April 10, 2003

Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action - www.jewishalliance.org
18 Tremont Street, Suite 320, Boston, 02108 - tel: 617-227-3000 fax: 662-796-6625

Week of April 3, 2003 1 Nissan 5763
Preface - A Note from Alliance Director Sheila Decter
1. This Week’s Jewish Alliance Events
2. Upcoming Jewish Alliance Events
3. Legislative and Action Alerts
4. Our “Wish List” and Volunteer Opportunities
5. Community Events of Interest
6. Support the Jewish Alliance!

Dear Friends:

Many rallies at the State House are being held over the next few weeks to protest
budget cuts. Participate, lobby, call your reps to insist that government have sufficient revenue to provide the services needed for education, human services, health coverage, environmental protection, and all the basic and essential responsibilities of government.

The message is "enhanced revenue, not further cuts in services."

Sheila Decter

1. THIS WEEK’S JEWISH ALLIANCE AND COALITION MEETINGS

Advocacy Day
Jewish Community Relations Council and MAJF
co-sponsored by JALSA
Thursday, April 3 9-11:30 pm
State House, Boston
Advocate on: Adequate Resources for vital state programs
Self-sufficiency for low-income families
Services for seniors
Programs for people with disabilities and their families
(Remember to come early with ID to gain entrance to building)

Special teen lunch and debriefing afterward, with notes for principals about
the useful civics lesson of the morning experience.

Working Committee on Law and Social Action
Friday, April 4, 12:30
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320, Boston
Continuing efforts on separation of church and state issues, civil rights, and tax policy.
Work on efforts to curb excesses of US Patriot Act I and II; work to protect independence
of the courts and disclosure of sweatshop conditions. Bring your lunch and join a
discussion on public policy issues and development of strategies on important issues.

How Low Can We Go?:
The State Budget and Tax Policy
JALSA Young Social Activists
Sunday, April 6, 5 -7 pm
Temple Ohabei Shalom, 1187 Beacon Street, Brookline
State Representatives Ruth Baler and Frank Smizik and
Noah Berger, Executive Director, MA Budget and Policy Center
How much can we cut from the state budget before the public cries out? Education , health care, housing, human services, and the environment are all at risk. Should we be proposing major changes in tax policy instead of decimating services?
Light supper; childcare; RSVP to cindy@jalsa.org.

2. UPCOMING JEWISH ALLIANCE AND COALITION EVENTS

Repeat Technology Seminar for Progressive Organizations
Sponsored by JALSA
Response was so positive, we are scheduling this again.
Tuesday, April 8, 10am-12 noon
CHAPA Conference Room, Room 401, 18 Tremont Street, Boston
Josh Friedes of the Freedom to Marry Coalition will again provide us insight on better use of
emailing technology to expand distribution of progressive messages. Learn how to "get out" the message about revenue enhancement rather than continued cuts in government.
Come to this session and learn how to convey our message to as many people as possible and to learn how to identify our audience for future mailings.
RSVP of your interest so that we let you know as soon as the date is set. decter@jalsa.org.

JALSA Executive Committee
Tuesday, April 8, 12:00 noon
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Boston, Room 320

Boston Jewish Women's Studies Coalition
Thursday, April 10, 9 am
Hebrew College, Herrick Road, Newton
Planning of a conference on gender needs of teen-age girls
Sharing of resources and planning of programs for women
Spotlight on programs for bat mitzvah time

Focus Group engaging the input of high school girl
students to plan forthcoming conference
May 4
For further information, write Dena Judah judahdena@hotmail.com. or
Sheila Decter decter@jalsa.org.

Alliance for High Standards NOT High Stakes
Thursday, April 10 10-12am
JALSA Office, Room 320, 18 Tremont Street, Boston
Continued efforts to get the high stakes component of the MCAS exam removed

Citizens for Public Schools
Thursday, April 10 12:00 noon
JALSA Office, Suite 320, 18 Tremont Street, Boston
Union issues in Governor Romney's proposed budget
Charter School Suit
Update on State Budget
Note: Change in Agenda. Voucher Forum postponed; date tba

Working Committee on Law and Social Action
Friday, April 11, 12:30 pm
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320 Boston
Continuing public policy issues. Meetings open to all.
Bring your lunch and join a discussion on public policy issues and development of
strategies on important issues.

