What can individuals, families, and communities do to change their thoughts and behaviors in the context of increasing antisemitic incidents? Check out our resource page.
As Reform Jews, we make a collective effort to bring our values to bear in the community at large. We engage on issues of local, national, and global concern. We participate in interfaith coalitions and activities. We speak out on behalf of the vulnerable and we seek justice for all.
Temple Beth Shalom congregants interested in social advocacy are involved in the following efforts in the wider Austin community:
ATXKind, a grassroots group of Jewish women, some of whom are members of Temple Beth Shalom, determined to put the Jewish values of menschlikhkeit (common decency) and chesed (lovingkindness) on full display in a city and state that sorely needs more of both. Recent accomplishments of this group include:
• Working with city and public safety leaders to create a template for hate-threat reporting
• Advocacy that got city budget dollars allocated to:
- A public education campaign
- Updates to the city reporting systems to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate.
Texas Anti-Poverty Project is committed to reducing the cycle of poverty in Travis County. Our top areas of focus are living wage, inhibitors to employment, public education, and affordable housing.
Advocates for Social Justice Reform’s focus is to improve the Travis County criminal legal system. Work includes securing quality legal representation for the indigent and providing adequate mental health services to people currently housed in local jails.
Temple Beth Shalom congregants also participate every year in events like Austin PRIDE and NAMIWalks with the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Austin.
If you have questions or want to learn more about advocacy, please contact us.
Advocacy Questions and Answers
Why is advocacy central to Reform Judaism?
What can one person do to change the world?
What issues does Temple Beth Shalom care most about?
How can we address those issues?
I am interested in a different issue. What can I do?
How is advocacy different from service?
Why is advocacy central to Reform Judaism?
"The passion for social justice is reflected in the ancient words of our prophets and sages and in the declarations of our Movement's leaders throughout its history. The ancient command "Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof! Justice, justice shall you seek!" constantly reverberates in our ears. It has become deeply embedded in the Reform Jewish psyche. This charge has led to a long and proud tradition of political activism by the Reform Movement." - Rabbi Marla Feldman, Why Advocacy is Central to Reform Judaism
What can one person do to change the world?
A person can do a lot by speaking out individually and at public forums. A person can do more by joining with others to address issues of interest. A group of voices with an organized message has more power than many realize.
What issues does Temple Beth Shalom care most about?
Based upon a series of small group meetings, our congregation learned that mental health care, elder care, and education tailored to the needs of our children and grandchildren are most important to us personally. In addition, many demonstrate a community responsibility towards area affordability issues such as hunger, housing, and health care in general. We are a welcoming home for LBGTQ congregants and advocate for the community at large.
How can we address those issues?
An important step towards addressing issues is to better understand them and how they impact our families. We are in a focused process toward learning about mental health and eldercare issues. Temple Beth Shalom has partnered with Austin Interfaith and found that other congregations are interested in these issues, are anxious to learn and help, and have ideas as to how to proceed. Austin Interfaith is particularly helpful in teaching us all how best to make our voices heard.
Another step is for us to talk to many people one on one. Our biggest asset for making progress is relationships. We have been surprised at how much we can learn during a 30-minute personal conversation over coffee. Austin Interfaith can help us to structure those discussions.
I am interested in a different issue. What can I do?
Austin Interfaith is working on a number of issues. They have action teams working on education, health concerns, affordability, environmental justice, labor concerns, and immigration to name a few. There is a process for adding new issues brought forward by member institutions. Temple Beth Shalom brought forward the mental health and eldercare issues and they were added to the Austin Interfaith agenda. In addition, Bend the Arc, a Jewish Partnership for Justice, is creating a presence in Austin.
How do I get involved?
There are a number of ways to get involved.
- Help plan and/or lead congregational events and advocacy actions
- Attend Austin Interfaith monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of every month to:
- learn about issues,
- learn how to advocate,
- share success stories, and, most importantly,
- meet people interested in advocating for common concerns
- Join and/or form an Austin Interfaith Action Team
- Become a voter registrar, participate in get-out-the-vote activities, and/or help people make their voice heard
How is advocacy different from service?
The most straightforward answer is that service attempts to alleviate the immediate impact of problems in society (for example, Mobile Loaves & Fishes meal delivery). Advocacy attempts to address the systemic source of social issues (such as solving issues of access to mental health care). Temple Beth Shalom in involved in both advocacy and community service.
What is Austin Interfaith?
Austin Interfaith is a non-partisan, multi-ethnic, multi-issue organization of 37 congregations, public schools, and unions who work together to address public issues that affect the well being of families and neighborhoods in our community.
Austin Interfaith is a broad-based citizens' organization committed to promoting justice and democratic values. It works to develop leaders and to provide opportunities for member institutions to negotiate effectively through the political process with local government and community leaders around issues of common concern. Austin Interfaith is strictly non-partisan. It is one of thirty organizations of the West/Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation network and one of sixty-five organizations that make up the Industrial Areas Foundation.