Reform California will meet with Senate President pro Tem Kevin de Leon and other state lawmakers to discuss “California Values Act”
Rabbi Mona Alfi, Congregation B’nai Israel (Sacramento): “Reform Jewish clergy and lay leaders are at the Capitol today to urge the passage of SB 54. We are called repeatedly, in our tradition, to welcome the stranger and treat immigrants fairly, as if they were citizens. This bill is an important statement about who we are as Californians and how we strengthen our state by protecting families and embracing people from all different backgrounds.”
Rabbi Rebekah Stern, Congregational Beth El (Berkeley): “Reform CA is coming to Sacramento for our largest lobby day ever. Reform Jews from across our state are convening with a message of justice, of inclusion, and of welcoming immigrants. We are meeting with Senate President pro Tem de Leon and other elected leaders from across the state. We represent congregations from all over California, and we are committed to passing SB 54.”
SACRAMENTO – Today, nearly 100 Reform Jewish activists came together to urge their elected representatives to support SB 54, the California Values Act, and engage in dialogue with California Senate President pro Tem Kevin de Leon about their opposition to amendments that would weaken the act’s protections.
The lobby day, organized by Reform CA, a project of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, is focused on ensuring the Ca. state legislature passes SB 54 in its current form, so that law enforcement, public education, health facilities, and courts remain accessible to all Californians, and that the state’s limited resources are directed to matters of greatest concern to state and local governments rather than arresting and detaining tens of thousands of law-abiding undocumented immigrants.
Media interested in speaking with participants or covering the day’s events should contact Sarah Garfinkel at sarah@westendstrategy.com or 202-776-7700.
Please note, while the dialogue with the Senate President pro Tem will be closed to media, those leading the discussion will be available to speak afterward.
WHO:
- Rabbi Mona Alfi of Congregation B’nai Israel in Sacramento
- Rabbi Rebekah Stern of Congregation Beth El in Berkeley
- Members of Reform CA, which includes 90 congregations and 150,000 Reform Jews in California
WHAT: Activists will urge California state legislators to support SB 54, “The California Values Act,” in its current form
WHEN: August 22, 11:15 a.m. – 12 p.m.
WHERE: Capitol Basement Eureka Dining Room, 1315 10th St, Sacramento, CA 95814
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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose more than 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.
