Temple Beth Shalom Refugee Fund Donation Request
Anti-Poverty House Meeting on Sept. 16
A Word From Social Justice Coordinator Jason Taper
Shalom y'all! Social Justice is more important now than ever. I'm sharing opportunities to organize and respond from home.
Today's opening shpiel is a reprint of last week's, since the deadline to order postcards for marginalized communities is Aug. 28, and Congregation Beth Israel is celebrating the launch of a civic engagement campaign (and accompanying all-CBI survey below). We're less than 75 days from the election, so if you're 65+ or disabled, order that mail-in ballot today!
It's a precarious thing. Of course, something so precious would be: at its best, democracy allows a direct flow of power from the people back to themselves. It empowers even the most marginalized with a voice that's on equal footing with the most privileged. Democracy allows for our community to truly have its values reflected in the structures that govern us, something not a lot of Jews have historically gotten to experience. That the United States could maintain a democracy for this long is nothing short of a historical anomaly. Exceptional, you might say.
Yet our democracy started out much less than equal. Those not considered human weren't included. It's only through the struggle of people who protested because their existence was on the line that people of color and women have the right to vote. Amendments to the Constitution didn't just happen. They were the result of grassroots organizers, a movement of people organizing their community because they had to in order to have their voices heard.
Organizing for democracy didn't stop after the Suffragettes. Poll taxes, literacy tests, and outright violence still stood between the oppressed and the vote. Ever more subtle disenfranchisement replaces the blatant examples.
In Texas, you still can't register to vote online, or on the same day as the election. Texas is one of the only states to require voter registration by county, and not statewide. That's explicitly to stop movements like the Freedom Riders, or any coordinated statewide effort to let more Americans vote. Even the state's refusal to expand vote-by-mail stands between people and voting.
So is it any surprise we ranked 49th in the country in voter turnout in 2016? A ranking, by the way, that was a significant improvement from our previous 51st place (including D.C.). Votes are suppressed by design, by the vestiges of the same Jim Crow systems, as old as our democracy itself.
What can we do about it? The same thing Americans have always done about it: Organize. Reform Jews have committed to fighting for democracy, because we've seen the consequences of authoritarian countries: secret police. Democracy is good for the Jews. (Hot Take!)
Democracy isn't democracy unless everyone has equal access to it. And through Reclaim Our Vote, we have a chance to help fight for democracy. We can call and write to those whose votes have been so suppressed, political campaigns don't bother anymore. We can help remind those who need it most that unless their voices are heard, our democracy is still incomplete. So please, click the sign-up button below or order postcards directly from RAC-TX.
Regardless of shul affiliation, the point of contact for every initiative listed would be happy to have your help. And if you simply want to ask how best to be an ally, or how we got here, please reply to this email, fill out the form above, or call me. My email is jason.austinsocialjustice@gmail.com, and my number is 469-834-9987. Thank you!
For a More Perfect Union, Jason Taper, Social Justice Coordinator
Ongoing Action: 100% Voting at TBS & CBI: Congregation Beth Israel and Temple Beth Shalom have both had successful phone banks to increase turnout in this July 14 runoff, and are continuing that effort through to November. As we get closer to the November election, Reform Jews will participate in widespread voter engagement efforts. Temple Beth Shalom Contact: Sandy Dochen | smdochen@gmail.com Congregation Beth Israel Contacts: Mindy Lee | mindyem@gmail.com Liz Mitlak | mitlakej@gmail.com
Texas Voter Protection Coalition: RAC-TX joined the Texas Civil Rights Project's Voter Protection Coalition, and holds meetings with county elections officials across the state to advocate for best practices. Contact: Jason Taper | jason.austinsocialjustice@gmail.com
Work So Far: The RAC officially launched theEvery Voice, Every Vote: the Reform Movement’s 2020 Civic Engagement Campaign on May 7. Throughout the year, Reform Jews like us fight injustice by talking directly to our nation’s leaders. Our goal is not the success of one party, but the empowerment of our own community and ensuring that public policies reflect our Jewish values.
Now You Can Text to Get Your Voter Registration Form New voter? Or just need to update your address? Registering to vote is easy--just complete a one-page form. Now it's even easier with Text2Register. Simply text the word "register" to 48683 and get a link to a voter registration form. Learn more about your options for registering and also requesting a mail-in ballot, including deadlines.
