 Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action 24 Elul 5764 September 10, 2004 | ||||||
"Separate yourself not from your community" Hillel in Pirkei Avot, 2:5 Happy New Year - Shana Tovah - wishing all of you and your families health and happiness in the coming year! Sheila Decter, Director; David Guberman, President, Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Justice Friends: CLAL (a Jewish center for learning)
suggests
that since, at this holiday of Rosh Hashana, we celebrate the birthday of humanity, we should think about what present we might want to give the world this year. They suggest picking a project on which you could work with others. It sounds like a wonderful way to start the new year - and it is a way to recall our abilities to perfect ourselves and heal our world. Rosh Hashana is the day on which Jews pray for a wonderful new year, but also we "celebrate our ability to help make that wonderful new year happen." Thanks to
JALSA member Freda Rebelsky for calling this wonderful thought to our
attention. http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000081.htm for additional thoughts on preparation for the New
Year.
Remember to Vote in our Massachusetts
Primaries
Tuesday, September 14.
We have seen 10, --80, --200 votes make the
difference
in a primary race.
We are taught in Pirkei Avot 3:2, "Rebbe Chanina, the
assistant High Priest, says:
Pray for the welfare of the government. For without fear of it,
people would swallow each other
alive." From this the Rabbis derive an obligation upon all Jews to support the
institutions of government in the countries in which they live. The central
institution of government in America is the universal right of all citizens to
vote. Make your voice heard, and perform the secular act that is the modern
equivalent of the Sages' advice to pray for the government: go to the voting
booth and cast your ballot.
Thanks to JALSA member Van Lanckton for the
Commentary.
There are a number of contested races in
Massachusetts.
For a complete list of urban contested races, please visit MassVote's website at www.massvote.net/site/PageServer?pagename=2004_Contested_Races. For other Massachusetts locations, see: http://capwiz.com/congressorg/e4/browse/list/?state=MA . Many local organizations release voter guides. JALSA does not endorse or support individual candidates. However, to help you in your efforts to know as much about the state candidates as possible, we have listed web addresses for a number of different voter guides. You will note that we list addresses for groups that share our views on specific issues as well as groups that have worked diametrically opposing views. See: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000083.htm
1. This Week's Meetings JALSA Young
Social Activists Sunday Night Forum Presenters: The 1990 presidential election
brought into the forefront issues of voter Rose Arruda is the Community
Outreach Organizer for MassVote, a non-partisan Ron Bell, the Founder and
President of Dunk the Vote, has worked as a 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. Dinner and
schmoozing RSVP to Cindy at Cindy@jalsa.org. Young Social Activists Steering Committee
Meeting 2. Upcoming JALSA and Coalition Meetings CLSA, Committee on Law
and Social Action Voices of Choice This film and featured panel of speakers, including Dr. Phil Stubblefield, document the courageous and inspiring stories of illegal and legal abortion provision prior to 1973 as told by the physicians who provided these health services and advocated for abortion reform. Co-sponsored by the Abortion Access Project, ACLU-Massachusetts, American Constitution Society at Suffolk Law School, Greater Boston NOW, JALSA, Massachusetts Midwives for Choice, Medical Students for Choice - Harvard, NARAL ProChoice Massachusetts, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health (PRCH), and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice - Massachusetts. For more information on the video: http://www.prch.org/voicesofchoice.shtml.
