JALSA 

 Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action - www.jewishalliance.org

New Address: 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320, Boston, 02108 - tel: (617) 227-3000  fax: (662)-796-6625  

Week of  December 2, 2002

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. Other Events of Interest

5. Our “Wish List” and Volunteer Opportunities

6. Support the Jewish Alliance! 

Preface - A Note from Alliance Director Sheila Decter

Dear Friends and Colleagues :

Our attention this week is with our state legislature.  Bills must be introduced today -- December 4,  so today is a key today for bill sponsors to obtain key co-sponsoring signatures. Urge your legislator to sign onto bills drafted by JALSA and its coalitions.  Proposed legislation includes an end to the MCAS graduation requirement,  supporting a moratorium on charter schools, educational resource equity to reduce the achievement gap, sweatshop disclosure, allowing parents greater access to MCAS test booklets, expanded MCAS appeal process, requirement for racial imbalance concerns in charter schools, and requirement for  taggant markers on explosives.   

Important rally this noon, Wednesday, for health care.  Thousands of our state citizens will face cuts in coverage on January lst, and by April 1st, another forty thousand will be cut from state health programs.  Please come and show your concern by participating in a noon rally at the State House.  A vigil will follow until the governor-elect responds.       

Sheila Decter

1.  THIS WEEK'S JEWISH ALLIANCE AND COALITION EVENTS 

Weekly Meeting on Law and Social Action

Friday, December 6       12:30pm

18 Tremont Street, Suite 320,  Boston

Discussion on Federal Court's abstention in the MCAS suit. While retaining jurisdiction on the federal issues, Judge Posner has dismissed many part of the complaint without prejudice, urging the plaintiffs to file in state court for resolution of state issues first.

 

Continuing issues on our  agenda: 

Amicus brief on Massachusetts constitutional anti-aid provision 

ballistics database and taggant markers for explosives

legislature to require sweatshop disclosure

federal Judicial Nominations - opposition to candidates with records against civil rights laws.

Maintenance of an independent judiciary in Massachusetts

These Friday meetings continue a Boston tradition that is decades old.  While lawyers particularly have been drawn to our Commission on Law and Social Action, these meetings are open to all who are concerned about public policy. Some of our best chairs have been non-lawyers, so please come any Friday if you care about public policy. 

JALSA Young Social Activists

First Sundays Event
Sunday, December 8,   5 - 7 pm

Temple Ohabei Shalom, 1187 Beacon Street, Brookline

Guest speaker:  Political Consultant Michael Goldman

Post-election Analysis.  "What happened in the elections and why should we care"

Light supper.  Baby-sitting available for children 18 months or over

RSVP to jalsa@RoweResources.com or 617-742-1836

JALSA "Brown Bag Conversation"

Join JALSA for a monthly lunch meeting at which we'll have an interesting speaker and discussion of cutting edge public policy topics. You bring the lunch, and we'll provide the scintillating conversation.

 

A Conversation with Chip Berlet, Senior Analyst, Political Research Associates

Progressives Under Siege: Institutionalization of the Right and What It Means

Monday, December 9    12 noon

Brown Bag Conversation will be held at the firm of Perkins, Smith and Cohen

One Beacon Street (intersection of Beacon, School, and Tremont Streets)

30th Floor    RSVPs required to enter building.  Bring ID 

In Washington, Republicans will soon control the House, Senate and Oval Office.  Many of these political leaders have ties to business conservatives, militarists, the Christian Right, libertarians, and right-wing populists.  How will the political right try to assert control over the agenda?  What can we expect to happen on issues such as abortion rights, death penalty, immigrant rights, affirmative action, labor rights, environmental protections, and welfare? What can we do to keep furthering a progressive agenda under these circumstances? 

