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WRJ Updates:
Federal Drug Policy: Speak Up For Harm Reduction
A New York Times editorial, “Time Lag In Vienna” on January 31, 2009 described the relief of public health experts in response to President Obama’s announcement, as stated on the White House site, that he "supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of [HIV] infection among drug users." Regretfully, the US delegation to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs meeting, to be held in Vienna in early March, does not reflect President Obama's position. Let President Obama know that you consider it urgent that the US delegation in Vienna be quickly advised to represent his policies.
ACTION: Send a short message, suggested text is attached, to the White House. Click here http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ and use the webform provided.
For additional background please see the Harm Reduction Coalition FAQ at http://www.harmreduction.org/article.php?id=876 and a Huffington Post article on the issue at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n102/a06.html.
WRJ Executive Committee Adopts Statement on Economic Crisis On January 26, 2009, the Women of Reform Executive Committee adopted a policy statement, "Economic Priorities for the New Administration and Congress," which discusses the social and economic priorities that WRJ considers important elements of an emergency stimulus package. These include legislation to address the urgent needs of impoverished Americans while boosting the economy. Please open the attached document to read the full statement. Take action now on the WRJ Executive Committee statement by calling on your senators to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), as described below.
Senate Action on Expansion of SCHIP Needed!
Dial 1-800-828-0498 now and ask to speak to your senators. Urge them to support reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
SCHIP reauthorization and expansion are urgently needed. According to Families USA, a health care organization, in 2007 children without insurance were 13 times less likely to have a relationship with a primary care doctor or clinic. The program is now operating under a temporary extension that expires in March 2009. The House of Representatives passed legislation on January 14th, to reauthorize SCHIP, which would enroll 4 million more children and adults, including children of legal immigrants who have been in the country fewer than five years.
Now, the Senate must take action. It is imperative that Congress provides this program with the authority to cover millions of otherwise uninsured children.
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 9th 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.
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.
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.
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