Where Justice Dwells
A Hands-On Guide to Doing Social Justice in Your Jewish Community
-
- $24.99
-
- $24.99
Publisher Description
How can Jewish values inform our work to create a just world—and help us work together for the good of all communities?
"Somehow, most Jews have decided that being a 'good Jew' means adhering to rituals such as Shabbat, kashrut, and prayer. But the word halakhah, generally translated as 'Jewish law,' literally means ‘the way to walk.’ Rather than a limited set of ritual laws, halakhah represents an all-encompassing way of life."
—from Chapter 1
Jewish tradition compels us to protect the poorest, weakest and most vulnerable among us. But discerning how to make meaningful and effective change through social justice work—whether in community or on your own—is not always easy.
This guide provides ways to envision and act on your own ideals of social justice by helping you navigate through such issues as:
Creating a narrative mission statement that reflects your organization’s valuesBalancing the needs of your community with those of other communitiesWeighing the pros and cons of various models of social justice work (direct service, advocacy, investment and community organizing)Expanding the impact and efficiency of your workLocating your social justice goals and methods within the context of Jewish traditionMaintaining the motivation and inspiration to continue your social justice work
Each chapter includes a set of discussion questions to prompt reflection and conversation, as well as tips, tools, processes and forms for getting your social justice project off the ground.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Born in 1975, author Jacobs (There Shall Be No Needy: Pursuing Social Justice Through Jewish Law and Tradition) has been a social justice activist from her high school days in Framingham, Mass., where she persuaded the Board of Education to introduce sex education into the curriculum. Earlier this year, she became the executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights North America, concerned with Israel's treatment of Palestinians. Jacobs has published much on social justice, and her new volume is a primer on how to do social justice work, containing practical advice on organizing groups and congregations to fulfill what she considers to be a Jewish obligation, citing texts to support her view. She gives, however, scant attention to the historical and ongoing endeavors of Jewish social workers in this field. The book is a worthwhile mixture of exhortation with blow-by-blow recipes for doing social justice work. It reflects the author's strong belief in social action based on Jewish sources.