Our speaker, Chip Berlet, senior analyst at Political Research Associates, has spent over twenty-five years studying prejudice, demonization, scapegoating, demagoguery, conspiracism, and authoritarianism. He has investigated far right hate groups, reactionary backlash movements, theocratic fundamentalism, civil liberties violations, police misconduct, government and private surveillance abuse, and other anti-democratic phenomena. He is a lively speaker defending democracy and diversity Public Research Associates is an independent, non-profit research center that studies anti-democratic, authoritarian, and racist right-wing movements  and trends in the US. The director of PRA is Jean V. Hardisty. PRA studies the ideological basis for systems of social and economic inequality including racism, sexism, homophobia, and antisemitism. Due to security concerns, you need to be on the attendance list in advance. Please RSVP so that we can supply the firm a list on Thursday, December 5th.

E-mail us at cindy@roweresources.com or call 617-742-1836 and leave your name  (feel free to put your name on the list by Thursday, December 5 even if you will not be certain of your attendance Monday, December 9th).

2. UPCOMING JEWISH ALLIANCE EVENTS         

 Alliance for High Standards not High Stakes

 Wednesday, December 11   11 - 1 pm

 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320   Boston

  Follow-on on MCAS suit; decision by DOE on Certificates in lieu of diplomas; and proposed legislation

 

JALSA Executive Committee

Tuesday, December 17  12 noon

JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Boston

 

JALSA Board

Thursday, December 12   12:30 pm

JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Boston

 

 

Leadership Committee for Annual Membership Meeting

Honoring Ed Barshak, Gerry Berlin, Sumner Z. Kaplan

Chair:  Laurence Locke

Tuesday, December 17  4 pm

9th floor, 126 High Street, Boston

Important planning meeting to ensure success of Honoree Event

 

3. LEGISLATIVE  and ACTION ALERTS  

Rally Today Protect MassHealth

State House

Wednesday, December 4  12:00 noon

Vigil following the rally

See: www.hcfama.org

 

Excerpts from a letter from Bob Restuccia of Health Care for All: 

“Starting on January 1, thousands will lose coverage for essential services such as eyeglasses, dentures, and prosthetics. On April 1, an additional 50,000 people will lose all health care benefits. Earlier in week the Governor announced more cuts to essential services. 

“While there are many reasons that substantiate that these cutbacks are not sound policy, I believe that denying health care coverage for essential services is immoral. Simply, we are too affluent a society to tell a 21-year-old amputee that we cannot afford to provide him or her an artificial limb. 

“On Wednesday, December 4, we are having a rally at the State House from 12 noon to 2 p.m. to protest the cuts from. It will be followed by a vigil.     We have asked Governor-elect Romney to join us and explain how he is going to address these critical issues. We are prepared to wait until midnight either in the State House or outside to hear his answer. Could you please join us? Unless people like you stand up we will lose this fight….”

 

Additional Human Service issues

Steve Collins of the Massachusetts Human Services Coalition indicates their concern that the highly touted 97 member "Transition Committee" announced by Governor-elect Romney does not have any committee focused on social and human services.  Collins says this is especially alarming in light of Romney's campaign proposal for a massive restructuring of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.  They expect that this budget will continue the Speaker's efforts to rein in Medicaid spending - and for the first time, this budget will put Local Aid and K to 12 Education funding on the chopping block for real and substantial cuts.  They anticipate that members of the coalition will work closely with the MassHealth Defense Group to counter the Speaker's assault on Medicaid, but they also expect strong outcry from mayors, selectman, local officials, teacher, firefighter and police unions, etc. demanding no cuts and revenue alternatives for Local Aid and Education. 

 

The Human Services Coalition is also concerned about the additional $99 million cuts that Governor Swift is proposing.  There is concern that the Elder Citizen Home Care Project will once again face the $6.5 million cut which had been previously proposed.   The Human Services Coalition urges us to call the Governor’s office with "Cut No More" message - NO MORE CUTS TO HUMAN SERVICES. PERIOD!  The governor's office can be reached at 617 727-3600 or 617 727-9173.  

