In a rare and welcome display of bipartisan support, the United States Congress just passed the Electrify Africa Act, ensuring the continuation of the Obama administration’s Power Africa initiative to expand access to electricity in Africa. Now that this legislation will become the law of the land, we urge the U.S. government to succeed by asking …
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I write a lot here about all of the disturbing and upsetting things going on in the world, but a few weeks ago, I met someone from Burma who inspired hope. I thought to myself, “Hmmm! This is a good opportunity to share with our GrokNation community a story that isn’t depressing, that there are …
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The Dominican Republic’s treatment of people of Haitian descent resembles the discrimination Jews have faced through their history, said a group of U.S. rabbis who visited the Caribbean island Thursday. Hundreds of thousands of Dominicans of Haitian ancestry have been threatened with deportation by the Dominican government, which stripped them of their citizenship through a series of …
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Rabbis met with activists working to reverse the Dominican government’s policy to strip tens of thousands Dominicans of Haitian descent of their citizenship rights New York, NY — Ten Rabbis from across the country returned from the Dominican Republic earlier this week as part of a Global Justice Fellowship trip with American Jewish World Service …
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Ruth Messenger, who is completing her tenure as the chief executive officer of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), discussed her agency’s priorities over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend at Congregation Beth Israel, where she was a Shabbaton speaker. She also met with the Leichtag Foundation in Encinitas as well as with some local LGBT …
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To the Editor: As a Haitian activist, I commend The Times for covering the desperate situation in Anse-à-Pitres (“Haitian Migrants Flee Dominican Republic for Camps Along Border,” news article, Dec. 13). You accurately describe the plight of these 3,000 people — mostly Haitian migrants — who have fled the Dominican Republic in terror from the …
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In the developed world, women fought and struggled to gain their rights and eventually created a space in which these rights could be expressed. Violence does indeed occur in the developed world, but it cannot be compared to what is happening in countries that are plagued with persistent, systematic conflict. Women in the developed world …
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Tikkun olam-repairing the world. For American Jewish World Service President and CEO Ruth Messinger, this core Jewish value resides deep within her DNA-and tikkun olam is the force that created and has driven AJWS for the past 30 years. AJWS, a grantee of JUF, focuses on aiding vulnerable populations suffering from pressing human rights violations, …
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The January 2010 earthquake provided a perfect opportunity for many to come and do business in Haiti. Even prior to the earthquake, Bill Clinton led the discussion on developing Haiti through corporate investment. President Martelly turned that approach into a credo: “Haiti is open for business.” We understand the pretext for this so-called development. The …
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Leading Jewish international human rights organization draws on lessons of Jewish history and underscores need to speak against bigotry New York, NY—In the wake of rising calls by politicians, elected officials and others to discriminate against Muslims—increasing in response to terrorist attacks undertaken by Islamist individuals and organizations—American Jewish World Service released the statement below …
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