321ACTION: January 15, 2024
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, theologian, philosopher, and sage, was the preeminent Jewish leader in the civil rights movement. He wrote movingly about the Jewish imperative to seek equality and justice. On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, read his 1963 speech, Religion and Race, about the fundamental incompatibility of racism and religion as we reflect on both how far we have come in the past sixty years and how far we have yet to go.
Ready to make a difference?
Here are three ways to get started:
1. Learn about women victims of violence in Israel!
JWI is co-sponsoring a panel of Israeli leaders of domestic violence and sexual assault programs to share what they are seeing day to day, and discuss the effects of the war on women victims of violence in Israel. Please join us to hear their voices and stories. Let's offer support, validation, and a listening ear to our colleagues on the ground in Israel! To join JWI for the panel discussion on January 17th at 12:00 PM ET/9:00 AM PT, register here.
2. Join Repro Shabbat!
On February 9-10, congregations and Jews across the country will be celebrating Repro Shabbat. Repro Shabbat provides an opportunity to honor the important Jewish value of reproductive freedom as we read Parshat Mishpatim, the portion of the Torah commonly used as the foundation of Judaism's approach to reproductive health, rights, and access. Learn more about Repro Shabbat and get involved today!
3. Support the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act!
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides vital economic support for people with disabilities. However, because the asset limit for participants has not changed since 1989, many people with disabilities who need financial assistance cannot save money, because they will become ineligible for the program. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to support the bipartisan SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act to raise the asset threshold for SSI.