 

 

Concern for METCO as state continues to not fully cover METCO student costs:

As example of our continuing concerns for METCO, note excerpts from recent article on Town of Lincoln as it weighs METCO costs in Budget.

 

Boston Globe, West Weekly

LINCOLN:  As money wanes, Metco's benefits weighed. 

Under the program, city children attend suburban schools. 

By Scott W. Helman, Globe Staff Correspondent, 11/25/2002  

With the release of a long-awaited task force report on the efficiency of the town's elementary and middle schools, no issue is liable to spark such a passionate debate in the coming weeks as Metco, the cherished but costly program that adds diversity to the district by bringing Boston students to Lincoln classrooms.

Boasting one of the biggest commitments to the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity program in the state, Lincoln draws nearly 13 percent of its students from minority families seeking a reputable suburban district. By nearly all accounts, the relationship has been nothing if not symbiotic.

But with school spending under intense scrutiny for the third straight year, some say Lincoln, facing possible staff cuts and larger classes, needs to consider retreating somewhat from its commitment to Metco, which, according to task force estimates, accounts for 5.3 percent of annual budget spending - $396,000 this year. ...

 

Racial Imbalance Case

Friday, December 13    2:30 pm

US Courthouse South Boston

Bollen v Comfort, the Lynn case on racial imbalance will have closing arguments before Judge Nancy Gertner in US District Court.  Attorney Richard Cole will represent the Attorney General Reilly’s office.

JALSA members are encouraged to attend to show our recognition of the importance of this case.

 

 

New concerns about DOMA

The State House News Service has reported that Governor Swift has asked the SJC for an advisory opinion as to whether she needs to call the legislature into special session to consider the three proposed constitutional amendments that were not considered before the legislature adjourned.  One of those was the proposed super-DOMA, a proposed amendment that would have banned gay marriages and expanded other discriminatory treatment of gays.  The other two petitions included a process for appointing a lieutenant governor in the case of a vacancy and a reappointment process for judges.  In July, the joint constitutional convention voted to adjourn, thereby not taking up the controversial homophobic amendment.  JALSA will continue to keep members informed regarding this potential development. 

 

 

World AIDS Day – earlier this week.  The Human Rights Campaign has asked that we call the White House and ask for full funding of AIDS services.  The White House comment line is at (202) 456-1414.

Message:  Urge President Bush to demonstrate leadership in the fight against HIV and AIDS.  He should ask Congress for increases to fully fund HIV/AIDS care, treatment, research, housing, and prevention programs in his next budget.

Ask that he give a public endorsement of the Early Treatment for HIV Act, as well as worldwide prevention programs that are based on science, not ideology. Additionally, before the President's journey to Africa, the Administration must announce a new initiative to finally intervene in the global fight against AIDS. 

 

Update on Clean Elections

In addition to the ballot question supplied by the legislature, 11 districts also considered another question on clean elections during the recent state elections.  That question was supplied by supporters of clean elections.  In contrast to the negative vote on the state-wide question, voters in 11 districts demonstrated their support of the Clean Election Law.  The wording for this clean election question may be found on the Clean Election website:   www.massvoters.org

 

 

The Alliance for Justice has announced that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) 

has lifted its long-time prohibition on the use of campaign funds to pay candidates' salaries.  

The Alliance for Justice and other organizations including the AFL-CIO and the conservative

James Madison Center for Free Speech had requested this change.  The new

rule opens the door for persons of lower- to moderate- income to seek

federal public office.  Now, a candidate with limited personal resources

could take time off from a full-time job so that he or she could participate

in campaign activity without forgoing his or her income.  

 

This new regulation caps a candidate's salary at either the candidate's

current salary or the salary of the office for which the candidate is

running, whichever is less.  This action marks the latest FEC rulemaking

action pursuant to the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002

(better known as the McCain-Feingold law) that went into effect on 

November 6, 2002.    

