TZEDEK INITIATIVE Promoting social justice and racial equality

Since its founding in 2020, CAI’s Tzedek Initiative has pursued as its mission the promotion of social justice and racial equality through listening and learning, community building, and advocacy and activism. Here are reflections on our efforts this year in some key areas — racial equality, educational parity, voting rights, and reproductive justice. Our year began with the distribution to the congregation of a High Holiday reflection on social justice (curated by Marilyn Labendz and Sue Goldberg), with a second reflection shared prior to Pesach. In October, through the efforts of Sharon Zucker and Judy Zaks, the Tzedek Initiative hosted a group from the Rose of Sharon Community Church in Plainfield for dinner in the sukkah followed by a viewing of “Shared Legacies,” a documentary focusing on the coalition and friendship between the Jewish and African-American communities during the Civil Rights Movement.

Tzedek Initiative work groups have also made significant progress. The voting rights group, led by Marilyn Labendz and Karen Eisenberg, conducted a nonpartisan “Why Voting Matters” session for two classes at James Caldwell High School on June 1. More sessions are planned prior to the November elections.

Members of the educational inequality work group are mentoring junior high and high school students as part of the Succeed Together program in Montclair. Jilana Dellal reports that others are needed to join their efforts.

Recently congregants watched and discussed the documentary “The Janes,” about a group of women who facilitated access to abortions prior to Roe v. Wade. CAI member Rabbi Michael Monson discussed his experiences with the Clergy Consultation Services during this same period, and Susan Werk and Natalie Peck led a discussion. This year’s final event was the third annual Juneteenth Shabbat. Led by Leah StermanKabrt and Sharon Zucker, we collaborated with folks from the First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell to host the Friends of the Howe House, a group committed to the preservation of the Montclair home of James Howe, the first African-American homeowner in West Essex. More than 100 congregants, church members, and others heard our guests talk about the Howe House and the history of AfricanAmerican enslavement and emancipation in the area. The event, which included a Juneteenth-inspired Shabbat dinner, was partially funded by a grant from the Jewish Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ.

The Tzedek Initiative leaders thank the volunteers and CAI leaders who support its efforts. If you have an interest in any of the focus areas or others, please reach out to Debby Miller, Ruth Jaffe, Debbie Rosen, or Morris Lewis.