by Haya Luftig
Posted on February 28, 2018
On August 11 and 12, 2017, white supremacists gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia, for a large rally they called “Unite the Right.” The event, which was ostensibly organized to protest the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee from a local park, featured a torch-lit march, racist and anti-Semitic signs and chants (including “Jews will not…
by Haya Luftig
Posted on February 28, 2018
Since its founding in 1944, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) has adopted policy resolutions declaring our commitment to the elimination of racial segregation and discrimination.[1] Working toward an inclusive, fair, and just society is a cornerstone of Jewish communal relations work.[2] This flows from our values as a Jewish people and our recognition…
by Haya Luftig
Posted on February 26, 2017
The Jewish people’s commitment to voting rights is rooted in our sacred obligation to pursue justice, in our historical experiences, and in our commitment to cherished rights. A 2011 Jewish Council for Public Affairs resolution on elections began with the core premise that “The cornerstone of democracy is the election process.” Unfortunately, the integrity of…
by Haya Luftig
Posted on February 26, 2017
Intimate partner, domestic, and sexual violence affect our society at an epidemic level. In their lifetime, an estimated 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced physical violence by a partner, and an estimated 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men have experienced some form of sexual violence. Domestic…
Posted on May 17, 2016
Whereas the global history of the Jewish people is replete with case studies in community relations: from Queen Esther’s intervention, which saved the Jewish people from extermination in Shushan, to Casar Kaskal, whose appeal to President Lincoln saved Jews from expulsion in Kentucky at the hands of General Ulysses S. Grant; Whereas the hallmarks of…
Posted on May 17, 2016
Wage theft comes in many forms—shaving minutes off the time clock, depriving workers of break time, withholding insurance contributions but not paying the insurance companies, using sham corporations to elude payment, misclassifying employees as independent contractors, misclassifying employees as salaried workers to avoid paying overtime, and retaliating against employees who complain about such conditions. Many…
Posted on May 17, 2016
In 2015, events of tremendous scope indicated an immediate need for climate action and emissions reductions, recognized across many faiths and many nations. Through the National Religious Partnership for the Environment we have long joined with Protestant, Evangelical, and Catholic brothers and sisters in faith in our strong stand to care for creation. Pope Francis…
Posted on February 29, 2016
Older Americans who are living in poverty often suffer in silence, living in the shadows while trying to make ends meet. A single life change—a costly illness, loss of a job, or death of a spouse—can quickly threaten the financial stability of seniors. This has become especially true during the most recent recession. Older…
Posted on October 8, 2015
Guided by our own history as refugees as well as our shared biblical and prophetic mandate to protect and welcome the stranger, the American Jewish community has always been a stakeholder in refugee resettlement and protection, both in the U.S. and in other countries— offering new beginnings, including helping to welcome more than three million…
Posted on October 8, 2015
The rights of workers have long been a bedrock social justice concern and a priority of American Jews. With strong Jewish leadership, major achievements such as the minimum wage, the forty-hour work week, the abolition of child labor, and family and medical leave have enhanced the quality of life for millions over successive generations. …