Instead of attempting to address 2.5 weeks that included the passing of a righteous Jewish Justice and a President who told white supremacists to "stand by" and then caught a deadly virus, I will make a quick note on our Governor's latest political move, which has real effects on your life, and ask you to join a session tonight with the Texas Civil Rights Project to know your voting rights.
Gov. Abbott has limited the number of mail ballot drop-off boxes to one per county. These were implemented to allay real fears of USPS interference hampering the right to vote by mail. Boxes were placed in multiple places, including downtown Austin, and 12 across Harris County, which has the size of Connecticut and the population of Alabama. Well, your Governor decided that was too much democracy. So now, in Travis County, if you have a mail ballot you want to drop off, you go only to 5501 AIRPORT BLVD.
This is not Abbott's first attack on voting rights, or Texas's. Voter registration is now closed in Texas; some states have automatic or same-day voter registration. Texas won't even let you register to vote online -- and you have to be deputized by the county to register others to vote, something no other state requires. Not to mention more blunt suppression, like the 5 year prison sentence Texas handed to Crystal Mason, a black woman who accidentally voted while ineligible (and whose vote wasn't counted). Or the time in 2010 when then-AG Abbott had police raid a Houston voter registration effort, confiscating then destroying everything. True Story.
But this is not to say that the system is rigged. Although certain incumbent politicians are doing everything in their power to subvert democracy, they still can't make it illegal to vote. They can make it annoying, but if you are stubborn and passionate about your Constitutional right to vote (a political power Jews have not always had), you can even vote out the ones who seek to suppress your vote. 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!
Religious Action Center - TX Event on Thursday at 7!
Register for ‘Know Your Rights as a Texas Voter’ Training, Thursday 10/8 from 7-8 pm
With less than a week until early voting begins in Texas (Oct. 13) and with election season already in full swing, the rules are changing. Governor Abbott’s recent order has forced the closure of mail ballot drop-off locations to one per county, and other issues are still under litigation.Register for our trainingwith Josh Levin from the Texas Civil Rights Project and get your questions answered so you can vote safely and effectively this election.
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
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 our Chavruaction Circle pilot program. The circles will continue after High Holy Days as we develop a plan to expand the opportunity 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.
ACTION: We have ONLY ONE MORE phone banking virtual event to reach out to marginalized communities through the Reform Movement's partnerships withCenter for Common Ground’s Reclaim our Vote Campaign: Sunday October 18, 7 P.M.
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:
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: We start by meeting one on one with government officials, community leaders, a diverse group of fellow advocates, and people impacted by the legal justice system. We learn about strengths and weaknesses of current approaches. We focus on developing positive relationships with all so they will work with us to make improvements to complex problems. Our approach has been successful, and we are considered a key voice for positive change.
Current areas of focus:
• Assure successful startup of the Travis County Public Defender Office • Improve quality and accountability of indigent defense • Obtain a grant in support of legal representation at first court appearance • Improve how accused are treated pretrial • Partner to implement Participatory Defense
Recent Meetings: • Betty Blackwell – President of the Board of Capital Area Public Defender Service • Roger Jefferies – Travis County Justice and Public Safety Executive • Jose Garza – Candidate for Travis County District Attorney • Adeola Ogunkeyede – Travis County Chief Public Defender
"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.
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) & Refugee Services of Texas
Check with Russ and Cathy for update on the TBS Refugee Task Force, Austin Sanctuary Network, and Refugee activities at CBI. They work closely with Ahmed Abbas, the Asylum Caseworker at RST.
We really could use either delivery helpers and/or grocery purchaser helpers for the food delivery each week. Please sign up at the RST Volunteer Hub. 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. However, these families are nearing the end of their 90 day case management services with RST and may not be receiving Austin rent assistance. We continuing 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. To date, we have raised over $13,000.
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 Event: It’s Time to Vote for Welcome When: 10/15, 12 PM What: The future of refugees and asylum hinge on the positions of the leaders we elect in November, and we are calling on all candidates to commit to welcoming refugees. During this “action call” we’ll hear stories from refugees and activists impacted by anti-refugee policies, and map out a plan for these last few weeks before the election.
Ongoing Action: Online Volunteer Orientation and Training Contact Lynn Burdick, RST Volunteer Coordinator. She will get you set up on the RST Volunteer Hub.
iACT - Refugee Youth Mentors Needed IACT's iLEARN Refugee Youth Program is currently seeking new mentors for refugee teens. Mentors work with a high-school-aged refugee for the school year. Mentors are asked to virtually meet with their student every week to help with homework, answer questions, and help with transition into American culture.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor for refugee youth, please contact Refugee Youth Program Coordinator Maggie Wagner at: mwagner@interfaithtexas.org
Upcoming Action: Volunteers are needed to either deliver groceries every Monday or purchase groceries for a family each week. Please contact Lorri Haden, Coordinator of Food Distributionlorrih@hotmail.com.
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
