The U.S. election is now a month behind us, and while little is clear, my colleagues and I believe the role of the NGO community—especially those who work for human rights—will become even more critical than ever.
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In a moment overshadowed by fear and hate, I am grateful to be part of American Jewish World Service, a community fully committed to the dignity and rights of every person everywhere.
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It can be difficult to offer sexuality education to adolescents anywhere—but it’s especially difficult in deeply conservative communities around the world, where sexuality remains a taboo topic.
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Earlier this year, we heard that our long-time grantee Berta Cáceres, an indigenous Honduran environmental activist, was gunned down and killed in her home, simply because she organized her community to protest a multi-million project to build dozens of hydroelectric dams that will destroy the local eco-system and put their survival at risk. At devastating moments like this, the many obstacles to pursuing climate justice feel overwhelming.
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Even though we may not see the leaves change here in Southern California, we know fall is a time for transition. As you may have heard, after eight accomplished years at AJWS, Allison Lee has started a new role as the Vice President of External Affairs at Bet Tzedek.
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“What can I do to help beyond the annual gift I make to AJWS?” This is a question I often field from Bay Area donors. There are numerous responses, including advocacy and ambassadorship. But, in my opinion, the best answer is “travel on an AJWS Study Tour.”
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These days, it often feels like we live in a broken and breaking world. Devastating stories continue to top the headlines: terrorism, racism, war, violence and economic injustice. And we know that there are countless other brutalities that never even make it into the news.
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“Anyone who listens to a witness becomes one.”
More than a week after the passing of Elie Wiesel, I, a proud son of a Holocaust survivor, remain deeply saddened by his death.
I met Elie Wiesel 40 years ago when he began a four-decade teaching career at Boston University, where I was entering my senior year.
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I was becoming discouraged in 1984 talking with leaders of American Jewish organizations about my dream to found an American Jewish organization that would make a professional and visibly Jewish contribution to the end of poverty in developing nations. They were not unsympathetic, but “we have other problems” was the phrase I heard over and over. Congregational and Hillel rabbis were more supportive and eventually encouraged me to talk with Elie Wiesel—“He will understand.”
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Last month, the Bay Area celebrated Pride with unshakeable spirit. For LGBTI people who have worked to express their rights in the U.S., it was an opportunity to look back on and take pride in all that has been accomplished.
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