4. EVENTS OF NOTE:  

 Holiday Gift Basket  - Participate in a mitzvah to help Persons with AIDS

Community Servings, Boston’s Home-Delivered Hot Meals Program for persons with AIDS needs 100 more volunteers to provide holiday gift baskets to its clients.  Community Servings provides the volunteer donor with the client’s wish list.  Then the donor gets to shop from the list to make a holiday gift basket for the client.  All Wish Lists are numbered to ensure client’s confidentiality and the list indicates the gender, age, and unique items that they request.  

A Family Wish List:  includes the client and any other family members that Community Servings feeds--spouses, partners, caregivers or children.   (This is an especially great project for an office, a havurah, or a family to undertake.  Each person gets to select one or more items from the wish list and a good assortment of the client family needs can be collected.

 

An Individual Wish List:  is for a single person—most of the clients live alone!

Bulk Items:  Community Servings also needs bulk items to help supplement some of the baskets.  (Toiletries, holiday treats, socks, toys, or canned goods.)

 

To sign up email Meg at mmaloney@servings.org, and include your name, address, home phone number and fax number!  Or call Meg at 617-445-7777.   (And then email JALSA at office@jalsa.org so that we know how many basket donors we’ve located and how many more need to be found.)

 

Boston Jewish Women’s Studies Coalition

Thursday, December 19  9:30 am

Hebrew College, 160 Herrick Road, Newton

Executive Dining Room, lower level

Continuation of discussion on special needs for Jewish girls.

Discussion will include health issues and plans for a conference on this subject.

For directions to Hebrew College, www.hebrewcollege.edu/html/contact_us/directions.htm

For further information on this discussion, call Dena Judah, ……

 

Dedicating Inner Fire

Mistabra Institute’s provocative Chanukah performance event

Thursday Dec. 5    7th Candle      7 pm.

Mistabra Institute for Jewish Textual Activism

Women's Studies Research Center, Brandeis University 

515 South Street, Waltham MA (opposite the Brandeis/Roberts Commuter Rail station) 

Beyond dreidls and latkes, Dedicating Inner Fire takes traditional biblical and rabbinic texts off the page through study, dramatic and shadow puppet performance, movement, music, and prayer.  Chanukah themes of sacred space, spiritual rededication and military/political power are explored. Historical & Israeli military stories of Chanukah are explored with the rabbinic miracle version about inner human resources to brighten dark hours. Jewish identity itself is at stake, and our relationship to Israel, our Land. Dedicating Inner Fire will make your head (and not just your dreidl) spin!  Bonna Devora Haberman, Steven Lewis, Yael Shifra Bat-Shimon, Lisa Exler, and collaborators

Tickets $50 to support Mistabra

Reservations: (781) 736-2173    

 

Community Change Brown Bag Lunch, "The New Face of Immigration"

Sheila Gleeson, Irish Immigration Center

Reshma Shamasunder, Mass Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition

Wednesday, December 11 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. 

Unitarian Universalist Association, 25 Beacon Street, Boston.  (near State House) 

Historically immigrants have been one of the most disenfranchised groups in the United States. Recent events have added to the already enormous inequity surrounding this issue and threatening the livelihood of many. New challenges and how activist and organizers both from the grass root and legislative side are fighting the anti-immigrant efforts in the name of "nationalism" and "homeland" security. Co-Sponsored by The Boston Women’s Fund, Community Change & The Unitarian Universalist Association

 

 

Homegrown terrorists brought to trial

ADL Civil Rights Committee

December 13   12 noon

Goulston and Storrs, 400 Atlantic Avenue, Boston

Meet the prosecution team in the case against Felton and Chase.

Assistant US Attorney Ted Merritt and Emily Schulman guests

Call ADL for reservations, 617-457-8800

 

Boston Jewish Domestic Violence Coalition

December 9  10 am – 12: noon

Leventhal Sidman Jewish Community Center, Newton

 

Closing Labor Movement Reception  

“The Quiet Sickness: A Photographic Chronicle of Hazardous Work in America". 

