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one conversation at a time
03/25/2021 03:58:26 PM
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Five members of Temple Israel and I assembled in our Zoom room, preparing for our conversation with our New York State Assembly Member, Sandra Galef. I was used to meeting with elected officials and their aides. Before I entered rabbinical school, I worked in the Washington State Senate and then as a legislative liaison for a public college. Since becoming a rabbi I kept up my advocacy. Every year I traveled with a group of teens to Washington D.C. so they could learn how to advocate for issues they care about. I also went to Albany each year with adults from Temple Israel and met with officials there.
Meetings like this were familiar to me, but not to all in our Zoom room. “I’m a little nervous,” said one participant. “I know,” said another. I also felt a little nervous, having never had a meeting with an elected official over Zoom.
We assembled to advocate on behalf of a parole reform bill called “Less is More.” The bill addresses the high number of people on parole who are incarcerated for technical violations of parole, like missing a curfew or a meeting with a parole officer because of work or child care obligations. This is a bill that disproportionally affects black people, so we saw it as an issue of racial justice. That is why we felt impelled to speak up on behalf of this reform. (For more information about this legislation, see my previous blog post.)
Sandra Galef appeared in our Zoom room and greeted us graciously. She listened to our presentation and offered supportive comments. At the end of our presentation, Mrs. Galef thanked us for bringing this legislation to her attention, and said that she would certainly support it. This was one of the most positive and gratifying meetings I’ve ever had with an elected official.
During the festival of Passover, we celebrate our freedom. But our freedom is meant to be used for a greater purpose. In our tradition, we are liberated from bondage to Pharaoh so that we are free to serve God: to be “a light unto the nations,” to pursue justice and protect the most vulnerable people in our communities.
Lest you think this is beyond your ability, think again. As our meeting with Sandra Galef showed, it is quite possible to pursue justice in small ways, one conversation at a time.
Sun, May 5 2024
27 Nisan 5784
Temple israel Happenings
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Sunday ,
MayMay 5 , 2024Israel Engagement committee meeting
Sunday, May 5th 9:15am to 10:15am
The Israel Engagement Committee will meet to continue a discussion of the committee's main objectives and begin planning programs/discussions around Israel engagement. -
Sunday ,
MayMay 5 , 2024A First Hand Account of the War in Israel with Speaker
Sunday, May 5th 10:15am to 11:15am
Please join us for a conversation with Ido Yaaran, a young adult Israel emissary and IDF soldier. Ido was raised in Herzliya, Israel and came to the United States for a year of service to the Jewish community in 2019-2020 through the young emissary program of the Jewish Agency of Israel and the Jewish Federation of Fairfield County, Ct. Read more... -
Sunday ,
MayMay 5 , 2024Yom HaShoah Memorial Candle Lighting (Virtual)
Sunday, May 5th 6:30pm to 7:00pm
We will gather on Zoom for a brief ritual as we light our Yom HaShoah memorial candles to honor all who perished at the hands of the Nazis. -
Saturday ,
MayMay 11 , 2024Brotherhood-Sisterhood Movie Night: The Apartment
Shabbat, May 11th 7:00pm to 9:30pm
"The Apartment". From 1960, the story of a young New York insurance company employee, trying to get ahead by “loaning” his apartment to other executives. His life becomes complicated with unintended consequences when he falls in love with the office-building elevator operator. Directed by the legendary Billy Wilder it stars Jack Lemmon & Shirley McClaine in one of their best roles. The movie is a beautiful and funny love story but also a pointed commentary on office politics, morality and how certain men treat women, circa 1960. The Broadway play “Promises, Promises” is the musical version of this wonderful film.
Events
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Women's Journal Group : 10:00am |
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: 6:30pm |
Friday Night
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Candle Lighting : 7:45pm |
Shabbat Day
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May 5 |
May 5 Women's Journal Group Sunday, May 5 10:00am |
May 5 |
May 5 |
May 5 |
This week's Torah portion is Parashat K'doshim
Shabbat, May 11 |
Candle Lighting
Friday, May 10, 7:45pm |
Yom HaShoah
Monday, May 6 |