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06/10/2021 10:41:11 AM

Jun10

A Word from Your Social Justice Coordinator

May 28, 2021

I have some bittersweet personal news: my rewarding tenure as your Social Justice Coordinator is coming to an end on July 1, 2021.

I was made an offer I couldn’t refuse, of admission to NYU School of Law in the fall. I’ll continue to fight for social justice, through legal advocacy. And to any lawyers in the congregations reading this, it is unfortunately too late for you to talk me out of it. But I’d welcome a chat anyway!

I want to dedicate this message to saying thank you to all of the wonderful community volunteers who’ve made my time here so special. I started in late 2019 with a flurry of coffee and lunch meetings to get to know y’all. It seemed that as soon as those were over, quarantine set in, and we were making good trouble over Zoom.

I’ve been so proud to see our community be so passionate about so many important issues, and in so many ways. We’ve played the inside game, developing relationships with local elected officials to advocate. We’ve played the outside game, demanding and protesting. We stood up for democracy, getting out the vote for multiple elections without a partisan slant. Y’all put in the effort to make sure those left out of our democratic process heard how important they are. And we held our elected officials accountable to those who most need their help.

On almost every issue, you’re pushing for justice. HIAS has successfully lobbied President Biden to increase the refugee admission cap, with our help. Locally, Refugee Services of Texas and the asylum seekers they serve benefit greatly from our donations. RAC-TX has grown massively this legislative session, making sure the whole Texas Capitol knows that many Reform Jews stand for voting rights. The Austin criminal legal system has been shaken up lately, with a new Travis County Judge, District Attorney, County Attorney, and first-ever Public Defender. Advocates for Social Justice Reform have been with them every step of the way, demanding they listen to those most impacted by incarceration, who can’t afford cash bail or private attorneys. And as Tesla has moved into town with its new factory, Texas Anti-Poverty Project has been right there to demand the jobs pay living wages and go to locals.

Social Justice hasn’t just been external--we’ve looked inward as well. From MLK Shabbat onwards, our partnership with Be’Chol Lashon has spurred us to examine every component of our congregations to ensure we’re fostering racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. We started conversations within the entire Austin Jewish community to hold each other accountable. I especially want to shout out CBI’s Chavruaction Circles for not only setting up important racial justice conversations, but ensuring conversations turn into action and congregational leadership.

I am so inspired by everything y’all do. It has been an honor to support the movements you have built. My work would have been nothing without your leadership, the crucial volunteer hours you have put in. As we go forward, I would love nothing more than to see the completion of what we are already moving towards: Social Justice as a priority for every part of both congregations. Social Justice always starts with a dedicated few, and it is always more powerful when it is an entire community speaking with one voice. CBI’s listening campaign proves that. We’ll never be unanimous, of course, but the path we are on towards integrating justice in every decision Temple Beth Shalom and Congregation Beth Israel make, is the right one. I wish you all happy trails along it.

I am deeply honored to spend an in-person Shabbat service with each shul as a send-off, tonight with Congregation Beth Israel and 6/25 with Temple Beth Shalom. Yet I would be even more honored to talk 1 on 1 with anyone who I haven’t talked to in a while. Maybe you haven’t felt that your passion is reflected in existing programming, or maybe the pandemic took your volunteer time and turned it into childcare time. No matter what, I’d love to collect as much knowledge and passion from y’all to pass on to my eventual successor (and our volunteer leaders, who aren’t going anywhere!).

My phone number is 469-834-9987. Please call, text, or reply to this email. Our community has built something powerful and sustainable, and it’s up to all of us to continue it. It has been such a pleasure to be your Social Justice Coordinator, and to learn the power of the Jewish Community working together. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.


Jason Taper, Social Justice Coordinator

05/11/2020 03:13:55 PM

May11

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Social Justice News for June 11

06/11/2021 10:47:34 AM

Jun11

Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784