I am writing today in order to spread the word about enacting the Federal DREAM Act. Education is a right that should not be denied to anyone. I believe that all undocumented students that are already living here and in the system should be granted the same opportunities that American citizens have.

 This Act is important to me because, as a second-generation American, I understand the struggles that undocumented students face. Furthermore, I work with an immigration reform group, IYJL, where I learn about injustices caused by not allowing undocumented students to attend college. Although many people are opposed to it, the Federal Dream Act would make dreams come true for the undocumented communities. 

Not only does the undocumented individual benefit from a college education, but America will benefit as well. This is because a more educated society is much more likely to prosper as a whole. The DREAM (Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act would not only open doors to success for the student, but it would put them on a path to citizenship.

United States Student Association says:  “Enacting the Federal DREAM Act would repeal a measure that financially penalizes states for providing in-state tuition to their resident undocumented students, allowing more states to make college affordable. Also, it would make students more eligible for federal loans and work upon adjustment of their legal status. The DREAM Act would provide a pathway to citizenship by giving students conditional legal status for six years. They may gain full citizenship by receiving a degree from a higher education institution or by serving in the military for two years.”

The Federal DREAM Act would only allow this opportunity to undocumented minors who were brought to America as a child. Many people oppose The Federal DREAM Act because they believe it encourages more illegal immigration. For example, Federation for American Immigration Reform, a public interest group that, “seeks to improve border security [and] to stop illegal immigration,” states on their website fairus.org, “the DREAM Act rewards those who are in the country illegally.”  The  DREAM Act does not reward, but merely grants the right to education.

The undocumented children that grew up here are just as American as the children that grew up here as legal residents. It is simply not fair to deny any one, regardless of legal status, the right to education. This is because the children that have been living and educated in the U.S. elementary and high school system have had no control over their parents being undocumented residents in the United States. 

Illinois has passed a state-wide DREAM Act due to recognition of the issue. The Illinois DREAM Act is a true success for undocumented students. In order to federally enact the DREAM Act, the word needs to be spread.

The Chicago Tribune has a lot of power to educate people on this issue and to gain supporters to pass The Federal Dream Act. Education is truly a right that should not be denied to anyone who has started in the system, no matter what their legal status is. Please help the dreams of undocumented students come true. 

The Politicization of OWS
By Doug Lavey
Or Tzedek Participant, Summer 2007

 As we enter 2012, we look back on all that has occurred and all that has changed this past year. One event that should certainly jump to mind is the emergence of Occupy Wall Street (OWS). 

Soon after it began, the protests quickly became one of the most talked about and debated topics throughout the world. Though the protests in New York led to similar movements nationally and internationally, after over 3 months of protesting, the Occupiers have little tangible change to show for their efforts.

 I like to think that 20 years from now I will be able to point out the Occupy protests as the beginning of an era when socioeconomic policy no longer favored the super wealthy or corporations and that our democratic system more accurately represented the citizens that make up this country. Ultimately, however, I believe the only way for these protests to make this broad type of impact is to join the political process.

But before any long-term goals can be formulated for OWS, questions about the immediate direction of the US, the global economy, and other world-wide crises must be addressed. While OWS protestors may be searching for more broad-based reforms, they will also be a key factor in determining these more immediate decisions. This is because of the role OWS will play in the 2012 elections. 
We have seen the power and influence a group like OWS can potentially have in elections and the political agenda. In 2010, we saw Democrats lose much of their power in Congress to a reinvigorated Republican party running on a platform of lower taxes, reducing the debt, responsible fiscal spending, and limited government. The driving force behind this newfound momentum? The Tea Party.

Since 2010, conservatives in the House and Senate have worked to push legislation that would greatly reduce the size of the U.S. Federal Government and the federal debt, like the Balanced Budget Amendment. Hyper-partisan politics has led to a virtual stalemate in the legislature, an artificial debt crisis, an anemic economy, single digit approval ratings of Congress, and a drop in the U.S. credit rating. 

The failures of the U.S. Government brought the thousands of Occupy protestors, to the streets, representing millions more who remain at home. In many of its political stances, OWS is the anti-TEA Party. 

However, similar to what the TEA Party did for Republicans in 2010, Democratic leaders hope to politicize and earn the support of the Occupy movement and its protestors. Though protesters have been infuriated with the actions of both political parties, Democrats still might be able to use OWS as a springboard to retaining control of the presidency and retake control in the House.

Many Democratic candidates have been hesitant to identify with the Occupy protests out of fear that a radically left position would discourage moderate voters. On the other hand, a second motive for politicization of OWS is that it would likely streamline the creation of a single set of goals and remove the extremist ideals that are highlighted by the mass media, thereby giving the movement more legitimacy, long-term stability, and appeal. 

