WRJ Updates:

 

Tzevet Mitzvot: Young Adult New Orleans Mitzvah Corps, December 20-25, 2008

The Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism is hosting a Young Adult Mitzvah Corps visit to New Orleans,  December 20-25, 2008. It is a wonderful opportunity for 25-35 year olds interested in spending a week rebuilding houses in the Lower 9^th Ward, spending time with the New Orleans community, participating in Jewish learning, and experiencing all that the Big Easy has to offer!  Inform all the young adults you know that registration for this terrific and unforgettable social action volunteer experience has just been extended.

 

The cost is only $250 plus transportation to New Orleans . Although the trip is run by the Union for Reform Judaism, participants need not be members of Reform congregations to attend. Registration for this heavily subsidized trip is just $250 and includes hotel, meals, ground transportation and programming. Travel to-and-from New Orleans is not included. Please publicize Tzevet Mitzvot in your sisterhood, families, and congregation. Participants will experience an intensive week of social action, study, worship and fun with other Jewish young adults.  For additional information see: http://urj.org/csa/mitzvahcorps.

In the September 22nd update to The Point, the following actions were encouraged:

 

1.  Oppose Proposed  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule that endanger women’s access to health care.

By allowing any employee of a hospital or clinic working in an HHS-funded program to refuse to perform or give information about treatments that would violate their moral beliefs, the proposed rule would endanger women’s health. It could limit access to emergency contraception and abortion services and would permit health care providers to redefine abortion to include most forms of birth control, as well as other reproductive health services, and then refuse to provide them.

With the rapidly rising cost of food, fuel, and the loss of jobs, millions of women need publicly-supported reproductive health care services. This regulation would harm the low-income, uninsured, and under-insured women who rely on these programs! For more information read Blocking Care for Women, an important op-ed piece, by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Cecile Richards from The New York Times. 
 

Act now: Send an electronic message to HHS Secretary Leavitt opposing this harmful rule at:  http://www.capwiz.com/rac/issues/alert/?alertid=11927226.

 

 

2.   Israel Discriminates Against Reform Rabbis

Reform Rabbis are not recognized by the State of Israel.  Rabbi Miri Gold has served the Birkat Shalom congregation since 1999. She is one of seventeen rabbis serving in her area – the other sixteen receive a government salary.  The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism through the Israel Religious Action Center , IRAC, has filed an appeal calling for recognition of Rabbi Gold by the State of Israel. 

 

Anat Hoffman, IRAC director, has asked us to, “Join me in signing our petition in support of the case of Rabbi Miri Gold, a case that demands the government of Israel to begin recognizing Reform rabbis.”  You can sign the petition at www.irac.org.  Last year, Women of Reform Judaism contributed $5,000, through the YES Fund, to Rabbi Gold's legal defense fund.

 

 

In Early September we received this Notice.  Please take the time to sign the petition.

Breakthrough: Women, Faith, and Development Summit to End Global Poverty

In August of 2007, WRJ joined the Women, Faith & Development Alliance to work with internationally focused organizations to seek a breakthrough for women’s rights and poverty reduction globally. Go to  www.wfd-alliance.org for information about the alliance and its essential work.  On April 13 – 14, 2008, the alliance held a major conference Breakthrough: Women, Faith, and Development Summit to End Global Poverty, at which former WRJ presidents, Judith M. Hertz and Constance Kreshtool represented us. 

The Women, Faith and Development website includes a brief synthesis of this statement at http://www.wfd-alliance.org/assets/docs/commitments.pdf.

WRJ will focus its new programming and enhanced advocacy efforts on reducing women’s poverty and promoting their well being worldwide by developing and disseminating programming resources to its affiliates and women’s networks in North America and abroad. The issues that these programs tackle include, primary and secondary education, abuse, trafficking, and sexual exploitation, and health. Resources for on-the-ground programs will be coupled with advocacy efforts that engage local women.

Since the summit we have been participating in alliance conference calls and related advocacy.  We call on you to take action  to help us fulfill our commitment.

  

Take Action:  Sign a petition to urge your senators and representatives to support The Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive (Growth) Act at http://www.womenthrive.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=131.