14 Tevet 5764                                            January 8, 2004

1. THIS WEEK’S JEWISH ALLIANCE AND COALITION MEETINGS

State House Rally to Support Goodridge Decision
and Oppose Anti-Gay Legislation
Thursday, January 8 12:00 noon
Nurses Hall, State House, Boston
Easier to move through State House Security if
you leave brief cases and packages in your office

Committee on Law and Social Action
Thursday, January 8 1:00 pm
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320
Special starting time to allow for attendance at State House rally
Volunteers Needed to help with several amicus briefs

Committee on Law and Social Action
Thursday(s), January 15, 22, 29 12:30 pm
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320

JALSA Executive Committee Meeting
Wednesday, January 21 12:30 pm
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320

Young Social Activists Meeting on the Goodridge Decision and Gay Marriage
Sunday Night Forum
January 25 at Temple Ohabei Shalom, Brookline 5 to 7:00 pm
Understanding the SJC Decision and pending Massachusetts legislation
Panel presentation by Magen Mishpacha, a social action program of Temple Israel
including Karen Lowey of GLAD, and others
Light Supper served at 5:00 ($5 voluntary contributions appreciated)
Bring potluck appetizers or desserts
RSVP cindy@jalsa.org. 

Alliance for High Standards NOT High Stakes
Monday, January 26 10:00 to 12 noon
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont, Suite 320, Boston

JALSA Board Meeting
Tuesday, January 27 7:30 pm
Cameron House on the Campus of the JCC, Newton

Upcoming JALSA Presentations
How Does the US Patriot Act Effect You? Are you safer now?
Thursday, January 22, 7 pm
Hingham Public Library, 66 Leavitt St., Hingham
Joel Eigerman, Andrew Fischer, Allan Roth
Co-sponsored by South Shore Peace Forum, Congregation Sha’aray Shalom,
and the Study and Action Group of Old Ship Church, First Parish Unitarian

Erosion of civil liberties since 9/11.
Friday evening, January 23 Temple Ohabei Shalom, Brookline
Allan Roth and Sheila Decter
Friday evening services, dinner, and presentation
Call synagogue for further information 617.277.6610

Social Action Sabbath
Saturday afternoon, February 14
Temple Isaiah, Lexington
Lou Finfer, Sheila Decter, and JOI Fellow

3. LEGISLATIVE ACTION 

Take the time to become educated on issues around #3190, the Super-DOMA
This proposed Defense of Marriage constitutional amendment is an effort to
deny civil rights to many of Massachusetts citizens. It would not only prevent
same sex marriages, but it could jeopardize adoptions, domestic partnership benefits
and interfere with the lives of many families.
see: www.massequality.org. 

Watch for careful definition of terms and proposed legislation.
The SJC has said that "marriage" cannot be denied to Massachusetts citizens.
Hundreds of legal benefits derive from marriage. Some members of the legislature
are suggesting civil unions. Civil unions, however, do not supply all of those benefits.
For a very good understanding of the differences between "civil union" and "marriage"
see: www.glad.org/Publications/CivilRightProject/OP7-marriagevcu.shtml. 

Also understand the difference between civil "marriage" and religious "marriage."
The SJC decision does not order any religious body to convey "marriage." It refers to
governmental decisions, not religious decisions. Thus, the Catholic Church or Jewish religious
institutions remain free to determine who is eligible for marriage in their religious traditions.
The Court, here, has determined that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is not free
to make distinctions on the basis of sex.

4. OUR WISH LIST

Office needs: Secretarial Chairs, PC Notebook
Contact decter@jalsa.org.  or call 617-227-3000.

Volunteers:
Many amicus briefs are in preparation.
Please let us know if you would like to work on one of these.
Contact Sheila Decter in the office: decter@jalsa.org. 
 

5. COMMUNITY EVENTS OF NOTE

Discussion of current threats to Reproductive Rights and
Preparations for Washington Women's March for Reproductive Freedom
Melissa Kogut, Exec. Director, NARAL Pro-Choice MA
Tuesday, January 13 7 pm
RSVP for location to Diane Kolb dikolb@comcast.net.

