News & Announcements

When SJC  took on the responsibility to apply for and participate in the ADL’s KULANU initiative, the increase in anti-Semitism was apparent--but recent explosions of anti-Jewish vitriol and hate have made this eight-month program more crucial.   Shawn Paper is the point person for this endeavor and he is recruiting volunteers participants from PJTC.  You do not need to be a member of the Social Justice Committee to participate. November 2 was the date of the first zoom meeting as the program gets organized to meet the current crisis.

The November 6 Webinar hosted by the ADL was an important contribution to our understanding of anti-Semitism and an invitation to get started reflecting on ways to combat it in its various manifestations.  November 16 Kulanu will look at Kristallnacht as the anti-Semitism of the 20^th Century  made the Holocaust  possible.  Watch for announcements of and links to programs and activities as our group of committed  members of the PJTC community  come together to discuss, learn, and take action to counter this growing threat.

At our October 29 SJC meeting, we discussed the inadequate way the news frames the Israel-Hamas war.  Daphna suggested that we call NPR and LAist to seek coverage that accurately reflects the issues, in order to counter the misinformation that seems to overwhelm the reality of this conflict.  Several members id make calls, and Larry Mantle did an interview with Erwin Chermerinsky, Dean of Berkeley’s School of law. about the rise of campus anti-Semitism.  Connected? Who knows. But writing letters-to-the editor, to congresspersons,  making phone calls to talk radio, etc. all help get the message across that the war that Hamas initiated does not advance the legitimate needs of Palestinians for self-determination, just and dignified treatment.

In the midst of this sorrow and uncertainty, our Social Justice Committee continues to confront challenges and to take action to recognize and celebrate our community’s simchas  

Our new initiative to join Men’s Club and Sisterhood in presenting a gift to the rising bar and bat mitzvah youth has gotten off to a successful start,  Peter Dreier’s book The 100 Greatest Americans of the 20^th Century: A Social Justice Hall of Fame, Notorious RBG, and Rolling Warrior,  comprise the first three selections chosen by the bnai mitzvah young adults an their families.  Upcoming bat and bar mitzvah celebrants are choosing books from the list compiled by Daphna Enzer, Bonnie Skolnik, Barbara Levinson, Peter Dreier and others.  We are pleased that many of these books have significant meaning and resonance for the recipients.

Carl Selkin, co-chair, Social Justice Committee