Current Legislative Campaign
Campaign for a People First Budget
In the face of the public health crisis and economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Reform Jews across California are meeting with 40 state legislators and the Governor’s staff to call for a state budget that puts people first. Investing in all Californians is the best way to grow our capacity to recover from this crisis.
Upcoming Events
RAC-CA Prop 15 Forum
What's New
RAC-CA Civic Engagement Campaign 2020
RAC-CA is working as part of Every Voice, Every Vote: The Reform Movement's 2020 Civic Engagement Campaign to strengthen democracy by expanding the electorate, both inside and outside our congregations, and by educating Reform Jews about key ballot measures.
RAC-CA 2020 Legislative Victories
RAC-CA changed its 2020 legislative agenda in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Thirty-nine meetings with state legislators plus two with the Governor’s staff led to the release of vulnerable prisoners and new revenue in the state budget, though not as much as we were seeking.
RAC-CA 2020 Legislative Advocacy Campaign Results
Call on Gov. Newsom to Reduce Prison Populations During COVID-19
RAC-CA 2020 Legislative Agenda
The health and economic crises caused by the coronavirus call us to respond together from our Jewish values and tradition to support Californians who are suffering – both inside and outside our Reform congregations and communities. Events are moving quickly and we must act together. Our 2020 agenda may change as the political situation changes.
Legislative Agenda
The health and economic crises caused by the coronavirus call us to respond together from our Jewish values and tradition to support Californians who are suffering – both inside and outside our Reform congregations and communities. Events are moving quickly, and we must act together. Our 2020 agenda may change as the political situation changes.
RAC-CA Victories
In 2019, RAC-CA set gun violence prevention and housing as our two top issues. With help from Reform communities across the state, RAC-CA helped triple funding for local gun violence prevention programs in California communities most affected by gun violence. We also backed a package of housing and homeless bills that will help build new affordable housing, protect tenants, and remove barriers for housing production.
Past Events
RAC-CA Lobby Day 2019
On Tuesday, August 20 in Sacramento, RAC-CA held its most important event of the year to urge our legislators to make the Golden State reflect our Jewish values of justice, compassion, and wholeness. Participants learned how to lobby and meet with their elected officials.
Contact and support our team
- For Southern California: Lee Winkelman, California Organizing Director
- For Northern California: Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller, Northern California Senior Organizer
- Join our group in the Tent.
- You can support this critical organizing work in California online or by contacting David Harris.
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Learn More and Get Involved
Governance of RAC-CA
RAC-CA seeks to build our collective power to create the California of our dreams. Our structure includes professional staff, a statewide leadership team, issue research groups, and congregational social justice teams.
Issue Research Teams
RAC-CA has six issue research teams covering climate change, criminal justice, immigration, health care, housing, and gun violence prevention. Comprised of lay leaders and clergy, these teams research bills and ballot measures to help set our legislative agenda and mobilize congregational social justice teams.
Brit Olam
The Brit Olam, covenant with our world, is the primary way Reform Jewish communities are working together to make change. Communities who join the Brit Olam choose from two types of networked social justice work—RAC state projects or issue-based cohorts—to ensure that we, as a movement, are leveraging our collective knowledge, skill, and relationships to make lasting impact on the issues we care about, grounded deeply in the text and tradition that bind us together. Learn more about the Brit Olam and how your community can get involved.