CBI Social Action Committee
Upcoming Actions:
Congregation Beth Israel Social Action Committee is thrilled to have started a pilot program called "Chavruaction Circles" with 17 participants. The goal of this program is to explore anti-racism topics together and create a long-term initiative to build an anti-racist culture in our CBI and our local community. We look forward to expanding the program after High Holy Days.
ACTION: We ask that every CBI household to fill out this very brief survey to about your plan to cast your ballot so we can reach our goal of 100% voter participation. In congregations across the U.S., Reform Jews are joining in action, pledging to vote. By filling out this survey, you can help us contribute to the impact the Reform Jewish Movement can have in this nation-wide civic engagement initiative. You can also indicate interest to volunteer in this survey.
We are scheduling 3 phone banking virtual events to reach out to marginalized communities through the Reform Movement's partnerships with Center for Common Ground’s Reclaim our Vote Campaign. Dates to be announced soon.
Texas Civil Rights Project Election Protection Coalition TCRP's Election Protection Coalition, of which Temple Beth Shalom and Congregation Beth Israel are both a part, plays an integral role in ensuring that our elections in Texas are free and fair. And as Jews, we know the consequences of democracy's decline. So let's make sure it survives. Here are some ways to do that:
It takes a village. Our joint program to assist asylum-seeking families in Austin has been successful beyond our expectations! We have assisted the Austin Sanctuary Network in food purchase and distribution. We have assisted Refugee Services of Texas (RST) with tablets to access ESL services, and we have raised funds for critical rent assistance that has helped to cover all 25 families for July and August.
However, these families are nearing the end of their 90 day case management services with RST and all are applying for rent assistance through city of Austin programs. But, this program will be distributed on a lottery basis and we fear many families may not be selected.
As a result, we are re-doubling our efforts now to raise emergency rent and food assistance funds through our ongoing joint effort to contribute to the Temple Beth Shalom Refugee Fund.
Please help us welcome the stranger during this critical and important season and give what you can to this fund. Every contribution helps! And, thank you!
Upcoming Events: RST Texas Virtual Giving Day Kickoff Event When: Sept. 17 What: A film screening of Unsettled, followed by a panel discussion along with raffle, and an Ethiopian Coffee and Popcorn Demo! For tickets and more event info, click here.
Interested in Online Volunteer Orientation and Training? Contact Lynn Burdick, RST Volunteer Coordinator. She will get you set up on the RST Volunteer Hub.
Work So Far: During our Jews for Refugees assembly held on February 2, 2020 we were privileged to have many non-profits attend. HIAS, our partner in this endeavor, put together a flyer entitled "What Should we Do Next?"with opportunities to get involved. Our shared histories and current circumstances reveal how we are all dependent on one another.
Jewish tradition is filled with commandments to help the poorest among us: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the widow and orphan. When we organize to place working class voices at the center of how our community morally responds to poverty, we not only improve the advocacy we undertake, but fundamentally empower those who the Torah compels us to uplift.
Advocates for Social Justice Reform (Equal Justice Initiative)
Contact: Bob Batlan | bobbatlan1@gmail.com Email Bob for a Zoom invitation and/or to join our mailing list. Ongoing Work:
Recent Forum for an Equal Justice system to spotlight unequal outcomes from arrest onwards.
Meetings with Chief Public Defender, state and county officials, judges and nonprofit leaders to improve Indigent Defense.
"Justice, justice, you shall pursue." A just system of laws is ingrained from Leviticus through King David through every contradicting comment in the Talmud. Even an eye for an eye is blind to whose eye is taken, so we organize for a criminal justice system that is truly fair and impartial.
Upcoming Action: Volunteers are needed to either deliver groceries every Monday or purchase groceries for a family each week. Please contact cathybquilter@gmail.com (512-217-9613) or Lorri Haden, Coordinator of Food Distributionlorrih@hotmail.com.
Ongoing Action: Supporting Hilda and Iván in Sanctuary
Work So Far: protecting Hilda Ramirez and her son Iván, who are Guatemalan asylum seekers, from ICE detention and deportation to certain danger, for 4 years
“The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love them as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” So we show our love and solidarity with Hilda and Iván whenever we can.
And if there's anything you're involved in that's not on this list, let me know, and it will be! Here's the blurb format:
Committee or Nonprofit Name Upcoming Event/Action: When: Where: Contact: (name, email, phone # optional) Work so far:
Stay home and safe, Jason
Temple Beth Shalom 7300 Hart Lane Austin, TX 78731