JALSA
Executive Committee Meeting JALSA
Board Jews Choose or
Lose: Are there uniquely
Jewish issues this election year? What are the Republican RSVP by Monday, September 27, 617-227-3000 Save the Date: JCRC 2004 Tzedek Institute for
Synagogues 3 . Ongoing Legislative and Action Alerts A. Fair
Elections JALSA believes the interest of ensuring fair election practices throughout the country is an entirely appropriate project for non-partisan social justice organizations to lend our support. 501-C3 status sets limitations on direct partisan election activities. We are, however, free to discuss ballot issues, legislative matters, and procedures that guarantee all citizens the right to vote freely and have their votes counted. (To download an important resource by MassVote: "Non-profits, Voting, and Elections". See: www.massvote.net) Here are some suggested ways to help ensure fair elections: 1) For people willing to travel to Florida, there is a need to talk
with 2) For litigation attorneys, there is a need for a small number of
people People interested in pursuing either of these opportunities should
contact 3 )
For persons who wish to help ensure fair elections in
Massachusetts, The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights continues to seek interested attorneys, students, and community volunteers to participate in their Massachusetts November 2004 Voters Legal Protection Project, to stop voter harassment, misinformation and other tactics at the polling places intended to deter or prevent people, particularly in communities of color, from voting on Election Day. Any interested attorney, law student, student, or community volunteer desiring to volunteer should contact the Lawyers Committee at 617-482-1145 or elections@lawyerscom.org. . More information about this effort can be found at their website www.lawyerscom.org. 4) Increasing concern over the vulnerabilities of electronic voting machines suggest that back-up verification be provided. Electronic voting terminals are susceptible to manipulation before and after voting. If they malfunction, votes may be lost irretrievably. We should be able to verify our votes on secure paper ballots that can be counted and re-counted. The Senate and House have bills offered that would require that all electronic voting systems provide a Voter-Verified Paper Ballot, and would make the paper ballot the official ballot of record. Ensign's Senate bill --The Voting Integrity and Verification Act -- S2437 -- would do this by 2006 and Holt's -- Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act -- HR 2239 would do it by 2004. Even a 2006 deadline will help convince state election officials that they shouldn't buy electronic voting terminals this year or next unless they produce Voter-Verified Paper Ballots. Please call your senators and representatives. Urge your Senators
to: Urge your Representative to: "Please co-sponsor Rep. Holt's 'Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act,' # HR 2239." For additional information, see: http://www.verifiedvoting.org/. B. Pay for Overtime
work C. Urge Congress and the
President to Renew Ban on Assault Weapons Unfortunately, the assault weapons ban was only authorized for a period of 10 years and is scheduled to expire this Monday, September 13, 2004. In the absence of strong action by of Congress and the President to reauthorize the ban, the gun industry will begin again selling weapons banned during the last 10 years. Even with the ban in place, every day, fourteen children are killed by guns and each year, more than 35,000 Americans die from gun violence. A firearm is used in almost 70 percent of all U.S. homicides, and nearly 135,000 guns are brought into our schools each day. Without the ban in place, not only will assault weapons be more readily accessible to potentially violent criminals, but with the technological advancements during the last ten years, guns will also become cheaper and more deadly. Action needed: e-mail, fax, and call your Senators and Representative to support legislation renewing the Assault Weapons Ban before time runs out. The ban expires this coming Monday, September 13, 2004. To easily reach Members of Congress, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121. (Thanks to the RAC for bringing this to our attention.) There is also a petition to President Bush and to members of the Congress http://www.moveon.org/savetheban/?id=3599-1200034-7GfGUGCESkUS.iQhYGIugQ D. Genocide in the Sudan At last, the US administration is on the record declaring the situation in Sudan a genocide. Colin Powell testified this morning to the Senate on the subject of Sudan. He declared that a lengthy study by the State Department has determined the Sudanese government is carrying out "genocide" against its black African population. Powell cited a "consistent and widespread" pattern of human rights atrocities, including killing and rape. Thousands of Sudanese blacks have also been abducted into slavery. A rally is scheduled at the United Nations, this Sunday, September 12, 2 p.m. against the slavery and genocide in the Sudan. Members are urged to tell elected officials that you want international action to protect the survivors, provide humanitarian relief and seek justice for the victims. 4 . Community Meetings and Available Study Boston Arts
Festival Quality
education and Eliminating the Achievement
Gap. The Massachusetts Premiere of
Robert Greenwald's new film Robert Greenwald's previous films
include The Institute for Neighborhood
Leadership; A Program of the Union of Minority Neighborhoods The
Institute provides training, support, and assistance to current or
emerging community leadership of color. For the remainder of 2004 and all
