Send Page to a Friend Our youth model for all   By The Jewish Advocate   As a Jewish community, Boston has historically had a plethora of opportunities available for pursuing social justice, and recently it was publicly recognized as a model for the entire country in its pursuit of tikkun olam. The Union for Reform Judaism announced last week a  new national social action program that will be based on the Boston Jewish community's work with faith-based community organizing. Temple Israel's own Rabbi Jonah Pesner will lead the new initiative, Just Congregations, in following a model for social action that is unique and highly successful. Faith-based community organizing requires congregations of different religious backgrounds to come together in a joint pursuit of fighting for various social justice causes such as quality education, health care access, living wages, and any other social or economic justice issues a congregation chooses to pursue. Social justice has been a cornerstone of Jewish identity in America. In colonial times, Jews fought for religious equality; at the turn of the 20th century, Jews led strikes against immoral factory practices; and in the 1960s, Jews were leaders in the Civil Rights movement. Today in Boston, there are numerous opportunities for Jews to find meaning in not only the religious and ceremonial aspects of their faith, but also to seep themselves in pursuit of a messianic vision that includes equality for all as well as economic and social justice. In this pursuit, Jews have also attempted to be an or lagoyim, a light unto the nations, promoting values that are not only of unique concern to Jews but to the communities across the country, even the world. However, URJ's decision to make Boston a model for social justice reminds us that it is not only the "goyim," or other nations, which need to be inspired to heed this call. It is also Jews across the country who may want to pursue systemic change within a religious environment and as a person of faith. This initiative will allow Jewish congregations to learn how to reach out to other faiths and for a larger faith-based community to come together to pursue goals that are meaningful based on their own religious and moral beliefs. While obviously the call for social justice is never-ending, Boston should be proud of its work. Temple Israel, the Jewish Community Relations Council, and other synagogues involved in faith-based community organizing should be confident that their successes will now be able to help change other communities, allowing them to grow in their pursuit of Jewish values that are often inextricably connected to social concerns.