Jews for Racial and Economic Justice
140 W. 22ND St. 3rd Fl
New York, NY 10011
212/647-8966 Fax 212/647-7124
http://www.JFREJ.org
Related Links
Nan was a Founding Member of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice and is currently
serving as the Treasurer of the organization. This issue of racial justice is
one she cares about passionately, and for decades she has been active in projects
and organizations focused on this concern.
Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) was founded in May 1990 by a group
of communal leaders, rabbis, educators, writers and activists to address the increasing
level of racial and ethnic tension, violence and economic polarization in New
York City and the absence of a progressive response from the Jewish community.
Today, JFREJ has close to 1,000 members and a mailing list of over 3,000 and is
an active and influential participant in the struggles for racial and economic
justice. With active supporters in both the observant and secular Jewish community,
in ten years JFREJ has become a vital resource inside the Jewish community and
a sought-after Jewish voice for a diverse array of non-Jewish grassroots groups
throughout New York.
JFREJ objectives are to be a visible and progressive Jewish voice speaking out
with other community groups on important local issues where institutional Jewish
presence is reactionary, conservative, apathetic or absent, and to confront established
positions in the 'Jewish community', demanding change. This is done by:
(1) providing a forthright, progressive Jewish voice and presence opposing racial
and economic injustice in New York City;
(2) developing opportunities for education, dialogue and action within the Jewish
community on issues of racial and economic justice;
(3) participating in citywide coalitions and community-based partnerships, thus
building bridges while building communities;
(4) opposing all forms of bias-related violence, oppression and discrimination
including racism and anti-Semitism, and to link the struggles to oppose them.
Current Programs and Activities
Campaign for Equality and Excellence in Education -- A campaign to reignite Jewish
involvement in equal public education as a civil rights issue, challenge inequality
within the New York City public education system, advocate for improvements in
education and increased public school spending.
Jewish Participation in City-Wide Police Brutality Organizing – As one of
the only Jewish voices actively working with a number of New York city-wide coalitions
on issues of police brutality, racial justice and neighborhood safety.
Anti-Bias Workshops – JFREJ’s two anti-bias workshops -- "Understanding
and Fighting Racism as Jews" and "Anti-Semitism and Jewish Identity"
are especially in demand by college groups and high school classes.
Beyond the Pale Weekly Radio Program – Since 1995, JFREJ has been producing
a one-hour radio program, Beyond the Pale: The Magazine of Progressive Jewish
Politics and Culture each Sunday over Pacifica Radio’s WBAI at 99.5 fm in
New York. The show presents a very broad reach of Jewish culture, identity, history
and politics, and features live and recorded interviews, discussions, music and
drama performances, as well as news from New York, Israel and elsewhere.
Rabbinic Board -- the JFREJ Rabbinic Board was created by a group of Rabbis themselves
to bolster the efforts of synagogue social action committees and strengthen their
ties to each other on social justice issues. It currently consists of 15 congregational
rabbis (together representing over 10,000 congregants) and another 15 who are
on the mailing list.
Related links
Jewish Fund for Justice http://www.jfjustice.org
Jewish Social Action website (Jewish Family & Life) -
http://www.socialaction.com
The Shefa Fund: http://www.shefafund.org
Americans for Peace Now (Shalom Achshav) http://www.peacenow.org
WBAI Radio http://www.wbai.org
The North Star Fund http://www.fex.org/north/northsta.html
Shamash http://www.shamash.org
Political Research Associates http://www.publiceye.org
Center for Democratic Renewal http://www.publiceye.org/main.htm
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