Social Justice Committee
We are very excited to hold our first ever SJC theater party on Sunday August 8 dinner at Momed, the popular modern Mediterranean restaurant in Atwater village at 5 p.m. followed by viewing the play “Waiting,” a somewhat shortened version of PJTC member Daniel Olivas’ award-winning play “Waiting for Godinez.” The full-length play had its local, covid-appropriate streaming debut as a dramatized reading on July 25. For information about the Playwrights’ Arena production of “Waiting,” visit: WAITING – Playwrights' Arena (playwrightsarena.org).
Our planning for the quickly-approaching High Holidays will consume much of our time in August, while we also continue our reflection on anti-Semitism and the personal and collective responses to this increasing threat. In our discussions thus far, if I can summarize them, we have identified the need to prepare ourselves and the members of our community, especially the younger members, to deal with the challenges when confronted by anti-Semitism, and to look at what we can do collectively to counter this hatred.
Local action and continuing the meshing of PJTC Social Justice with groups that have the same or complementary objectives has been moving forward on several fronts—the whole constellation of needs around affordable and supportive housing; the need to adjust our city planning and development to respond to and anticipate the increasing threats of climate change; and the ongoing struggles to end the frictions and inequities that are deeply rooted in our society. We have chalked up small but satisfying gains—convincing the Pasadena City Council to table expenditures for traditional SUVs and Trucks in order to research electric equivalents and advancing the commitment to rapidly develop affordable housing through modifications to the timeline in Pasadena’s “Housing Element.” Our participation has been widely welcomed when identified PJTC SJC members sit the table and at City Council meetings.
Sometimes we just need to step into the cool shade and relax as friends—which we did at Eaton Canyon Nature Center on July 4th, enjoying the traditional Independence Day treat of…..bagels and lox!!
Contact Carl Selkin at sjcpjtc@gmail.com for more information. We expect to meet three Sundays in August at 10:00 a.m. 8/1/15/29 and on Tuesday evening 8/24.
by Carl Selkin, SJC Member