December 11  4:30 – 6:30 pm.

Boott Mill at Lowell National Historical Park

Gallery Walk by Earl Dotter at 5:30pm. 

Last chance to see this powerful exhibit, which is sponsored by the UMass Lowell Labor Extension Program and unions in the region. For more information, call 978-934-3127 or  www.uml.edu/laborextension/ 

 

Internships available at the Israel Consulate

Internships are still available in the Press and Media Relations Department. Responsibilities include monitoring local newspapers, analyzing trends, doing political research and dealing with media issues related to Israel.  More information is available from their website at: www.israelemb.org/boston/Interns.html

 

Campaign to encourage open debate in the Jewish community on issues relating to Israel’s democratic character. 

The New Israel Fund is encouraging open discussion with the American and Israel communities believing that such discussions are essential to the long run strength and survival of Israel.

Persons who wish to help in this campaign can

1)  go to www.voicefordemocracy.org and sign a petition encouraging open discussion;

2) send an email with this link to one’s personal email list

3) submit information about the campaign to any list servs to which members

are connected.

Boston area peace activists are meeting to light menorahs together on the sixth night of Chanukah to call for a “just peace between Israelis and Palestinians.  Event is sponsored by Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring, Kahal B'raira - Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Visions of Peace with Justice in Israel Palestine, Jewish Women for Justice in Israel/Palestine.

 

 

Anti-war Project

Boston City Councilor Felix Arroyo has called to our attention to an anti-war Visibility Project which is underway across the country.   Persons who wish to make a statement against war with Irag are participating by putting white flags in their windows.  A description of the project follows:

White flags against the war!     “In view of the ongoing massive war preparations of the US-government against Iraq, it is time now for a worldwide visible sign of protest against this war.   Beginning on November 15th until the end of this year, we will show white fabrics on the windows of our apartments in all villages and cities of all countries worldwide our clear NO against the on going  war mongering.   This easy to realize demonstration has no center and is not bound to any ideology or political party. It will find highest attention in all our streets and in all media and thus demonstrate clearly the profound disagreement of the largest part of humanity against this war.”

 

 

Protecting Ourselves from Toxic Chemicals

Monday, December 16 7-8:30 pm

Boston Public Library; Conference Room 6,700 Boylston Street, Boston

Sponsored by Jewish Interaction and the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life  (COEJL).

A representative from the Massachusetts-based Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow will talk about our regular exposure to toxic chemicals through household cleaners, air, water, and what we can do to change government regulations.

For more information: Melissa Norman (617) 457-8666 or info@jinteraction.org.  RSVP Date: Friday, December 13, 2002

 

 

Community briefing of the book

"Asian American Women: Issues, Concerns and Responsive Human and Civil Rights Advocacy," 

by Lora Jo Foo

Thursday, December 12     9  - 11 a.m.

The Paulist Center, 5 Park Street, Boston  Basement Auditorium.

A light breakfast will be served.

Sponsored by The Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW) and the Massachusetts chapter of the Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP).  Recently published by the Ford Foundation, the book details the civil and human rights violations inflicted against Asian American women.  The book reveals the struggles of Asian American women at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder where hunger, illness, homelessness, sweatshop labor, exposure to hazardous chemicals and even involuntary servitude are everyday realities.

 As part of a ten-state book tour, this briefing is the collective effort of national and local organizations to educate our communities and foundations on the issues facing Asian American women. In addition to the author's presentation, the community briefing will include local Asian American women who will speak to the main issues of the book which include, welfare reform, low-wage workers, domestic violence, health care, and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) concerns. 

RSVP by Tuesday, December 10 at ejlee@aarw.org or 617-426-5313.

Copies of the book will be available at the briefing. If you would like to pick up a copy of the book before the briefing, there are a limited number available call  617-426-5313. Or go to www.aapip.org in order to have it sent to you directly. 

