA, a health care organization, in 2007 children without insurance were 13 times less likely to have a relationship with a primary care doctor or clinic. The program is now operating under a temporary extension that expires in March 2009. The House of Representatives passed legislation on January 14th, to reauthorize SCHIP, which would enroll 4 million more children and adults, including children of legal immigrants who have been in the country fewer than five years.

 

Now, the Senate must take action. It is imperative that Congress provides this program with the authority to cover millions of otherwise uninsured children.

January 21

Reproductive Health Policy 

Yesterday, the president of The Center for Reproductive Rights, Nancy Northrup, issued the statement "A New Era for Reproductive Rights," congratulating President Barack Obama on his inauguration and calling on the new administration to take six fundamental actions immediately to reverse recent harmful reproductive health policies and to enable women to have needed safe and affordable reproductive health care. She includes repealing the global gag rule and permanently suspending enforcement of the recent Department of Health and Human Services regulation that allows those providing healthcare services to refuse women basic care based on their own personal beliefs, as well as other essential reproductive health care policies. 

 

We consider the six immediate steps recommended by the Center for Reproductive Rights of utmost importance to the reproductive health of all women. WRJ urges you to read "A New Era for Reproductive Rights" and to take upcoming action on these steps as urged by WRJ and the Religious Action Center.

 

Plan An Important Program: Protecting Families From Malaria

Are you looking for a project to create community in your sisterhood and with your congregation—one that is easy, affordable, and does tremendous direct good for families in need?  Take another look at the Movement's Nothing But Nets project—saving refugee and needy families in sub-Saharan Africa from the scourge and death of malaria.  For just $10 donations, families in Africa receive insecticide treated bed nets and instructions on disease prevention.  The URJ Commission on Social Action would love to send you a promotional kit to get you started on a project.  There are also congregational mini-grants up to $500 available to help you with costs.  Visit urj.org/nets for information and ideas, and contact Rabbi Debra Goldstein, dgoldstein@urj.org, with any questions or to order a kit.  Send a net—Save a life!

January 14

ARZA Resources on the Continuing Crisis in Southern Israel and Gaza

According to a January 13th Haaretz.com article, Defense Minister Ehud Barak "said that the Israel Defense Forces would continue its campaign against Hamas in Gaza alongside diplomatic efforts to achieve a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group."

 

Go to the ARZA website for links to the Israeli and North American Jewish press and media to enable you to closely follow the crisis in Southern Israel and Gaza. The ARZA website also includes materials to deepen your understanding of the issues involved to inform your sisterhood members. This update is part of WRJ's ongoing effort to keep you informed about Reform Movement resources on Israel.

 

Support Religious Pluralism in Israel: Petition to Recognize Rabbi Miri Gold

ARZA is the sponsor of the petition "A CALL TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL TO RECOGNIZE RABBI MIRI GOLD," which you can find on its website. Use this opportunity to learn about religious discrimination against Rabbi Gold and take action by signing this petition to advance religious pluralism in Israel. Last year WRJ provided a $5,000 grant to the Israel Religious Action Center for litigation on behalf of Rabbi Miri Gold.

 

Jewish/Islamic Interreligious Study in the Galilee

Today's 10 Minutes of Torah: Israel Connections, on the URJ website, discusses a course on Judaism held for village imams in the Galilee by the Interreligious Coordinating Council of Israel over the past two years, which has now led to a successful class on Islam by one of the imams for members of local Jewish communities. Read it to become aware of Jewish/Islamic study even at this time of tension.

January 8

The Crisis in Southern Israel and Gaza

 

"We believe that military action must always be the last resort.  But more and more Israeli cities are now in range of Hamas' rocket-firing army of terror, and we know that the traumatized children of Sderot and neighboring towns can no longer be expected to live in constant fear."

- Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism

Women of Reform Judaism fully shares the Reform Movement's sadness and concern about the crisis in Southern Israel and Gaza and concurs with its position as expressed by Rabbi Eric Yoffie's statement "Reform Jewish Movement Responds to Gaza Violence"  We urge you to read it and to examine the many resources on the unfolding events in Israel and Gaza available on the URJ website. The Israel page is updated regularly and brings together many statements made by leaders of the movement, press and media reports, and prayers for Israel, as well as opportunities for humanitarian efforts, and donations.  You can even discuss the situation on RJ.org, the Reform Movement blog.

 

Many Jewish communities across North America are holding meetings and rallies on this crisis.  The Union for Reform Judaism is one of the supporters of Stand-Up & Support Israel, a rally to be held in New York on Sunday, January 11th at 11:00 A.M.on 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue (across from the Israeli Embassy).

 

Please make every effort to become informed, provide support for humanitarian aid, and fully participate in community meetings and rallies.

 

To the Point 2008