Send page to a Friend Jewish Educational Materials General Social Justice General Social Justice Jewish Educational Materials General Education Resources Action Opportunities   Jewish text and tradition are rich with lessons about community engaging in social justice work. The following are curricula, handouts, articles, books, and websites that relate Judaism to social justice. To borrow these materials from our collection, or for more information on placing orders, contact JCRC at tzedekresources@jcrcboston.org. Text Resources and Curricula JCRC has a variety of resources about Judaism and social justice, including resources on Maimonides’ levels of tzedekah, a glossary of Jewish values, Jewish moral principles and Biblical and Rabbinic text excerpts. For copies of these resources, please contact JCRC at (617) 457-8640. JCRC has several text studies and study questions on topics related to ethics and social justice. Each topic contains an outline, introduction by the author, and glossary. The Social Justice Text Study Guide includes a variety of short texts with study questions designed for teen or adult group settings: “Balancing Uniqueness and Commonality in Interfaith Social Justice Work” explores how to use Jewish communal resources in general community service work. To obtain a copy of any of the following resources, please contact JCRC at (617) 457-8640 or tzedekresources@jcrcboston.org. “Criticism and Character Development” reflects on the role of judgment and criticism in social justice work. “Dignity” discusses traditional Jewish attitudes toward dignity and its role in social justice work. “Human As An Image of G-d” explains that God endows all humans with immutable worth and reflects on the type of society needed to honor the ultimate worth of each individual. “Humility” describes ways to separate tangible successes from self-worth and the identity of others. “Strangers” develops new ideas about how to ethically treat vulnerable members based on lessons embedded in the texts. “Tension Between Loving the Jewish People and Loving All Humanity” provides theological support for social justice work. “Tikkun Olam & Tzelem Elokim” (Repairing the World and In God’s Image) provides understanding of these concepts and how they apply to social justice work. JCRC Social Justice Holiday Resources - To obtain a copy of any of the following resources, please contact JCRC at (617) 457-8640 or tzedekresources@jcrcboston.org. “The Chanukah Study Guide” reflects on how the concept of light and the rededication of the Temple inform modern struggles for housing justice. “The Pesach Study Guide” discusses how concepts such as oppression, the symbolism of matzah, and the telling of the exodus relate to social justice work. “The Sukkot Study Guide” describes the construction of these temporary dwellings, the welcoming of our ancestors into the Sukkah, and the celebration of the harvest. Lessons of sukkot can be linked to understanding the problems of both hunger and homelessness. JCRC’s Jewish Text JEMs (Justice Education Materials) is a compilation of text studies and discussion questions on various social justice topics geared toward high school and adult learners. To obtain a copy of any of the following resources, please contact JCRC at (617) 457-8640 or tzedekresources@jcrcboston.org. “A Wide Enough Tent” creates a Jewish context for exploring the issue of affordable housing through the biblical stories about the Golden Calf and the building of the Mishkan. “Till It, Tend It, and Do Not Destroy” is a teaching on environmental protection and looks at man’s dual and often conflicting need to both use and protect natural resources. “Sharing Leadership” explores the importance of leadership development in keeping an organization strong and vibrant. “You Shall Not Stand Idly By” focuses on Jewish tradition’s teachings around preventing and interrupting domestic violence. Additional Resources The Amos lesson plan uses this prophet’s teachings to facilitate a discussion on social justice. It was designed for middle school students and is useful when there is limited time. This lesson was created by Aaron Rittmaster and is available at http://ajritz.com/jew/Prophets/amos.htm. The Dynamics of Tzedakah: From Dependence to Dignity is a curriculum for adults or advanced high school students. The first part contains an essay discussing how to give tzedakah without promoting dependency or injuring the pride of the recipient. The second part includes text excerpts addressing the question that arise when giving tzedakah. This curriculum is produced by the Shalom Hartman Institute (http://www.hartmaninstitute.com) and can be ordered by calling 212-772-9711. Faith-Based Community Organizing: A Unique Social Justice Approach to Revitalizing Synagogue Life, a resource from Jewish Fund for Justice in 2003, was created to stimulate awareness and discussion within the American Jewish community. JFJ is committed to fighting the injustice of poverty on a grassroots level. The booklet can be ordered from http://www.jfjustice.org/. Gathering the People Training and Education in Congregational Community Organizing offers a variety of perspectives, suggestions and lessons on community organizing in synagogues. The following is a selection of the resources most relevant to leadership training in congregations available on this site. The index page can be found at http://www.gatherthepeople.org/Pages/GTPcontents.htm. Congregational Organizing http://www.gatherthepeople.org/Downloads/RELATIONS_LDRDEV.pdf On Leadership http://www.gatherthepeople.org/Downloads/ON_LEADERSHIP.pdf Congregational Organizing Guides http://www.gatherthepeople.org/Pages/GTPdocuments.html Jewish Civics: A