Politicization would require the protests to unify, if not around a single leader, then around an agreed upon message and set of changes they would like to see implemented.  

My Experience with Social Justice
By Doug Lavey
Or Tzedek Participant, Summer 2007


It is rare to be offered the opportunities for learning, growth and social justice that one can find at Or Tzedek. Indeed, your high school and college years offer a small window to take advantage of social service programs directed specifically towards teenagers.

My involvement in social justice programs began at Or Tzedek in the summer of 2007. Since that summer, I furthered my involvement and dedication to social justice through my academics, extracurricular activities and work.

My dedication to social justice has blossomed into an incredible journey that has taken me all over the world. This includes two programs through PanimWorks (Southwest and DC Jam) a trip to Costa Rica with International Student Volunteers and work as a student coordinator for Invisible Children.

Besides summer social justice programs, I volunteered and had internships with JCUA and the UIC Office of Sustainability.

Through these experiences I have become involved in affairs at the local, state, national, and international levels. I have had the privilege of working with Navajo Indians, sustainable farmers in rural areas of Costa Rica, former child soldiers from Uganda, and underprivileged or homeless individuals in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. Since I began college, I was able to take many of the lessons I learned about myself and society into a very rewarding and educational job as a resident advisor. Furthermore, this summer, I will be interning in Washington, D.C. with a political organization.

I cannot stress enough my encouragement for teens to find the public service programs that are available to you only at this age and stay informed on local, state, national and international issues. The world faces many challenges, and our generation will be responsible for addressing and finding innovative solutions.

Understanding an issue is the first step to getting involved and finding solutions. This will open up many doors for you, as it did for me.

Education led me to the group Invisible Children, dedicated to stopping the longest running war in Africa. I am currently the vice president of the Invisible Children chapter on campus and have found it to be extremely rewarding and eye-opening.

Ask questions and demand answers. Get your friends, peers, and family involved; I’ll end with a popular and fitting saying from Invisible Children, “Ask! The worst thing they could do is say no.” 

By Emily Isaacson
Or Tzedek participant, Winter 2011

 Many people observe problems that plague today’s world.  But it takes a special kind of commitment to not only take a stand, but also choose to search deeper under the surface-to discover the depth of an issue and advocate for changing  root of a problem. 


Or Tzedek has provided Jewish teens like me a unique opportunity to observe and begin to truly understand the corruption in our world. With this understanding, the program provides the tools to begin to make the changes we wish to see in the world today.

Or Tzedek, traditionally a week-long summer program, just hosted its first-ever winter retreat. As a participant in the three-day winter Or Tzedek program were extremely eye opening. 

Along with feelings of frustration and helplessness came the satisfaction and hope I yearned for. When the participants first met, many of us did not know each other. However, within even the first hour, I felt a special connection with these people with whom I was sharing this experience.

Over the course of the three days, we explored a number of pressing issues, including authority in societies, the economic crisis and the effect it has on our generation, injustices found in the south side of Chicago, the rights of undocumented immigrant, and many more.

From the discussions and workshops on these issues, I saw determination and drive to seek change and take action not only in myself, but also in my friends and peers. That brought me hope, knowing that there are people out there who want this world to be a better place and who want to be the ones to make the change.

I was connected most strongly to the issues associated with undocumented immigrants. After having the opportunity to speak with undocumented immigrants and hear their stories, and then attend a vigil at the Broadview Detention Center and share prayers each of us had wrote, I felt an emotional connection to some of the injustices I saw. Before Or Tzedek, I had never truly taken the time to deconstruct the issues surrounding undocumented immigrants.

Because I had the opportunity to hear firsthand accounts from immigrants, I have a new level of dissatisfaction towards the way our government and society treats people. I still don’t fully understand how I feel, or know how I should react to the complicated web of issues surrounding undocumented immigrant rights, deportation, and citizenship; however, I now I have set of tools and resources to dive deeper into these issues.

The vigil we attended at the Broadview Detention Center had a great impact on me from a religious perspective. Until then, I had a closed mind, believing that the experience of hearing Christian prayer would be uncomfortable. I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least; attending the vigil was extremely eye-opening.

To see religion bring people together and bring about change was incredibly inspiring and gave me a new outlook on people and religion as a whole.

Or Tzedek is an inspiring program undertaking work that is community and world changing.  The program gives power to my generation, the next generation, and provides a priceless experience that has changed many teens. I know it has changed me. 