Current changes in civil liberties; what they portend for the role of Government
JALSA director Sheila Decter speaking
Friday, April 11, 8 pm
Temple Shir Tikvah, Winchester

Working for Equity and Excellence in our Public Schools, Not MCAS
Coalition on Authentic Reform in Education -- MassCARE Conference
Saturday, April 12, 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Small Science Auditorium, U/Mass Harbour Campus
Participants include Boston City Councillors Chuck Turner and Felix Arroyo; elected School Committee members Alan Price (Cambridge) , David Kotz (Northampton), Paul Dunphy and Michael Hussin (Amherst); parent leaders, teachers, students; and legal experts
Registration and Program Information at
http://www.caremass.org.

Mass. Alliance Against Sweatshops
Monday, April 14, 4-6 pm
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320, Boston

Sundown, Wednesday, April 16 is the first evening of Passover.
Sunday, April 20 is Easter
We wish all our members and friends meaningful holidays.

JALSA Executive Committee Meeting
Tuesday, April 22, 12:00 noon
JALSA Office, Suite 320 18 Tremont Street, Boston

Jewish Identity and the Labor Movement: Past and Present
Steve Lerner, National Director of Justice for Janitors and
A Besere Velt (A Better World), Boston Yiddish Community Chorus of the Workman's Circle
With an overview by Joyce Antler,
Samuel Lane Professor of American Jewish History and Culture, Brandeis University
Sunday, April 27, 7-9 pm
Hebrew College, 160 Herrick Road, Newton
Sponsored by American Jewish Historical Society with the Workman's Circle, JALSA,
Jewish Labor Committee, and Jobs with Justice
How does this prominent labor leader's own Jewish identity and practice find expression in
his union work. The chorus will trace the history of the Jewish labor movement through song
For more information contact the AJHS at 617-559-8880.

JALSA Board
Tuesday, April 29 12:30 pm
JALSA Office, Room 320, 18 Tremont Street, Boston

Rally and Lobby to Mobilize for a Fair Commonwealth
Wednesday, April 30 10 am - 6 pm
State House
Major rally co-sponsored by broad array of health and human service organizations
See: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000043.htm.

Hold these future dates:
Meetings of the Alliance for High Standards NOT High Stakes
May 9 11am-1pm
May 22 10:30am-12:30pm

Sacrificing Liberty will not Bring Security
JALSA members Joel Eigerman, Esq and Andrew Fischer, Esq. speaking
on changes in civil liberties
Sunday, May 18
Congregation Eitz Chayim, 134 Magazine Street, Cambridge

Citizens for Public Schools
Thursday, May 15 12:00 noon
Legislation and budget

3. LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERTS

Social and Economic Justice
State Budget Cuts
The Governor's proposed budget is of great concern. We urge that members write state legislators urging "Raise Revenue rather than continue Reckless Cuts in Governmental Services"
1) Have you written your legislator about the 50,000 Massachusetts residents who lost their
health coverage on Tuesday, April l because of budget cuts?
Write asking for a 3 month moratorium on closing MassHealth Basic
Use 617-722-2000 to reach your representative and 617-722-1455 to reach your senator
See: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000044.htm.
See: www.hcfama.org. for the latest information.

Recent research shows that the uninsured are showing up sicker in emergency rooms
and more likely to die.
See: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000045.htm.

2) Working Family Agenda Coalition, Public Hearing and Lobbying Day
Monday, April 7
9 am Revenue Options Briefing, Rm 222
Public Hearing, Gardner Auditorium, 10 am.; before Revenue Working Group

3) Immigrants Day
Tuesday, April 8
9:30 am, Rally, Bandstand, Boston Common (Between Park and Boylston Stations)
Followed by Lobbying at the State House

4) Keep April 30th available for a state-wide lobbying day and rally on this budget
12 - 2 pm cultural program and testimonies 2-4 pm main rally Lobbying visits all day
Go to www.cutnomore.org. for further information on the campaign to restore services.
Message: Raise the Revenue and Stop the Cuts; Mobilize for a Fair Commonwealth
Flyers in multiple languages available.

5) Labor issues in Governor Romney's Budget Proposals
Governor Romney has included within his budget numerous proposals that impact on organized labor. Unions fear he would reduce the number of state workers eligible for union membership, reduce or remove civil service or seniority protection for many workers, eliminate health insurance choices, eliminate the Pacheco against privatization, and replace current employee pensions with a 401K.
Citizens for Public Schools will have a briefing on these proposals on Thursday, April 10.
See http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000049.htm. for information on briefings on these proposals.