Tikkun Olam/World Repair Manual provides an in-depth history of Jewish communal activism in the arena of public affairs, and introduces a very helpful Jewish values matrix as a tool to analyze this engagement. This text is designed for high school students in supplementary schools. It is produced by the Washington Institute on Jewish Leadership and Values and can be ordered by calling 301-770-5070 or at http://panim.org. JSJN Passover Social Justice Resources Jewish Social Justice Network’s Haggadah supplement contains teachings, poems, and writings that link Passover and modern perspectives on social justice. The pieces collected within this pamphlet are submission from various JSJN member groups and offer reading that can be easily integrated into a traditional seder or used to create an alternative seder. This booklet can be ordered by contacting info@jsjn.org or calling 212-213-2113 x23. Jewish Text Analyses uses Jewish methods of textual examination to tackle justice relate ethical questions. This resource was produced by Just-Tzedekah; the texts can be found under the heading: “What Our Sages Say About…” The Just-Tzedekah website can be found at http://just-tzedakah.org. Judaism and Urban Poverty Curriculum; An exploration of Urban Poverty in the Light of Jewish Tradition was produced to raise awareness of life in poverty and encourage middle school students to personalize this understanding. It is designed for use in religious schools. Students discuss difficult choices, such as whether a family should use its remaining money for medicine or food. This curriculum engages students with Jewish scholars and texts, teaches them how to affect the system to eliminate the causes of poverty. The curriculum is divided into six lessons and a field trip. It is produced by the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and can be ordered by calling 312-663-0960 x319. Hillel’s Tzedek How-to Guide This document, produced by Hillel, provides a collection of articles, case studies, and suggestions on how create innovative social justice programming. This piece is targeted specifically towards campus leaders, but the sections on advocacy and the Jewish content can be used in any adult setting. This guide is available as a PDF and can be downloaded off the Hillel website at http://www.hillel.org/ under social justice resources. Relations with the Hungry, Tzedakah & Welfare Reform is a short compilation of texts and accompanying study questions. It was written by Avi Weinstein and is posted on the Jewish Virtual Library. The texts can be found at http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Judaism/tzedaka1.html. To Till and to Tend: A Guide to Jewish Environmental Study and Action is produced by the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, which aims to promote environmental education, scholarship, advocacy, and action. The guide can be found at http://www.coejl.org/. “Torah and Justice- from Text to Social Activism” involves participants in considering how Jewish values influence their own beliefs about justice in American society. This text is produced by the Washington Institute on Jewish Leadership and Values, and can be ordered by calling (301) 770-5070 or found at http://panim.org. The Tzedakah Fellowship Curriculum: Giving and Organizing for Positive Social Change teaches middle school students about the causes and effects of poverty, Jewish responses throughout history, and mandates of Jewish texts. The topics of the six lesson plans include community organizing and the structural roots of poverty. Study questions, work sheets and a teachers’ guide are also included. This curriculum, designed for use in day schools, is produced by the Jewish Fund for Justice and can be ordered by calling 212-213-2113. 1995 National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths: Resource Materials for Jewish Congregations aims to raise awareness about the plight of children in poverty. This packet includes prayers that congregations can add to their religious services, activities for youth groups, and ways that adults can advocate for affordable housing. There are separate lessons plans geared for K-3, 4-6, middle school, and high school students. These materials are produced by the Children’s Defense Fund and can be ordered by calling 202-662-3652. Days of Awe…and Justice is compiled by the Jewish Social Justice Network and features High Holiday social justice resources created by JSJN member organizations.  Many of the resources highlight local campaigns and issues of a time-sensitive nature, but provide powerful examples of ways to incorporate a social justice perspective into High Holiday celebrations.  The 2001 and 2002 packets include d’vrei torah from Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps; a Yom Kippur study session on workers’ rights from Jewish Fund for Justice; and an alternative Ashamnu (communal prayer for repentance) created by Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, and more.  To order a copy of this resource, please contact JCRC by e-mail at tzedekresources@jcrcboston.org. A Social Justice Reader for the High Holy Days, compiled by Jews United for Justice, can serve as an alternative or supplement to traditional Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and/or Sukkot services.  These texts connect High Holiday rituals with social justice teachings.  Readings address issues ranging from respect for the elderly to educational inequities to over consumption and materialism.  Jews United for Justice seeks to organize a visible Jewish presence and takes action for economic and social justice in the Washington, DC area.  To order a copy of this resource, please contact JCRC by e-mail at tzedekresources@jcrcboston.org. Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, a Jewish social justice group based in New York City, created an Alternative Tashlich Service to coincide with the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride in October 2003.  In this service, participants symbolically “cast away” their sins and commit themselves to action around immigrant justice issues.  To order a copy of this resource, please contact JCRC by e-mail at tzedekresources@jcrcboston.org. The National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice offers a number of educational resources that connect faith communities to labor issues.  “What Faith Groups Say About the Right to Organize” highlights statements from Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish tradition regarding the right to organize and may be of particular interest to Jewish organizations and congregations.  To see a complete list or to obtain copies of these materials please visit The National Interfaith Committee on Worker Justice at www.nicwj.org and click on “materials.” Articles Brother, Can You Spare a Dime; The Treatment of Beggars According to Jewish Tradition: A Case in Point is an engaging article by Arthur Kurzweil about giving to money to beggars, finding answers in Jewish texts. The article can be found at http://ajritz.com/jew/dime.doc. Ushpizin: Invoking the Lives and Teachings of our Biblical Ancestors is an article posted on SocialAction.com about how the biblical figures we welcome into our sukkah during Sukkot relate to our quest for social justice. The article can be found at http://socialaction.com/10-2000/ushpizin_sara.phtml. Books And You Shall Strengthen Them: A Rabbinic Letter on the Poor is an overview of Jewish legal sources related to poverty and economic justice. This document was written as a “pastoral letter” for the Conservative movement by Rabbi Eliott Dorff and can be ordered by contacting the United Synagogue Book Service 1-800-594-5617 or http://uscj.org/mall/bookservice.htm Jewish Dimensions of Social Justice: Tough Moral Choices of Our Time by Albert Vorspan and David Saperstein. New York: UAHC Press, 1999. Lirdof Tzedek: A Guide to Synagogue Social Action is a guide for incorporating more social action into synagogues. This guide was produced by the Religious Action Center of by the Reform Judaism. It is available on online at http://rac.org/pubs/manual.pdf. Websites For more social justice websites, please visit http://www.jcrcboston.org. AVODAH is a young adult Jewish service organization based in New York City. The website has extensive resources for social justice education related to parshiot and Jewish holidays. http://www.avodah.net Institute for Public Affairs, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, hosts a Public Policy Library and links to Jewish law sites from http://www.ou.org/public/Publib. The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) is dedicated to being a strong, progressive, inter-generational voice, inspired by Jewish teachings and values, for social justice, civil rights, and civil liberties. They provide informational programming and working committees on these issues in Massachusetts. http://www.jewishalliance.org/home.htm Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston seeks to “promote an American society that is democratic, pluralistic and just.” Our website has information about synagogue social justice, young adult and youth opportunities. http://www.jcrcboston.org/ The Jewish Social Justice Network is an organization of Jewish social justice groups based in different cities, including New York’s Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Chicago’s Jewish Urban Affairs Council, and Los Angeles’ Progressive Jewish Alliance. For more information, please contact Jewish Fund for Justice at jfjustice@jfjustice.org. SocialAction.com is an online Jewish magazine “dedicated to pursuing justice, building community, and repairing the world.” The website offers resources including articles related to different social justice areas, Jewish holidays, and secular holiday. There are also themed d’vrei Torah for each weekly parsha, and other related education opportunities. http://www.socialaction.com Tekiah: A Jewish Call to Action is an alliance of activists, community organizers, and lay leaders in Greater Boston, committed to mobilizing the Jewish community to work for a fundamental, systemic change in American society. Past actions involve campaigns for bilingual education and immigrant’s rights. For more information, contact Tekiah_Boston@hotmail.com or 617-983-5184. The Ziv Tzedakah Fund has many articles and listing, including practical mitzvah opportunities, sources of inspiration, tzedakah ideas, books and curricula. http://www.ziv.org spark: Partnership for Service aims to inspire a commitment to service as an ongoing part of each person's life and an important expression of Jewish identity.  spark is committed to expanding the Jewish community’s engagement in service to the elderly and/or ill andworks collaboratively with other Jewish organizations in developing resources, curricular materials, trainings and workshops, and programs to enhance and expand high quality Jewish community service. spark’s Heart Action program is an intergenerational learning discovery program; participants commit to making weekly nursing home visits, during which time they engage senior citizen residents in various levels from group projects to individual visiting.  For more information about spark or their HeartAction program please contact Executive Director Maggie Gaines at 410-366-4151 or visit their website, http://www.sparkpfs.org//entryPage.cfm.