of 2005, the Union and the Institute are implementing a campaign called
“Building Community: Recruiting and developing a new generation of
Grassroots leadership.” Stand Up for Women's
Lives Every fall, Massachusetts Citizens for
Life sponsors an anti-choice Dr. Maryanne Galvin's
documentary film The fast-paced documentary features a
balanced discussion and history Kol Isha Sukkah of Peace
Event "Flowers Aren't
Enough" "Flowers Aren't Enough" is the story of Michal, a young woman
from an upper middle class family who finds herself in an abusive
relationship. Michal describes how her partner gradually narrows her world
isolating her from her surroundings. We see her denial, guilt and how
social conditioning intensify her shame and despair. We witness Michal
sinking into darkness and then watch how she takes charge of her life and
rediscovers herself. Lessons Learned from the
Balkan Conflicts For more information and to register
online, visit This is a two-day conference to look
back at what was learned from the wars Shaun Byrnes: State Dept., special
advisory on the Balkans; *Human rights; John Shattuck, Meaning of the American Jewish
Experience On being LGBT and a person of
Faith Bishop Robinson is the first openly gay Episcopal Bishop and Rabbi
Greenberg is the first openly gay Status of Women in
Rabbinic Society Sem. I 5 . Support the Jewish Alliance! Include JALSA in your holiday tsedaka. The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action is 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! 6. In Memoriam, here and abroad In
Memory of Steve Collins, advocate
extraordinarie Often, when human services advocates felt like throwing in the towel after yet another devastating state budget cut, Steve would pick up our spirits and find a way to continue the fight. There was his cascade of humorous yet stinging letters to the editor calling attention to the human plight the program cuts would cause. And there were the spirited rallies at the State House or Boston Common and the legislative visits and phone-call campaigns that Steve would organize. Steve was a master of breaking down the human services budget so average folks could understand it but we will remember him just as much for his persona. Working in a public policy milieu sometimes tainted by cynicism and political ambition, Steve was a refreshing combination of doggedness, wit, humility and kindness. And his coalition work easily traversed the boundaries of race and ethnic background that occasionally keep groups from working together. Our character is measured in part by how we care for the poor, ill and elderly among us. We’ve lost a true leader but Steve Collins will remain a role model for service to others. Thanks to Jeff Stone for preparing this JALSA letter for the Boston Globe In Iraq: Washington Post: www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A62425-2004Sep4?language=printer.
From the Shalom
Center: And as we enter the ten Days of Awe and Self-Transformation from
Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, let us read the passage from Genesis 25: 7-11
in which Isaac & Ishmael, Abraham's estranged sons, come together to
bury him and then choose to live together at the Wellspring of the Living
One Who Sees. Elsewhere: In Jakarta (Indonesia): the last count is 19 killed and over 180 wounded in the explosion which took place Thursday near the Australian embassy. 90 deaths on two Tupolev (Russian) aircrafts on August 24th. Double suicide explosions in Beersheba (Israel) cause at least 16 dead and 100 wounded. Palestinians believe 200 have died last week in the Jenin (West Bank) refugee camp. Adding to the thousands of lives already lost, this week's fighting between Arab and African tribes has killed at least 70 people and displaced thousands more in the Darfur region (Western Sudan). Armed terrorists take control of a school with 400 teachers and children (Beslan, Russia). 323 hostages, including 156 children, died in the siege. We keep these lives in our thoughts and in our determination to do better to preserve life.
7. Important Reading on Issues of Concern Election Coverage Helpful election coverage
from Bill Moyers on NOW Articles about the 527s,
indicating the big donors that are giving to both parties Interested in doing "Fact-checking" on statements made by political candidates. Bill Moyers of NOW and PBS has provided us a number of organizations and websites that provide opportunities for fact-checking. Needless to say, you will not get the same criticism and analysis from all on any one issue. www.FactCheck.org .
www.aim.org/ Accuracy in the
media (including criticism of Michael Moore's film) How's your creativity index? Are you talented on computer animation? Get some recognition for your Flash-making talent, while
joining the fight to defend American values at the same time! Over the
next month People For the American Way and Salon.com are accepting entries
for "Flash the Court," an online
competition to find the best Flash animation that illustrates the dangers
of Right Wing control of the Supreme Court: Some Reading for this pre-holiday period: 1. "Birthdays: A Rosh Hashanah
Sermon," a poem by Danny Siegel in his 2. "Days of Awe: A Treasury of
Jewish Wisdom for Reflection, Repentance, Send us your thoughts on helpful reading to prepare for the holidays. We'll list them next week. Following are the leads to several interesting articles on a variety of subjects. Just enough, we hope, to tempt you to read the full articles which are not included here. A. On Politics, Religion, Church and State Modern day
crusades? Editor's Note: This is a shortened version of the
introduction of 'Crusade, Chronicles of an Unjust War' (Metropolitan
Books, 2004).