When one burns, breaks, destroys the bridges over the streams of a family, an inherent connection is broken. The love and happiness is torn apart. In this “land of the free and home of the brave” we lack the freedom and bravery this country was built upon. May the bridges be rebuilt and the connections reformed so that justice is restored.

……….

Wherever your home may be, may you find comfort there. May your families find strength and support in their communities and peace in the hope that one day you will all be reunited. May your passion inspire and your story move those with closed ears and cold hearts to take action and stop these injustices.

………

We stand in solidarity with you. We hope that you will be able to find happiness in your new life. We hope you see your families and friends once again.

………

Dear Friends,
We hope you find support & serenity wherever you find yourselves;
We wish you a piece of home will follow you wherever you may go;
We are impassioned by your struggles & stories;
We recognize that we are all human beings & important parts of this community & country;
We distance ourselves from all forms of objectification & discrimination;
And we pursue b’etzelem elohim (in the image of God); regardless of religion, we believe that everyone is created in the image (of their own definition) of God.

Warmest wishes,

Your fellow citizens of the Earth

Going into the Or Tzedek winter retreat, I was a little hesitant. I am very passionate about social action and I had a great experience on the summer program, but, in reality, I didn’t really know what to expect from the retreat I had helped plan. I wasn’t sure exactly what the experience would contain or who would be participating in the retreat. I was also very nervous about leading a workshop for the first time. However, within the first hour or two I knew the retreat was going to be a great experience.

Leading my workshop, called “What is Or Tzedek?” was nerve racking, but a great experience overall. I felt like the group really hit on what I was trying to get at about the involvement of the Jewish community in social issues. I also got great feedback and support from my peers. I was very interested by the discussion on power and where it is placed justly or unjustly; I think that is something that is very important to understand if you intend to make change. When we reached the topic of “one-on-ones,” I was fascinated because I had actually never heard of the concept before, but making personal connections in order to serve a cause made a lot of sense to me. I think one-on-ones will be a very valuable skill for me in the future.  

As I usually do, I loved phone-banking with SOUL. I think I love things like phone-banking and canvassing so much partly because I am a big people person. I also like taking part in such activities because they can bring awareness of important issues and events to people who might have otherwise missed out on a really amazing opportunity- and all with just a simple phone call.

The visit to the Immigrant Youth Justice League seemed a little redundant to me, as we worked with IYJL over the summer. I really enjoyed the podcast activity and the incorporation of modern media into the program, but I think that using another, newer topic with this activity might have served the program and its participants better.

I loved getting to know my fellow participants and spending time with them. Going ice-skating on Wednesday night was so much fun, as was all the other bonding time, including, believe it or not, getting woken up at 1 am by the hostel’s fire alarm. I had an amazing time helping plan and participating in the Or Tzedek winter retreat and in the end there is only one thing I would change. I would make the retreat longer.

If you are interested in taking a leadership role in Or Tzedek, please contact Rebecca, Teen Programs Coordinator: rebecca@jcua.org or 312-663-0960, ext.124.  

Last week, 15 amazing high school and college students came together as a community to visit community partner organizations, learn leadership and organizing skills, explore Chicago, and take action. These youth leaders, activists and organizers gathered for the first annual Winter Leadership Retreat, created by Or Tzedek, JCUA’s Jewish teen institute for social justice.  

What’s in a mission?              

Or Tzedek leadership member Sophie Leff planned our first workshop of the retreat. To get to the bottom of what it means to be a part of JCUA’s Jewish teen institute for social justice, Sophie guided us in the deconstruction of the words that comprise the organization’s name. Using Post-it notes, we wrote our own definitions for “Jewish,” “Council,” “Urban,” and “Affairs.” Through this exercise, we spoke about JCUA’s mission: to combat poverty, racism and anti-Semitism in partnership with Chicago’s diverse communities.

Organizing communities

Miriam, one of our amazing counselors, led a community organizer training session. We began with an organizer exercise, the Melian Dialogue, which illuminated the written and unwritten rules we abide by in society. We learned how to conduct one-on-ones, a critical skill for any organizer. To practice our one-on-one skills, we did speed one-on-ones (“speed dating” style). We had two minutes to engage our partners, discover their passions, and what makes then angry. While asking these questions, we kept in mind how we could organically connect them with a social justice project or goal that we were passionate about. To wrap up the workshop, we discussed the concept of power and created a power map for Or Tzedek.

Or Tzedek on ice

To end our first day, we went ice skating at Daley Bicentennial Plaza. Expert and first time skaters alike took to the ice to show off their most graceful poses. Tottering and gliding, we went round and round the rink with the Chicago skyline as a backdrop.

