AM TZEDEK
Am Tzedek: Isaians Pursuing Justice is Temple Isaiah’s organizing group. Made up of a core team of Temple Isaiah lay leaders, Am Tzedek is the umbrella under which Isaiah does all types of justice work partnering with One LA(IAF) and RAC-CA.
One LA-IAF is a broad-based organizing network made up of dues-paying member institutions. Temple Isaiah and other diverse religious, healthcare, schools and other non-profit institutions across LA County are committed to building relational power and exercising that power to strengthen our communities and bring about a more just society. We do this by:
- Building strong relationships within and across our communities;
- Equipping our members with leadership and organizing skills; and
- Acting powerfully together on concrete issues facing our communities.
Am Tzedek and One LA have an ambitious agenda for 2020. In order to achieve our goals, we need to build more relational power. We define power as the capacity to act. Power comes in two forms: organized people and organized money. VIEW ONELA (IAF) 2020 VISION
California IAF Demands Justice Not Charity- Urges Gov. Newsom to Help all Essential Workers
On Tuesday evening, May 5, over 1,200 California IAF leaders, 10 Bishops and 7 state legislators converged on Zoom and Facebook Live to demand the Governor and legislature provide immediate relief for essential workers left out of state and federal relief."There are millions of California workers who take care of our elders, our children, grow our food, and get it to the stores. Many of them are undocumented, but their work contributes billions of dollars to the California economy," said Rev. Dr. Julie Roberts-Fronk, Co-Chair of the action and a leader with ICON. Undocumented immigrants represent 10% of the California workforce, pay over $3 billion in state and local taxes and add $180 billion to the economy. They comprise 33% of agricultural workers and 32% of healthcare workers in California, working at great personal risk during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"During this pandemic, there is a tendency to throw people to the margins, to throw them into the shadows,"said Bishop Jaime Soto, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento.
"What we need to do is develop a culture of encounter, a culture of solidarity to beat back the coronavirus and to create a healthy and safe network. We need to recognize the flaw in the Cal EITC. It leaves out California workers and taxpayers, which not only jeopardizes their lives, it also jeopardizes the well being of the entire state of California."
"Immigrant workers are not draining our economy, they are subsidizing it," said Senator Maria Elena Durazo. "We would not be the fifth largest economy in the world without them."
Earlier this month, the California IAF and the California Catholic Conference wrote letters to Governor Newsom, urging him to expand the California Earned Income Tax Credit (Cal EITC) to include ITIN filers, many of whom are undocumented. The tax credit would put much needed dollars quickly back into the hands of working families. Studies show that for every 1 dollar invested in workers, the local economy generates 2 dollars.
Maria Elena Manzo, a leader with COPA has worked with a group of women in Salinas for many years to spread the word about the Cal EITC.
"When they first learned about the tax credit, they were very excited. One woman said, 'this is going to come at a perfect time, the agricultural season has not started yet and we are struggling right now.' Her hopes vanished when she learned she wasn’t going to get the credit, but it did not stop her from helping others."
Leaders secured commitments from state legislators to work with their six organizations to advance the legislation during upcoming budget hearings, and to press the Governor to find the money. They also committed to meeting with local organizations within two weeks, and joining regional civic academies on the issue to build a larger constituency.
Immigrant Workers Face Economic Uncertainty During Covid-19 Shutdown, America Magazine
Lideres religiosos piden mas apoyo para la comunidad inmigrante, [VIDEO] Telemundo Bay Area
Local Faith Leaders Support Undocumented Workers, Los Altos Crier
Líderes religiosos piden al estado que apoye a los inmigrantes indocumentados, The Pajaronian
Faith Leaders Call on State to Support Undocumented Immigrants, The Pajaronian
DURING PASSOVER
During Passover we would suggest you make a donation to Mazon in order to symbolically sell your chametz. Mazon is on the front lines of getting access to the food and resources people so desperately need
Click here for more information
IN A TIME OF COVID-19
Rabbi Jill Jacobs notes that the novel coronavirus has taught us that it’s impossible to separate ourselves from the greater world, and that our own personal health and safety depends on the health and safety of the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society. If anything positive comes of this terrifying pandemic, it should be a remaking of the social fabric of our society such that we collectively take responsibility for the health and well-being of every member of our society. READ FULL AM TZEDEK MESSAGE
We are all overwhelmed with too much information and not the right information. Below you will find some resources to address various issues that are currently being addressed.IF YOU ARE A RENTER OR KNOW A RENTER
IF YOU HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS IF YOU ARE UNEMPLOYED/FURLOUGHED
IF YOU ARE UNDOCUMENTED OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS UNDOCUMENTED
IF YOU ARE A VOLUNTEER OR WANT TO BE A VOLUNTEER: HERE'S HOW YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY
IF YOU ARE SICK OF ALL THE PACKAGING YOU ARE RECEIVING: AMAZON SECOND CHANCE
IF YOU WANT TO HELP MIGRANTS: CLICK HERE
OTHER RESOURCES:
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism:
The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the hub of Jewish social justice and legislative activity in Washington, D.C. - click here
Reform California:
Reform California is the Reform movement’s effort to act powerfully together across lines of race, class, and faith for a more just and compassionate California. - click here
ONE LA-IAF:
Visit the website of One LA-IAF for a city-wide effort to strengthen communities and bring about a more just society. - click here
HIAS:
Visit the website of HIAS and learn about its work protecting and resettling refugees. - click here
Immigration and Refugee Taskforce:
Join Isaians and members of One LA-IAF in an effort to protect immigrant and refugee communities – click here
Outreach to Muslim Americans:
Join an emerging group of congregants to support Muslim Americans – click here
PATH
Join PATH (People Assisting The Homeless) - click here
SPLC (Southern Poverty Law Center)
Fighting Hate, Teaching Tolerance and Seeking Justice - click here
Bend The Arc
A Jewish partnership for justice - click here