2007 - United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Beth Jacob’s Social Justice Committee has an ally in its work. Jewish Community Action, a 501c3 based in St.
Paul, Minnesota, is one of only a handful of American organizations that engages the Jewish community using a
congregational organizing approach to social change. Through many one-to-one conversations with Beth Jacob
congregants, Jewish Community Action’s community organizing staff have learned that immigrant rights remain a core
Beth Jacob interest.
Seven years ago, Beth Jacob’s then emerging Social Justice Committee joined with Jewish Community Action
and a local Catholic church, Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose parishioners are mostly immigrants from Mexico and
Central America. Together, the two congregations and Jewish Community Action were able to lead passage of
ordinances protecting the rights of immigrants in St. Paul and Minneapolis. Now, immigrants in both cities can access
basic services (housing inspections, garbage collection) and emergency services (911, police, fire) without fear of
discrimination or deportation. Beth Jacob’s partnership with the local Latino community was fueled both by painful
memories of the Shoah and by our desire to heed the Torah’s injunction to care for the stranger.
In the past few years, the Social Justice Committee and Beth Jacob Congregation have worked closely with Jewish
Community Action to support other matters of concern to local immigrants. Now, Rabbi Allen is widely acknowledged
as a local leader for immigrant rights. Most recently, Rabbi Allen delivered testimony to the Minnesota State
Legislature in favor of a “meatpacking workers’ bill of rights.” He and Beth Jacob members have joined Jewish
Community Action in supporting this legislation, the Dream Act (in-state tuition for immigrants), living wage
ordinances, permanent residence for Liberian refugees, restoration of food stamp benefits to immigrants, and other
immigrant rights and worker rights policy at the local and state levels.
Hechscher Tzedek Campaign
“You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or stranger in one of the communities
of your land. You must pay him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets, for he is needy and urgently depends on
it; else he will cry to the Lord against you and you will incur guilt.” (Deuteronomy 24: 14-15)
and “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:20).
Heeding Torah, Beth Jacob and its Social Justice Committee have committed to leading Hechscher Tzedek.
We have worked closely during the first part of 2007 to plan the Hechscher Tzedek Campaign, an initiative to pilot
Hechscher Tzedek in the Twin Cities area. While much is yet to come, the core issue of Hechscher Tzedek is already
clear: Hechscher Tzedek stands at the nexus of social justice and halachah. This is a program that is already proving key
to Conservative Jews seeking a fit between Jewish ritual and Jewish ethics. It is a program deserving of commendation
for the audacity with which it has addressed an issue that is central ( to our lives as Conservative Jews but largely
invisible to us. Its goal — improved working conditions (working conditions consistent with Jewish law), improved
treatment of employees and ensuring ethical business practices in the production of kosher food — is one which has
already begun to unite and compel the Beth Jacob community, as well as a much larger national community interested
in this issue. It has already been a regular theme for discussion within Beth Jacob’s Engaging Shabbat Program. We
believe it is a program that will continue to grow in importance as it resonates with Jews across the country.
SILVER
CONGREGATION B’NAI ISRAEL
500-900 Millburn, NJ
Submitted by Linda Sotnick 973-379-3811
In addition to the social action programs such as food, blood and coat drives, working with Habitat for Humanity and
organizations that work to clean up the environment, the social action committee at Congregation B’Nai Israel
responded to a cry for help from the New Orleans Jewish Family Service and took responsibility for the “Maot Chittin”
Passover program, to provide a holiday’s worth of food for those in need in the New Orleans Community.
Utilizing our nursery school, religious school and youth programs to make seder plates, kiddush cups,
candlesticks and other ritual items, the congregation took responsibility for raising the $10,000 Jewish Family Service
in New Orleans estimated the program would cost. Almost 20 volunteers from B’Nai Israel paid their own way to spend
a weekend in New Orleans, renting vans, putting together and delivering the food packages in the New Orleans area.
After the program, B’Nai Israel coordinated a scholar in residence program for Shir Chadash, the Conservative
Congregation in New Orleans; where Conservative Rabbis volunteered to become monthly scholars in residence for the
congregation.