6) Know the facts in your advocacy work on the Massachusetts Budget.
See: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000046.htm.

Affirmative Action: See JALSA letter in support of University of Michigan Affirmative Action Cases
Signed by representatives of numerous Boston area civil rights organizations
www.jewishalliance.org.

Gay Concerns: Human Rights Campaign has asked for letters to Senate Armed Services Committee to oppose promotion of Major General Robert T. Clark to Lieut. Gen, the Army's second highest rank. Clark was the commander in charge of Ft. Campbell, Ky, where a private was murdered because some soldiers believed he was gay. The investigation revealed that no training had been provided by the commander in charge regarding the "don't ask, don"t tell" policy.

Immigrant Concerns: Do you know that immigrants requesting asylum who arrive without papers or with forged papers can now be detained indefinitely? How many of our parents and grandparents used such documents to escape Nazi Germany or Imperial Russia?
See: http://jewishalliance.org/info/0000004d.htm.

Employee Concerns: State Anti-discrimination Agency (MCAD) would have to charge fees
Under Romney plan, persons charging employment discrimination would have to pay fees.
No other state anti-discrimination agency charges fees to persons charging discrimination.
See: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000047.htm.

Help to Gay Families: Family and Medical Leave Act has helped 35 million Americans take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for their new babies or sick family members. NY Rep. Carolyn Maloney would extend the Act to cover employees taking leave to care for their domestic partners with a serious health condition. See www.hrc.org. . Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski has proposed legislation in support of family caregivers, Family Caregivers Tax Relief Act of 2003 to provide a tax credit for the costs of providing care for someone with a chronic condition or who needs significant caregiving. For more information contact j-rcon@starpower.net.

Constitutional Guarantees
Independence and Integrity of the Judicial Branch
Filibuster continuing to prevent the nomination of Miguel Estrada and other judicial nominees who do not support civil rights and reproductive choice. Remember to thank Senator Ted Kennedy for his efforts to maintain filibuster.
See: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000040.htm.
See Jalsa's letter to Ted Kennedy www.jewishalliance.org.

New letters needed to Senators on re-nomination of Priscilla Owen to the Appeals Court, the nomination of Timothy Tymkovich to the Ct. of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, and Victor Wolski to the Court of Federal Claims
See concern of the Human Rights Campaign about Tymkovich and
serious questions Senator Lahey has raised about the record of Victor Wolski
http://jewishalliance.org/info/0000004b.htm.
See NCJW on the record of Priscilla Owen.
www.benchmarkcampaign.org/php/circuitCourtNomineeProfile.php?Cnom=01.

Quick way to send letters on judicial nominations, use NCJW's internet link: http://capwiz.com/ncjw/issues/?alertid=1195516.

Erosion of Civil Liberties Since 9/11
Urge your Senators to support the FISA Oversight Bill and ensure that secret courts have proper oversight! www.aclu.org/NationalSecurity/NationalSecurity.cfm?ID=12219&c=110.

Let your legislators know of your concern for the government designed airline passenger profiling system called CAPPS II that will use credit information and secret databases to assess your security risk level each time you fly.
www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=12108&c=206.

Documents Show Ashcroft is Bypassing Courts With New Spy Powers http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=12166&c=206.

Urge your representatives to read and work against this proposed US Patriot ACT II -
the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003. JALSA believes that many of the provisions have no relationship to terrorism but the Justice Department
See: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000041.htm.

You can write your legislators via the Quaker email response program at
http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=1427181. or via the ACLU site:
http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=11904&c=206.

Listen to the transcript of Bill Moyers and Charles Lewis of the Center on Public Integrity about the proposed new US Patriot Act II - the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003
http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_lewis2.html.

Possible Return of Istook-Like Gag Rule on non-profit advocacy.
http://jewishalliance.org/info/0000004e.htm.

Health and Genetic Privacy Concerns
Stem Cell Research
Hearing on Stem Cell Research Bills before Science and Technology and Health Committees
May 1, 10 am on
Gardner Auditorium, State House
Attend and show support for encouraging such research.

Reproductive Rights
Write House members to oppose H.R. 760, the so-called "partial birth" abortion ban which is the current effort to destroy Roe v. Wade. Vote expected this week in the House. http://jewishalliance.org/info/0000004c.htm. Good Talking Points on www.abortionaccess.org/AAP/publica_resources/commentaries/latest.htm and www.prochoice.org.

