“Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue”: Reflecting, Learning, and Acting on Racial Justice Issues
In his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” Dr. Martin Luther King wrote:
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
As we consider Dr. King’s legacy and aim to understand how to respond Jewishly to important topics in the American public sphere, “Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue” will be an opportunity to reflect on Torah values regarding racial justice, learn about current issues and events from various perspectives, and respond by putting our values into action.
Program
Friday night, January 18 – Reflecting on Racial Justice as a Jewish issue
6:00pm: Dinner at JCC Community Hall. Speaker is Austin Mayor Steve Adler. RSVP Required.
7:30pm: Shabbat evening service at Temple Beth Shalom with sermon by Rabbi David Segal of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism’s Texas office.
Saturday, January 19 – Day of Learning
Download Complete Agenda
9:30am: Torah Study at Congregation Beth Israel
10:30-4:00pm: Learning and discussion throughout Saturday at Congregation Beth Israel. Lunch available with RSVP.
Speakers include:
Dr. Courtney Robinson, Founder, Excellence and Advancement Foundation
Plenary I: We Are the Ones We have Been Waiting For
Plenary II: The Sociocultural and Sociopolitical Factors of Criminalization
Lunch Discussion: Jews of Color (RSVP required)
Dr. Kazique Prince, Senior Policy Advisor, Austin Mayor’s Task Force on Institutional Racism & Systemic Inequities
A comprehensive approach to addressing racism and inequity
Justin Nelson, Attorney
Gerrymandering and other issues that impact voting
Lisa Humphrey, Assistant Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League
Community of Respect
Natasha Harper-Madison, Austin City Council Member, District 1
Affordable housing as racial justice
Mimi Garcia, Director of Policy and External Communications, Texas Association of Community Health Centers
Introduction to Advocacy/Lobbying 101
Sunday, January 20 – Family and Teens Program/Activities
Joint Beth Shalom/Beth Israel Religious School learning and activities
Donate
We invite you to join us in bringing these important voices and conversations to our community and beyond. Support will go towards underwriting meals, honoraria for speakers, enabling the community to attend at a minimal cost, and future social justice programming at Congregation Beth Israel, through our Social Action Fund.
MENSCH
$360
Invite a guest to all events for the weekend, including the Friday Night Donor Reception, Friday Night Dinner, Saturday Morning Donor Torah Study, and all Saturday and Sunday programming.
Thanks given on our website and program.
Thanks for being Mensches!
Allan & Lori Adelman
Anne Alexander & David Kessler
In Memory of Mitchell Block
Ilene Gray & Joe Strouse
Melissa Pepper & Geri Joskowitz
Cecile & Martin Zelinsky
OY, SUCH A MENSCH
$1,000
Invite five guests to all events for the weekend, including the Friday Night Donor Reception, Friday Night Dinner, Saturday Morning Donor Torah Study, and all Saturday and Sunday programming.
Thanks given on our website and program.
Thanks for being Oy, Such Mensches!
Leon Barish & Terry McGinty
MIGHTY MENSCH
$5,000
Invite ten guests to all events for the weekend, including the Friday Night Donor Reception, Friday Night Dinner, Saturday Morning Donor Torah Study, and all Saturday and Sunday programming.
Thanks given on our website and program.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Committee Members
Mike Seay, Co-chair
Melissa Pepper, Co-Chair
Stan Adelman
Russ Apfel
Ilene Gray
Pam Hitchcock
Gretchen Johnson
Tony Orum
Nancy Wolf
Rabbi Alan Freedman, Temple Beth Shalom
Rabbi Amy Cohen, Temple Beth Shalom
Rabbi Rebecca Reice, Congregation Shir Ami
Rabbi Kelly Levy, Congregation Beth Israel
Lori Adelman, Reform Jewish congregations of Austin
Volunteer Opportunities
We are looking for volunteers over the weekend to help with greeting, welcoming speakers, registration, cooking, set-up, and more. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Melissa Pepper at melissa.pepper@gmail.com