 

Dramatic presentation by two members of the 1998 Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage

PILGRIMAGE: SPIRITUAL MEMORIES

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17  6 - 8:30 pm

AFRICAN MEETING HOUSE

46 Joy at 8 Smith Court (off Joy St. on Beacon Hill, Boston)

Reduced Rate Parking with Validated Ticket

Available in Charles River Park Garage Underground Only

Suggested donation: $10 

Directed by Judyie Al-Bilali

Ingrid Askew, actor/director and cultural activist, and Myrna Munchus-Bullock, dancer/choreographer and cultural healer, offer a glimpse into The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage: Retracing the Journey of Slavery, a twelve-month walking pilgrimage that covered three continents to explore the history of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade. Dramatic interpretation, story telling, ritual and performance art transport views through time and space, through the alternate existences and parallel realities of this auspicious journey. Sponsored by The Women’s Theological Center, Community Change, and the Boston African American National Historical Site. For more information: (617) 523-0555 or www.comunitychangeinc.org

 

 

Interesting Reading.....

 

Youth volunteering leads to adult philanthropy  

A new report from INDEPENDENT SECTOR and Youth Service America illustrates the strong impact of youth service on the giving and volunteering habits of adults. Engaging Youth in Lifelong Service reports that adults who engaged in volunteering in their youth give more money and volunteer more time than adults who began their philanthropy later in life. Key findings:

 

Forty-four percent of adults volunteer and two-thirds of these volunteers began volunteering their time when they were young.

Adults who began volunteering as youth are twice as likely to volunteer as those who did not volunteer when they were younger.

High school volunteering recently reached the highest levels in the past 50 years.  

In every income and age group, those who volunteered as youth give and volunteer more than those who did not.

Those who volunteered as youth and whose parents volunteered became the most generous adults in giving time.

    See: http://www.independentsector.org/programs/research/engagingyouth.html   for a summary.  

    A book on engaging youth in volunteer work is available for purchase at the site.

5. OUR WISH LIST:

Volunteers:

We are pleased that a volunteer attorney has agreed to help provide a legal memorandum in a case dealing with survivor payments.  Our volunteer has asked if any of our readers are fluent in German and able to help translate any potential relevant documents.  If you have reading/translation skills and would be willing to read a limited number of documents, please contact decter@jalsa.org.  Special mitzvah for a great client.

 

Report on the Pioneer Institute.

JALSA would like to make copies of a very useful report on the Pioneer Institute, a local right-wing think tank, more broadly available to policy makers, business leaders and community activists, and is looking for donations to purchase at least 75 copies of the study. One of the two authors of this report is our CPS (Citizens for Public Schools) research analyst Paul Dunphy.  Published by Political Research Associates in Somerville, the report details Pioneer's influence in the privatization of health care and education and outlines how privatization has lead to higher public costs, less public oversight and weakened public institutions. Pioneer is now taking aim at the court system. Some of its ideas have generated such antipathy from retired and active members of the judiciary that one former high court justice has said he would not participate in any discussions that included Pioneer. About $275 is still needed to purchase the 75 copies.

Two donations of $50 each have already been received from two of our leaders.  If you would like to help facilitate the distribution of this report, please send your donations earmarked for this project to the JALSA office, Suite 320, 18 Tremont Street, Boston, 02108.

 

Office needs. JALSA could use two additional computer monitors and a multi-page fax.  We are looking at production copiers to help make our office more efficient, but they are out of our reach financially at the moment.  If you have access to such a copier or would like to help us purchase one, it would be very appreciated.

6. SUPPORT THE JEWISH ALLIANCE

The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action is a new organization dedicated to being a strong, progressive, inter-generational voice, inspired by Jewish teachings and values, for social justice, civil rights, and civil liberties. Join us!

Visit www.jewishalliance.org and fill out the online donation form today!  This is the end of the tax year for many of our members.  Please keep JALSA in mind so that we can continue to make a difference.

If this email has reached you in error, please let us know and we'll refrain from emailing you in the future.