International Gag Rule
Letters to Senate foreign Relations Committee and the House International Relations Committee expressing concern about an expansion of the "Global Gag Rule by Executive Order.
Abortion cannot even be discussed during a medical visit or the agency can lose its US funding.
http://jewishalliance.org/info/0000004c.htm.

Gun Control
Thursday, April 3, 10:30 am
Gardner Auditorium, State House
Committee on Public Safety
Testimony possible on S 1326 - Ban on Assault Weapons
Bill provides a state definition of assault weapons if the federal law sunsets next year and extends prohibition on sale or transfer of weapons that were purchased before 1994
Testimony possible on S 1327 Ballistic fingerprinting database for the Commonwealth

Oppose S659/H.R. 1036, a federal bill that would allow special immunity for the gun industry.
Gun makers would be protected from suits by cities, towns, states, and even some individuals, including the suit from the NAACP set to go to trial next week. Write and oppose S 659/H.R. 1036 which would deny gun violence victims the right to hold the manufacturers responsible.

Public Education
Public Hearings on Proposed Boston School Closings:
April 7-16 at 6 pm, one night at each of the schools that the Superintendent expects to close
See: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000048.htm. for specific hearing locations

Boston School Committee Meetings regarding these school closings:
Wednesday, April 9, 6 pm Supt. Payzant to recommend closing 5 schools
Wednesday, April 30, BSC to vote on school closings
Edward Winter Chambers, 26 Court Street, Boston

Summary of Citywide Parents' Memo on the Human costs of closing these schools also on
http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000048.htm. for specific hearing locations

See: www.citizensforpublicschools.org. for information on a wide range of education issues

4. OUR WISH LIST

Office needs: A production copier, larger computer monitors, secretarial chairs, a multi-page fax.
If you have access to such equipment or would like to make us more efficient by helping
us to buy these, please let us know. (Special contributions have been coming in to
help us buy a copier. Many thanks. We have a way to go before we can purchase.)
Contact decter@jalsa.org. or call 617-227-3000.

Also, a word for one of our colleagues: Keshet is looking for an additional computer,
Pentium II or higher.

Medical Equipment and supplies: One of our colleagues at Beth Israel Hospital has written
to us about the needs of a women's clinic in Nicaragua. Linens and basic medical equipment needed. If anyone has access to any of these, please let us know. decter@jalsa.org.

Eye Glass prescription changed? Good use for your old eye glasses. Mass. School of
Optometry Students and Beth Israel Hospital collecting used eye glasses for upcoming
visit to third world countries. Thousands of eye glasses have been recycled to those in
need. Bring them in before April 14th to the JALSA office. We will also collect these at
upcoming meeting of Young Social Activists at Ohabai Shalom.

5. COMMUNITY EVENTS OF NOTE

Boston Visit of Israeli refusnik, Ishai Menuchim
Selective Refusal: Towards a More Secure and Democratic Israel
Thursday, April 3, 7:30 pm, Temple Beth Zion, Brookline
Menuchim, a major in the Israeli Defense Forces, is the founder of the oldest refuser
group in Israel, Yesh Givul ("There is a Limit"). He is a lecturer at Hebrew University
Sponsored by Brit Tzedek v'Shalom (Boston Chapter), co-sponsored by Boston Workmen's Circle, Congregation Hillel B'nai Torah and Congregational Kahal B'raira.
See: www.refusersolidarity.net.

Teens can send messages to US and Iraqi Youth impacted by war
Youth Noise invites teens, regardless of their divergent opinions on the war in Iraq, to find common ground by writing messages of support to children in Iraq and children of US troops.
Sponsored by Save the Children. Contact Eric Rigaud of YouthNoise at eric@youthnoisemail.com.
See: www.youthnoise.com/site/CDA?CDA_Page/0,1004,1312.00.html.

Hand on the Pulse
Friday, April 4, 5 pm
Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline
11th Annual Boston International Festival of Women's Cinema
Co-sponsored by Jewish Women's Archives
Documentary about Joan Nestle, co-founder of the Lesbian Herstory Archives in New York City

"The Tramp and the Dictator"
New Center for Arts and Culture
Saturday, April 5, 7:30 pm
Museum of Fine Arts
See: www.wordsonfireboston.com.

Learning:
Transformations, a lecture series with seven of the world's leading Jewish women scholars reinterpreting classical Jewish texts.
Monday evenings, next session
Dr. Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Monday, April 8, 7:30 pm
Hebrew College, Newton
See: www.hebrewcollege.edu/html/adult_learning/womens_studies.htm.

