Blog

Democracy doesn’t happen every four years at the ballot box; democracy needs to be affirmed daily by each of us. That happens when we commit to engaging with one another, rather than tuning each other out.

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the crises of hunger and homelessness in the U.S. are more urgent than ever. It is our imperative to understand the scale of these injustices and demand much-needed relief for those most vulnerable.

In addressing epidemics, there are a number of provisions of Jewish law directly relevant to challenges we face today. The spirit of these laws and their wisdom speaks across the centuries to us now.

Here’s something we know about this election: Vulnerable and oppressed communities remain vulnerable and oppressed; this election was not a clear repudiation of white supremacy. Marginalized groups continue to be at risk from white supremacists and those who enable them.

It may prove difficult to wait for election results, especially in these times of heightened stress and anxiety; patience may seem impossible. Fortunately, Jewish faith and tradition offer lessons for us as we enter a period of waiting and uncertainty.

Nobody should be denied access to quality, affordable health care, especially during a pandemic. But repealing the ACA would reverse these gains and devastate millions of Americans.

Just as the Torah is at the center of Judaism, the ballot is at the core of our democracy. We would not dream of returning the Torah to the Ark without first dressing it. It helps, then, to think of the outer envelope as the ark and the inner security envelope as our ballot’s Torah cover.

As intimate partner violence rates surge, the Senate still refuses to pass a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which has been in limbo for more than a year.

The Reform Movement supports a COVID-19 relief bill that will alleviate economic hardship, which puts tens of millions of Americans at risk of eviction and homelessness.