Boston Jewish Women's Coalition
Wednesday, January 14 9:30-11 am
Hebrew College, Newton
Discussions on BJWC Resource Guide and efforts to
focus community efforts on the needs of girls
For information, contact Diane Kolb dikolb@comcast.net

Boston Martin Luther King breakfast, Monday, January 19
tickets available $35.
Call JALSA office for information

The Massachusetts Board of Education - Who They Are, What They Do and Why You Should Care
Wednesday, January 21, 7:30 pm
Martin Luther King Room at Brookline High School (snow date: January 28)
Co-sponsored by Brookline Educators Association(BEA), Brookline CARE, Brookline PAX
an informative presentation and discussion about how education policy is made in Mass.,
with a focus on the Commonealth Board of Education, its members and leaders,
and how the Board's decisions affect Brookline schools.
Parents, teachers, students and citizens are all affected by the Board's policies,
from MCAS implementation (who graduates and who doesn't), to the determination
of "underperforming" schools (which could be taken over),
from teacher licensure (who teaches), to curriculum (what is taught).
Come find out about our education policy makers, how our schools are affected
and what we can do about it.
For more information, contact Julie Johnson at 617-878-8315 or 617-738-9838

Tekiah - Jewish Call to Action
2 remaining sessions of a 3-part Series on Jews and Privilege
Intersections between anti-Semitism and other forms of oppression.
Sunday, Jan. 25: 1 to 4 pm.
Workmen's Circle, Brookline
Workshop leaders:
Idit Klein, Director of Keshet & Lisa Gallatin of Workmen's Circle.

Jews doing social justice work in low-income communities of color.
Wed. January 28: 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Roxbury Children's Services, 2406 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA, near Dudley Square.
Panel includes State Senator Dianne Wilkerson; Randall Rucker, Director, Roxbury Children's
Services; Horace Small , Director, Union of Minority Neighborhoods.
For more information about this, workshop or other up-coming workshops,
contact the Jewish Organizing Initiative at 617 -350-9994, or
www.Jewishorganizing.org.  or contact Tekiah at 617-718 9285 ext 1 or e-mail
tekiah_boston@hotmail.com.

4th Annual Conference on Literacy
Sunday, February 8 at Brandeis University 9:30-2:30
Hassenfeld Conference Center, Brandeis University, Waltham
Jewish Coalition on Literacy, JCRC
 www.jcrcboston.org/literacy/Conference2004/index.htm.

HOW WILL "NCLB" AFFECT BROOKLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
Wednesday, February 11 7 to 9 p.m.
("new") Lincoln School, Kennard Road
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) represents an unprecedented level of involvement
by the federal government in local schools, for better or worse. It has also created
an unprecedented level of controversy, not about its stated goals, but about its methods.
For good or ill, its sweeping mandates will affect every family and every public school.
Moderator: The Honorable Nancy Gertner, U.S. District Court
Panelists:
Dr. Jennifer Fischer-Mueller, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, BPS
Dr. Ron Fitzgerald, Superintendent of Schools, Minuteman Regional High School, Lexington
Dr. Monty Neill, Executive Director, FairTest, Inc.
Dr. Kevin Lang, Vice Chair, Brookline School Committee
Questions and answers to follow
Co-sponsored by: JALSA, Brookline Educators Association, Brookline Special Education Parent Advisory Council,
Brookline Foundation, Brookline Human Relations/Youth Resources Commission, Newton CARE, CPS

JCPA Plenum
February 21-24, Park Plaza, Boston
Call JCRC for further information, 617-457-8600

Suggested Reading:
Note from JALSA Board Member (and Webmaster) Phil Sego
Al Franken’s Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right
ISBN: 0525947647
"While many liberal/progressive columnists and pundits point out inconsistencies in the political right’s
constant stream of invective, Franken methodically investigates their so-called “facts”, exposing many
widely held beliefs as right-wing lies. Franken takes on Anne Coulter, Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity,
Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, Rich Lowry, and many other right wing notables. From the
Wellstone Memorial Service to Willie Horton, Franken has found the truth – and it’s frightening.
This is one of the most enlightening books I have read in years. Franken’s meticulous research,
entertaining style, sense of humor, and political integrity have combined to make this book a “must-read”."

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