"Scandalize My Name; Stories >From the Blacklist"
New Center for Arts and Culture
Monday, April 7, 6 pm
Boston Public Library
See: www.wordsonfireboston.com.

Day of Silence
April 9
Thousands of high school students participate in events to make schools safer for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. More than 150,000 students around the country participated in the program last year, helping to educate their classmates and communities about the hostile atmosphere often faced by GLBT students.

"Trembling Before G-d"
Thursday, April 10, 7 pm
Location: private home, reservations required
Keshet and Jewish InterAction co-sponsor this screening of "Trembling Before God"
Call Melissa Norman at (617) 457-8666 or Email: info@jinteraction.org.

"Solidarity with Arab, Muslim and South Asian Students"
Thursday, April 10, Noon
Outside the Boston office of the Bureau of Citizenship and
Immigration Services (formerly INS) at the JFK Federal Building.
International students are converging at Government Center to protest Special Registration.
For further information contact neidrn@neidrn.org. .

Black Books; the First African American Authors
New Center for Arts and Culture
Monday, April 10, 7 pm
Boston Public Library
See: www.wordsonfireboston.com.

Symposium on Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities Research in the U.S.
Friday, April 11, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Harvard School of Public Health, Kresge Building G-1
Interdisciplinary Collaboration necessary to address the complexities and multiple causal dimensions of health disparities. Speakers on income inequality, racism, immigrant needs, minority medical training, cultural competence, residential segregation, disparities in education.

National March on Washington to Stop the War
April 12
Washington, D.C.

"The Great Dictator"
New Center for Arts and Culture
Saturday, April 12, 7:30 pm
Museum of Fine Arts
See: www.wordsonfireboston.com.

People of the Book; Power of Words
New Center for Arts and Culture
Sunday, April 13, 2:20
Perkins Gallery at the Striar JCC, Stoughton
See: www.wordsonfireboston.com.

ACLU Civil Liberties Task Force
Monday, April 14, 6-8 pm
3rd Floor, 99 Chauncey Street, Boston

Passover
Sundown, April 16 is the first evening of Passover.
Enjoy the planning of your seder. Include the message of the "four children" and the need to teach each child according to his or her needs. Our children do not all learn the same way.
Work to change the Unz anti-bilingual education initiative at the State House.
Work to end the graduation requirement of the MCAS test.

Check JALSA's website the week before Passover for a copy of Special Readings from the
Jewish Social Justice Network. Go to www.jewishalliance.org. or write office@jalsa.org. to request
the materials when they are ready.

Out of Exile, A Passover workshop
Rabbi Shai Held, spiritual preparation for Passover
Sunday, April 6, 3-6 pm
Hebrew College, Newton
www.hebrewcollege.edu/html/adult_learning/events_lectures.htm#holidays.

Learn to do a Seder
Interaction and the Boston Synagogue
Wednesday, April 13, 2:30 pm
The Boston Synagogue, 55 Martha Rd., Boston, MA

Seder Available:
Workman's Circle Community Seder and Pot Luck
     Saturday, April 12, 4:30 pm, Park School, 171 Goddard Ave., Brookline
     See: www.workmenscircleboston.org/holidays.htm.
Seder of Hope and Healing (AIDS Families)
     April 22, Temple Beth Avodah, Puddingstone Lane, Newton
     Call: (617)969-7743
Special Needs Seder. Temple Beth Shalom. call Jan Golner at 617-558-6548
Single Community Cooperative Seder
     Wednesday, April 16, 7 pm
     Leventhal-Sidman JCC, esaffer@jccgb.org.
Community Seder at the Boston Synagogue
     Wednesday, April 16, 7 pm
     office@bostonsynagogue.org.
ADL South Shore Seder: Sunday April 6, 3-5 pm
     Congregation Sha'aray Shalom (Hingham, MA)
ADL North Shore Seder: Monday, April 7, 6-9 pm
     Gordon College (Wenham, MA)
ADL Catholic/Jewish Seder: Sunday April 13, 2-4 pm
     St Francis de Sales (Charlestown, MA)
     For the north and the south shore Seder's RSVP to Jill Armstrong
     For the Catholic RSVP to Maria Sparks. Phone 617-457-8800

Holocaust Remembrance Day
Tuesday, April 29
Holocaust remembrance events will be held in different communities throughout the week

Workman's Circle Annual Membership Meeting
Wednesday, April 30, 7-9 pm
1762 Beacon Street, Brookline

"Stand Up For the Rights of Immigrants"
Thursday, May 1: rally -- from 2 PM.
Place to be announced.
For further information Lizz at(617)350-5480 x205.

