Tzedek Blog

Dear Social Justice Friends,
 
We hope you and your family enjoyed a happy and meaningful holiday season. With the changing of the seasons comes more opportunities to become involved, learn more about and advocate for Social Justice for all citizens. We hope you will reach out to the contact individuals listed below if one of these opportunities is a good match for you. 
 
All the Best,
Marion Pollock
Tzedek Newsletter Editor




TSARP (Temple Shalom Afghan Resettlement Project) Update from Margaret Brill, Mark Gottesman and Kurt Pressman

During September, Temple members responded quickly and generously to the messages about our Temple Shalom plan to sponsor an Afghan family being resettled in Massachusetts via the Human Parole program. Around 30 Afghan families are expected to arrive in Massachusetts during October. When we secure housing for a family, we will be able to get a family assigned to us. TSARP co-leader Mark Gottesman and other volunteers have been working hard to locate an apartment, and are starting to have some success despite the difficult market; meanwhile, Temple members made  financial donations  and  volunteered to help on the many activities that we will need to do to prepare for and support our family when they arrive. Subcommittee leaders have stepped up and will be starting to contact volunteers soon. We are so grateful for this outpouring of support, and want to remind you to  donate  and  volunteer  if you haven’t had a chance yet. Also, please contact  Mark  if you know of an affordable 2 or 3 bedroom apartment.
 
We’d also like to highlight a few volunteer activities that still need significant help. First, welcoming and face to face volunteers – these are people who can devote a significant amount of time each week to helping the family directly (with agency support from Catholic Charities and Jewish Family Services). This is one of the most rewarding activities despite the time commitment. If you would love to do this but are concerned that you don’t have the time perhaps you could share a role with a friend. Second, we also need volunteers who can be available to help move donated furniture and other items from donors' homes to temporary storage locations and ultimately to the family's new apartment.
Able to help with either of these? Questions? Please email tsarp4948@gmail.com .



General Immigration Update

Many of us have looked with concern at the situation on the Texas border in the last weeks and wondered what we might be able to do to help. RAICES – Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (raicestexas.org)  is an organization that provides support and advocacy at the Texas border.  Take Action – RAICES (raicestexas.org)  provides a number of quick advocacy actions you can take. Although it doesn’t contain anything specific to Haitian deportees at this moment, please keep looking because it is likely to be updated when there is something to do.
 


Reproductive Justice

In early September the Supreme Court allowed Texas' near total ban on abortion to go into effect.  And in December, the Court will hear another case that could further undermine the precedent of Roe v. Wade.  In addition, the passage of the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) looks less likely as Senator Susan Collins of Maine has stated that she will not support it.

As Rabbi Berry said so powerfully on Yom Kippur, "Choosing life does not mean we can impose our own narrow understanding of the world onto others.  Choosing life does not mean we can strike our fellow human being, or worse, hunt our fellow human being down.  Choosing life is choosing to live by our highest aspirations: love and understanding, fairness and kindness; the values and ideals that are truly commanded by God."

The stakes of this moment could not be higher.  On OCTOBER 27, the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)  will have a virtual launch of a new campaign:   73Forward  - a Jewish communal movement with the goal to increase on-the-ground access to abortion care for anyone who needs it.  As we approach the official campaign launch event, you can join the movement today.   
For more information contact Arlene Pressman arpressman@gmail.com.



Voting Rights

This summer was the first time the Reform Movement organized virtual lobby meetings on a nationwide scale, and it was truly inspiring to see so many Reform Jews come together for the Freedom to Vote. Over 5,000 individuals registered to take part in the Reform Movement’s lobby meetings with 47 senators and senate offices. The forces supporting the freedom to vote are equally balanced with the forces that want to limit voting. Collectively, we are helping to tip the scales toward the freedom to vote.

Please join the Reform Movement on October 6 at 8pm ET as we mark the transition from lobby meetings to the Reform Movement’s next freedom to vote action: phone banking days November 8-11.

The Postcard Project:

The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA)  is also working to preserve voting rights, and they are currently organizing a postcarding campaign in Florida. 

14,900 new voters have registered in Florida since the November 2020 elections. For this postcard campaign, JALSA volunteers will be sending postcards to these newly registered voters to welcome them to the democratic process and to encourage them to participate in their very first election on November 2, 2021

If you are interested in participating in this campaign please use the following links to register for one of two campaign informational sessions:  JALSA Impact Partners Informational Sessions beginning -  Thursday, September 30, 2021 - Thursday, October 28, 2021

• Volunteers only duties will be to complete the postcards by filling in the messaging, the recipient's mailing address, putting on the provided stamp, and dropping your completed postcard bundle directly in the mail.The names, addresses, and message script will be provided by our partners at Faith In Florida. 
• Once completed, postcards must be received by the recipients on or by Monday, October 25, 2021
• If you are interested in receiving a packet of postcards, please contact Arlene Pressman, who will be receiving the postcards directly from JALSA

Racial Equity Diversity Inclusion (REDI/DEI)

If you were unable to participate in the REDI trainings offered by the URJ over the summer, there will be two introductory opportunities coming up this month.  These trainings are very valuable ,and excellent resource materials are provided.  Unfortunately, the sessions are not recorded.  
For more information contact Arlene Pressman
​​​​​​​
REDI 101 
October 12, 20218-9:30 PM, ET
This session can be attended as a stand-alone training or can be attended in conjunction with the 3-part series noted below.
https://urj.org/calendar/jews-color-people-color-reform-movement-affinity-space-gathering-september-2021

REDI 101 
October 15, 202112-1:30PM ET
This session can be attended as a stand-alone training or can be attended in conjunction with the 3-part series noted above.
https://urj.org/calendar/racial-equity-diversity-and-inclusion-redi-101



Legislative Priorities

Voting rights - Urge the Senate the Support the Freedom to Vote Act

The Freedom to Vote Act has been introduced in the Senate. This revised voting rights bill would establish national standards for federal elections that will create a transparent process that all Americans can trust. Tell your Senators to support the Freedom to Vote Act and make the promise of democracy real for us all. 


Food Insecurity

Volunteer for the Temple Shalom Freedge Team

Join us as we support the Freedge once a week on Tuesdays. Volunteer tasks include monitoring, cleaning, shopping and re-stocking. The tasks are family-friendly and we welcome volunteers of all ages to participate. 


Drivers to Deliver from Food Pantries to Families in September and October

Calling all volunteers to help deliver food from food pantries in Newton to families who are unable to access the pantries themselves. The list of families needing our help to access the pantries continues to grow, so we need additional drivers and backup drivers for all delivery days in September, October, and November. This activity takes about an hour to complete. The fall schedule is:

• Every Wednesday afternoon from Newton Food Pantry, pick up food at assigned delivery times between 12 noon - 3pm. NOTE: Newton Food Pantry is moving to scheduled pickup times in September and will be asking drivers to go into the pantry to check in with an NFP volunteer and pick up the pre-bagged groceries.
• The 3rd Friday of the month from the American Legion Nonantum Post 440 Mobile Food Bank, pick up food 9 - 9:15am (before pantry opens to the public).
• The 3rd Saturday of the month from Centre Street Food Pantry, pick up food at assigned delivery times between 12 - 2pm.

September signups are here:  https://volunteersignup.org/4CBKQ
October signups are here:  https://volunteersignup.org/L73TL
November signups are here:  https://volunteersignup.org/JLC4W