At the turn of the millennium, the world was braced for terrible things. Most "rational" worries were tied to an anticipated computer glitch, the Y2K problem, and even the most scientifically oriented of people seemed temporarily at the mercy of powerful mythic forces. Imagined hobgoblins leapt from hard drives directly into nightmares. Airlines canceled flights scheduled for the first day of the new year, citing fears that the computers for the traffic-control system would not work. The calendar as such had not previously been a source of dread, but all at once, time itself held a new danger. ........Then came September 11, 2001, the millennial catastrophe – just a little late. Airplanes fell from the sky, thousands died and an entirely new kind of horror gripped the human imagination....... George W. Bush plumbed the deepest place in himself, looking for a simple expression of what the assaults of September 11 required. It was his role to lead the nation, and the very world. The President, at a moment of crisis, defines the communal response. A few days after the assault, George W. Bush did this. Speaking spontaneously, without the aid of advisers or speechwriters, he put a word on the new American purpose that both shaped it and gave it meaning. "This crusade," he said, "this war on terrorism." Crusade. I remember a momentary feeling of vertigo at the President's use of that word, the outrageous ineptitude of it. .......... James Carroll Americans Oppose Partisan Politics At Houses of Worship,
Pew Poll Finds Catholics and religious
authority directives on how to decide who to vote for relative to
abortion
"A Catholic would be guilty of formal
cooperation in evil, and so unworthy to present himself for Holy
Communion, if he were to deliberately vote for a candidate precisely
because of the candidate's permissive stand on abortion and/or
euthanasia," wrote Ratzinger, who is head of the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican department charged with ensuring
fidelity to church teachings. " "But Ratzinger added: "When a Catholic
does not share a candidate's stand in favor of abortion and/or euthanasia,
but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote
material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of
proportionate reasons." .......[however] Gibbs added that "the church
speaks on issues, not on individuals. The church never tells someone who
to vote for." The Republican running for Senate in Illinois, Alan Keyes, said that "Christ would not vote for [the Democratic candidate] Barack Obama." www.suntimes.com/output/falsani/cst-nws-fals10.html B. Role of Big
Money in Political
Campaigns C. On Efforts to
prevent state and federal constitutional amendments on
Marriage See: www.massequality.org to stay in touch with efforts in Massachusetts to resist discriminatory language added to the Massachusetts Constitution or other efforts to prevent enforcement of the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision on same sex marriage. D.
Privacy and the monitoring of Jewish groups E. Petition on Israel prepared for
Administration led by either party
JTA - September 7 Dovish U.S. Jewish groups call for appointment of a Middle East envoy By Rachel Pomerance "Left-leaning American Jews and Jewish groups are asking the next president, whoever he may be, to make resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a top priority." Article references Letty Cottin Pogrebin, past president of Americans for Peace Now and founder of Ms. magazine, Hannah Rosenthal, executive director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Stephen P. Cohen, a signatory to the petition and national scholar for the Israel Policy Forum, Ted Mann, former chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, former vice president of the World Jewish Congress; and Rabbi Amy Small, president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Assembly Jewish organizations signing the petition include Brit Tzedek V’Shalom, Habonim Dror and the Labor Zionist Alliance. http://jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=Petition+demands+Mideast+envoy&intcategoryid=3&SearchOptimize=Jewish+News. F. On Medicare Cost Estimates Made to
Congress
This
week, major increases were announced in medicare costs. Medicare premiums
will rise 17.4 percent next year, or $11.60 a month, the largest dollar
increase in the program's 40-year history, the U.S. Health and Human
Services Department said Friday. Part B payment will rise from $66.60 to
$78.20 in 2005. Typically the money for the premiums comes directly out of
the Social Security checks of seniors and disabled Americans. See:
http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000082.htm
Ex-Medicare Chief's Pay Illegal, GAO Says
By Christopher Lee Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, September 8, Page A21 The Department of Health and Human Services should have withheld former Medicare chief Thomas A. Scully's salary last year because Scully wrongly kept a subordinate from giving Congress higher cost estimates on the Medicare prescription drug law, the Government Accountability Office said yesterday. In a 13-page legal opinion, Anthony H. Gamboa, the GAO's general counsel, said that a 1998 federal law prohibits an agency from paying a federal official who prevents another employee from communicating with Congress. www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3540-2004Sep7.html?referrer=email. | ||||||
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