Connecting with SOUL

Thursday morning, we visited Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation, an amazing organization whose mission is “to empower the Southside of Chicago and the South suburbs to fight for social justice and address issues and concerns within the community.” Lev, a SOUL community organizer and Avodah member, spoke about SOUL’s current campaigns (Green Jobs, Transit, Education Reform and Bank Accountability). He also shared his personal journey to become a Jewish community organizer working in the South Side of Chicago, leading into a discussion about the effects of the economic recession on American youth.

For the second half of our visit, we split up into pairs to phone bank for SOUL’s upcoming Martin Luther King Day event. Activists have various reactions to phone banking; it’s, very rewarding for some while frustrating for others, but it remains an effective tool for outreach and an important skill in any organizer’s arsenal!

Or Tzedek on the air

Next, we headed back up to the Loop for an interfaith podcasting workshop on immigration at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. At the ICIRR offices, we met the activists from the Immigration Youth Justice League and the Muslim teens with whom we would be producing the podcast. After a lively icebreaker, IYJL activists told their stories about living undocumented in the United States and their work with IYJL for immigrant rights. Then, we learned the basics of audio recording and discussed podcasting and radio as a medium for activism.

Putting these two components of the workshop together, we broke into groups to explore and record our answers to three big questions:

• When have you felt like you were a stranger?
• What is your concept of home?
• Where do you feel secure?

Standing in solidarity

Before the sun had risen on our last day, we headed south to the federal detention center in suburban Broadview, Ill. for an interfaith vigil for immigration justice.

Every Tuesday and Friday morning at this facility, undocumented immigrants, predominantly young men, are driven directly to O’Hare airport for deportation. For the past five years, Sisters of Mercy Pat and JoAnn have led a vigil on these Friday mornings as the buses leave for the airport, standing in solidarity with the men leaving the only country many can remember calling home.

At the close of the vigil, we read personal prayers and messages that we had prepared the previous day, using text from the Torah about immigration to guide us.

Finding a social justice community in college

For our last workshop, leadership team member Julia Webb facilitated a panel discussion about finding one’s social justice and Jewish communities in college.

Julia, Hanna Erhlich, and Ma’ayan Malter, former Or Tzedek participants, and Rachel Patterson, retreat counselor, shared their personal experiences with Judaism and social justice at their respective colleges, illustrating the diverse ways one can get involved. We were additionally joined by Erin Jones, program director of Arts in the Loop Hillels. She described Hillel as a “radically pluralistic” organization that aims to support students in expressing their Jewish identity and practice. Erin encouraged Or Tzedek to use Hillel as a resource in creating social justice programs from a Jewish perspective at their schools.

Staying involved

To continue exploring social justice from a Jewish perspective, join us this summer for our Adavanced Activism and Activism and Community Organizing programs. Registration for our summer 2012 sessions isopen.

Advanced Activism: June 17-24, 2012
Activism and Community Organizing, Session I:  July 15-22, 2012
Activism and Community Organizing, Session II:  Aug. 5-12, 2012

………………………………..

Below are the organizations we visited during the leadership retreat. Check out their websites for current campaigns and upcoming events.

Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation (SOUL):
We met with Lev Hirschhorn, SOUL community organizer and Avodah member.

Immigrant Youth Justice League (IYJL):
The interfaith podcasting workshop on immigration was co-lead by Razan Abu-Hashish, IYJL activist and the Council of Islamic Organizations in Greater Chicago (CIOGC) intern.

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR):
We met at ICIRR for the podcasting workshop. 

Hillels Around Chicago:
Erin Jones, program director of Arts in the Loop Hillels, was on the college transitions panel.

Immigration Justice Vigil:
The vigil, lead by the Sisters of Mercy, is held at the Broadview Detention Center every Friday, 7:15 am.


 

JCUA's  Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP) intern from Germany photographed and put together this beautiful photo essay about JCUA's Sukkot Housing Action on Oct. 11, 2011.  Shot with color film, our ARSP intern chose these photographs out of over a hundred negatives to tell a narrative about the protest. She scanned the photos and then used Photoshop to transform them into black and white.

If you are interested in learning how to create your own photo essay about a JCUA or Or Tzedek action, your Or tzedek summer program experience or an action in your home coummunity, "shoot" Rebecca (get it? like you shoot film...puns are hysterical) an email.

Think you can make a better leadership retreat video? (And, let's be honest, you definitely can...) Send your videos to rebecca@jcua.org and we will post them on the blog! Just make sure to include: the date (Dec. 28-30, 2011), the name (Or Tzedek Winter Leadership Retreat) and how to register (www.jcua.org/retreat).