"War on Terrorism Or Assault on Human Rights? Civil Liberties, Homeland Security and Democracy in the Post 9/11 World"
Saturday, May 3, 9am-7pm
UMass/Boston
Speakers will include: Deborah Anker, Michael Avery, Chip Berlet, Nancy Chang, David Cole, Yaju Dharmarajah, Sunaina Maira, Monami Maulik, Nancy Murray, Merrie Najimy, Matthew Rothschild, Pilar Schlavo, Irvine Sobelman, Nancy Talanian, Chuck Turner
For further information contact umbhrwg@hotmail.com.

National Lawyers Guild
Dinner honoring John Roberts among others
May 9, 6 pm
Boston Park Plaza

Conference:
Religious Refusal Clauses ("hospital conscience clauses") and their Impact on Women's Health
Monday, May 19 12 -4:30
Boston location tba
Co-sponsored by the ACLU, the Abortion Access Project and the MergerWatch Project
contact sy@abortionaccess.org. for more information.

City Year Starry Starry Night
Former President Bill Clinton speaking
May 28
J.F.Kennedy Library and Museum
http://www.cityyear.org/boston/ssn/.

Conference of the New Civil Rights Movement
University of Michigan
Weekend of May 30
Sponsored by BAMN, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and other civil rights organizations
See: www.bamn.com.

Cyzygy ’03 City Year’s annual convention of idealism
June 3-7
The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
See: www.cityyear.org.

8th Annual Conn. Conference on Multicultural Education
Thursday, October 16
Hartford, Connecticut
Keynote Speaker: James Loewen, author of Lies My Teacher Told Me
See: www.state.ct.us/sde/calendar/index.htm.

Useful Reading
Information regarding Mel Gibson's forthcoming film: The Passion.
Gibson is making a film on the life and death of Jesus with an emphasis
on the pre-Vatican II old conards about Jews killing Christ.
ADL statement and letter to Gibson:
See: www.adl.org/media%5Fwatch/ltr%5Fnytimes%5Fmag%5Fgibson.asp.
Holocaust denial and Sept. 11 Al Queda denial from Gibson's parents:
See: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/news/030903_nw_gibson.html.

There has been an extensive dialogue at the Jewish Theological Seminary when the school
first refused to print in a campus newspaper a Torah commentary from a student aligned
with Rabbinical Students for a Just Peace. The 5th year rabbinical student, Jill Jacobs,
and Rabbi Daniel Gordis, an American oleh and director of the Jerusalem Fellows program,
who lives in Israel with his family, have exchanged some thoughtful letters on the
lack/extent/wisdom of American Jewish public dialogue about policies of Israel.
Their letters are on www.danielgordis.org.
Forward articles: www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.02.14/news11.html. www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.03.28/news9.html.
If you wish to see the full range of letters and articles, try a www.google.com. search for
"Jill Jacobs" (Israel). We've selected a few of these articles here.
www.jewishsf.com/bk020517/us20.shtml.
http://friendvill0502articles.homestead.com/44108Rabbis.html

Conflict of interest re Richard Perle, as Chair, Pentagon Advisory Team
Although Perle has stepped down as public attention was drawn to conflict allegations,
the Center for Public Integrity says Perle is only one of 10 members of the Advisory Board
that represent private businesses with millions of dollars of defense contracts.
See: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40076-2003Mar27.html.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44496-2003Mar28.html.
Listen to NOW: www.pbs.org/now/politics/conflictofinterest.html.

Congratulations to Lawrence native Susie Castillo, Miss Massachusetts, who was crowned as the 52nd winner of the Miss USA Pageant and will now go on to represent our country in the Miss Universe Pageant in Panama City in June. Susie’s first words as the new Miss USA were warmly welcomed as said she would use her crown to try to raise awareness and appreciation of the talents, contributions and needs of the nation's Hispanic population

6. SUPPORT THE JEWISH ALLIANCE

The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action----
dedicated to continuing a strong, progressive, inter-generational voice
inspired by Jewish teachings and values for social justice, civil rights, and civil liberties.

Membership is open to all who wish to work for progressive goals in the development of public policy.

Join us!

Visit www.jewishalliance.org. and fill out the online donation form today!

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