News & Announcements

January Flame Article for Social Justice Committee

Carl Selkin

I am writing this during Hanukkah, so please forgive this belated hope that you have all enjoyed what Woody Guthrie wished everyone, a happy, joyous Hanukkah!

Mark your calendar for our annual Martin Luther King Shabbat: January 13 at 7:30. This year we will have a two-part commemoration. Cynthia Cannady who leads the climate advocacy group Pasadena 100  will speak with us about MLK’s dedication to environmental  justice and how combatting climate change through local action continues that struggle. We will continue our recognition of Dr. King’s inspiration by joining the annual gathering at the California African American Museum in Exposition Park on Monday, January 16. Car pools will be encouraged as we practice what he preached.

Mere days after Dr. King was assassinated Congress finally passed the Fair Housing Act for which he fought. PrioCarpoolsbat services, we expect to play video excerpts from an important NBC interview of Dr. King. At the Oneg, nosh and talk over some of the ways Dr. King’s legacy continues today and informs our personal experiences and public life.

Our Marvin Gross awardee this year has fought for social justice during a long career. Affordable housing, housing the homeless, organizing communities, and educating generations to the work of building a more equitable  society are among Peter Dreier’s passions.  His instrumental work on measure ULA to tax the transfer of multi-million-dollar property in the city of Los Angeles resulted in a solid victory on November 8. Mayor Karen Bass and her successors will have the resources on a continuing basis to address  so-far intractable challenges.

As we start 2023, we on the Social Justice Committee wish everyone a very happy new year indeed!