The Society For Humanistic Judaism has expressed an ideal: the freedom and dignity of the Jewish people must go hand in hand with the freedom and dignity of every human being.

In order to manifest this ideal, the KH Social Action Committee works toward T’ikkun Olam, the repair of the world. To achieve this goal, we actively seek positive social change and justice for all communities.

The Social Action Committee tries to identify and propose specific actions to affirm our intrinsic responsibilities as Jews and as Humanists. The committee undertakes efforts of community building, educational outreach activities, and drafting advocacy/position statements for the Board. We focus our efforts on local change, according to the Bundist tradition of doykayt (Yiddish for "hereness"). We also address regional, national, global issues relevant to Humanistic Jews, always in the spirit of T’ikkun Olam. We are aware of our responsibility to speak out and act in the quest for social justice for all.

For more information on the Social Action Committee of Kol Haverim, please contact action@kolhaverim.net .

Kol Haverim's Statements on:

The Separation of Church and State
Human Rights
Peace and Justice

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

School Vouchers

Background - As Secularists, as Humanists, and as Jews, we are committed to protecting secular, free, public education. We voice our opposition to school vouchers, as have the American Jewish Congress, the NAACP, People for the American Way, the PTA, and numerous other organizations. Voucher programs result in the use of public funds to send thousands of young children to religious schools. Thus, not only would government funds be used for religious-based education, but these funds would, in effect, subsidize the promotion of a specific religious tradition. The neutral stance of government toward religion is critical for civil liberties to be maintained in a religiously diverse society such as ours. Furthermore, many proposed voucher programs, such as the one proposed for the District of Columbia, harm public schools because administrators, not children or parents, decide who can attend the private schools. This selection process invariably reduces the educational opportunities for low-income, at-risk children. DC is being used as a stepping-stone toward enacting voucher initiatives nationwide, to the detriment of our public schools as well as civil and religious liberty.

We also voice our opposition to government-funded religious discrimination, which recently appeared in two pieces of proposed legislation now before Congress. Both the Head Start re-authorization bill and the Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act would remove language from current laws that protect against discrimination or misuse of government funds by religious organizations. These two bills would allow religious organizations involved in federal job training and early education programs to discriminate when hiring staff for these taxpayer-funded services. These bills represent a frightening attempt to roll back fundamental civil rights legislation.

Action - October 03 - KH Board voted unanimously to adopt a position against school voucher programs. The Board voted to send letters (Click to read ) opposing school vouchers to New York Senators Clinton and Schumer, specifically opposing a proposed voucher program for the District of Columbia. The letter also expressed opposition to other pending bills that contained language that eroded the separation of church and state. Members also sent individual letters.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Living Wage

Background - According to the principles of Humanistic Judaism, having the ability to live reasonably is a basic human right, and the Tompkins County Living Wage Coalition’s efforts, if successful, will help move people out of poverty. The Living Wage movement strives for social and economic justice in the workplace where existing laws and practices provide very little protection for workers, such as people employed in the service sector. Alternatives Federal Credit Union (AFCU) released a Livable Wage Study in 1994, sparking local interest in a controversial topic that is becoming a grassroots movement around the United States. The pioneering study, which has been updated biannually, provides a benchmark for the Coalition to use in advocating for higher starting wages in Tompkins County.

What is a Livable Wage? According to the AFCU study, the updated figure for an annual livable wage for an individual currently rounds out to $18,061. (It was $17,540 in 2000). This translates to an hourly wage of $8.68 an hour (up from $8.43 an hour in 2000) for a 40-hour week. Note: this is the Livable Wage for someone already receiving health insurance from his/her employer.

Action - January 03 - KH Board voted unanimously to endorse the Tompkins County Living Wage Coalition, joining 34 other community, labor, student and religious groups affiliated with the coalition. The Coalition is devoted to helping to create a livable wage for all people, regardless of educational attainment or economic class. The Living Wage Coalition challenges the business community to understand the reasons for this initiative, and to find ways to pay employees a livable wage. The Coalition also recognizes the connection between low wages locally, and the wage structure nationally and in less developed countries. Kol Haverim supports the Coalition in its efforts to raise awareness of these global connections.

Racism and Immigrant Rights

Background: Jews have a long history of activism with regard to civil rights. Since most KH members have ancestors who immigrated to the US around the turn of the last century, and who experienced discrimination, we have an explicit connection to, and understanding of, immigrant issues. Currently, Muslim immigrants are facing discrimination and violations of their human rights. Jewish support to help these immigrant communities provides a unique opportunity to express humanistic and Jewish values while opposing ethnic oppression. KH recognizes the need to educate and raise the level of awareness regarding all forms of discrimination and racism: anti-Jewish oppression, as well as anti-Arab sentiment.

Action - In May 04, KH will sponsor a talk by a guest from Jews for Racial and Economic Justice , a group based in New York City. The guest will speak about their organization’s Immigrant Justice Campaign, which focuses on fighting the anti-immigrant sentiments that have been sweeping NYC since 9/11. According to the JFREJ campaign “As Jews of every background and immigrant status, we know it is not only our obligation, but it is also in our interest, to join together with other communities to oppose scapegoating and racism.” JFREJ has been building coalitions with Arab, Muslim, South Asian, Latino/a, and African-American communities in New York City, while working on progressive labor and criminal justice issues. The presentation will be free and open to the public.

Action - In May 04, KH will host a workshop, facilitated by Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, dealing with racism, with an emphasis on addressing Anti-Jewish and Anti-Arab racism and oppression.

PEACE AND JUSTICE

Israeli Issues

Background: As humanists and as Jews, many Kol Haverim members desire an equitable peace between Israelis and Palestinians. As a congregation composed of individuals of diverse political identities and opinions, we have not made a specific position statement about Israel, the current Israeli government, or US policies towards Israel.

Action - August 2002 - The KH Board voted to co-sponsor, along with the Progressive Jewish Voice, Tikkun V'Or (Ithaca Reform Temple), and Cornell University Hillel, a talk by Israeli refuser Dani Vos, titled "REFUSING FOR ISRAEL: Israeli combat reservists who struggle for Israel's future." Vos is a "veteran of years of service in the Israeli military and a founding member of Courage to Refuse (Ometz L'sarev), a growing group Israeli officers and conscripts who have signed a pledge not to serve in the West Bank and Gaza."

Action - December 2003 - KH will incorporate a Peace Chanukah program into our humanistic festival of light. During the Peace Chanukah, members will participate in the traditional celebration of the Maccabee rebellion, and also celebrate current grassroots efforts to foster goodwill, respect, and communication between Jews and Palestinians. KH will explore ways to raise awareness about these constructive efforts toward peace, positive actions that build the social fabric to support an enduring agreement to end hostilities and conflict.