Justice Within Reach

Surely, this Instruction which I enjoin upon you this day is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach. It is not in the heavens, that you should say, "Who among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?" Neither is it beyond the sea… No, the thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it. - Deuteronomy 30:11-14

Moses shares these words with the Israelites at a time of great transition and uncertainty in our collective story. The Israelites are nearing the end of their 40 years of wandering and Moses himself is about to die and pass leadership on to those who will follow him. As he gives his people their "final reminders," he finds it important to tell them that the key to living a righteous and meaningful life is not beyond reach. We do not need someone stronger or wiser than us to go get it, it is right here in front of us. Moses' teaching reminds us that, even when we face difficulty and uncertainty, we can always live and act according to our values.

The same can be said of our work of tikkun olam (repairing the world). With the countless challenges to our values and threats to the most vulnerable among us, it can often feel like working for a multiracial, inclusive democracy where all people can thrive is too much, too complicated, too distant. But we do not need to be policy experts or political royalty to advocate for what we know is right and push back against what we know to be wrong.

Everyday people, working with their friends, family, and neighbors, can make a difference. I (Jacob) first got involved in politics at a small protest in a town that had one traffic light. I (Sydney) first got involved with advocacy when, at age 5, I lobbied my parents to get my little league to let me play tee ball with the boys because they did not have a softball league for girls my age. Our Movement has experienced this power - just last year, over 10,000 of you gathered in small groups around the country - contacting voters to help expand democracy and contributing to victories for reproductive freedom.

This does not mean the work is easy - far from it. We will need to work to get people involved, have tough conversations, and take risks to help create the world we want. But, when it is hard, we must think back to Moses and his belief to do good - it is not out of reach. To make this work as clear and straightforward as possible, we are excited to launch Justice Circles: Powered by the RAC.

Anyone can start a Justice Circle: people just like you convene circles in their congregations, their neighborhoods, connected to a book or movie club, and beyond. All you need is five or more people who meet regularly to connect with one another, learn, and take action. We at the RAC are ready to provide you with a toolkit to get started with your first gathering and will keep you updated with concrete actions you can take on the most urgent issues we face in our uncertain times.

Learn more and download your free Circle Toolkit. Now is the time to reach out and seize the power you have to create a more just world.