JEN RUBIN
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CSS Social Action Email: September 18

9/29/2019

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May we all be inscribed for good.
May we all be inscribed for joy.
May we all be inscribed for justice.
May we all be inscribed for liberation.
May we all be inscribed for inspiration.
May we all be inscribed for love. 
May we all be inscribed for hope.
Shana Tova. Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg  
 
 
 
CSS SOCIAL ACTION EVENTS:
CSS Social Action Update:
Yom Kippur Discussion with Emilio de Torre: “Communal Responsibility: Being an ally to our Immigrant Neighbors”. At 4:30 at FUS. Emilio De Torre, Director of Community Engagement for the American Civil Liberties Union in Wisconsin, will tie together the Yom Kippur message of communal responsibility to the immigration crisis, focusing on the importance of allyship and showing up for other communities. More details here.
 
House Parties for Voces de la Frontera:
Two years ago CSS made a commitment to Voces de la Frontera to raise money so Voces could have a Dane County organizer. We were able to make our goals for the past two years. We are gearing up to raise money in early 2020 for the Voces Madison organizer.  We will start this organizing after the High Holidays – and plan for parties from January to March. If you are interested in hosting a house party, have connections/ideas for people outside the congregation who might be interested in hosting a house party – please contact Jen Rubin at rubinjen@gmail.com.
 
Friends of State Street Families meal:
For the past several years, CSS has provided a meal every other month for the homeless population in Madison. Kimberly Wilson is the point person that organizes this meal for CSS and could use more people to cook food and/or serve the food. It you don’t have the time or interest in cooking/serving food but would like to contribute – it is very helpful to contribute a financial donation to reimburse people that want to cook but don’t have the means to pay for the large quantity of food. You can contact Kimberly Wilson at kimberlyRwilson@gmail.com or call her at 608-287-6710 if you have any questions. 
 
Collaborating with Black Olive Community Theater
Oroki Rice is an alumni of the UW Odyssey Project and a founder of Black Olive Community Theater. CSS is partnering with the Odyssey Project and FUS to support its November 16th staged reading of “A Raisin in the Sun”. We are looking for people that want to volunteer to help promote the performance, help set up and clean up for the performance. (As I side note – I have been a volunteer tutor with Odyssey for years and have been to every Black Olive Community Theater performance in Madison and highly recommend seeing it and supporting an Odyssey Project alumni. You will be happy that you attended it and supported the performance.) 
 
EVENTS AROUND TOWN:
Well it is no secret that this world, our country, Wisconsin and sometimes Madison can be a depressing place to live and be part of. So, in addition to sharing action-oriented events happening in Madison - I will try to be a bit more intentional about mentioning events that I think are part of actively making Madison a better, more inclusive and equitable community.
 
October 1: Organizing Meeting for National Day of Action
Hosted by the Madison Coalition to Close the Concentratoin Camps at the Central Library branch from 6 pm – 7:30 pm. “Join the Madison chapter of the Coalition to Close the Concentration Camps as we organize to bring people to Chicago on Oct 13 for the National Day of Action against the immigrant detention camps and those who profit off of them.” More details here.
 
October 6: Know Your Rights Training
The Dane Sanctuary Coalition’s Community Resource Team is presenting a Know Your Rights training on Sunday, Oct. 6, 12:30 – 2:00 at Madison Christian Community, 7118 Old Sauk Road, Madison. This training is open to anyone, but required for anyone who volunteers to be on-site when we have someone in sanctuary. Please RSVP to Corkey Custer at jcorkey.custer@Lfg.com.   
 
October 8:  Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System
This is the start of a three-part series hosted by the Nehemiah Center for Justice and Reconciliation. More details here.  
 
October 9: “Aliens, Immigration, & Other Evildoers”
Dane Arts in partnership with East High School and Centro Hispano welcomes New Orleans performance artist, Jose Torres-Tama for a night performance on Wednesday, October 9, 7 P.M. at East High school. The public is invited. The price per ticket is $10 adults, $5 for students with ID. More details here.
 
October 19:  Voces Madison Membership Meeting / Junta de membresía de Madison
Details on the monthly membership meeting here.
 
November 16: A Staged Reading of “A Raisin in the Sun” with Oroki Rice and the Black Olive Community Theater. Performance starts at 6:30 at FUS. More details to come but I have attended every Black Olive Community Theater performance in Madison these past few years – and highly recommend attending.  
 
ACTION ITEMS:
Add Your Name: Wisconsin Jews demand Milwaukee police and local law enforcement agencies across the state stop collaborating with ICE.  Wisconsin Jews for Immigrant Justice is circulating this petition.
 
F-35:The Air Force extended F-35 comment period by 30 days. So there is still time to get your comments in. Here is the environmental impact statement.  Here are Jeff Spitzer-Resnick’s thoughts on the F-35. You can submit comments here.  
 
Fair Fight 2020: From Crooked Media: “We spend a lot of time focused on which Democratic candidate to nominate, what they believe, and how they can beat Donald Trump. But none of this will matter if we don’t focus a hell of a lot more on what may be the greatest vulnerability that Democrats face in 2020: The Republican War on Voting. Stacey Abrams is on the case, and she’s got a plan. It’s called Fair Fight 2020, and it will fund, staff, and train voter protection teams in 20 battleground states. These team members be hired locally, so they’ll know the vulnerable communities they’re trying to protect, and will start a full year before the 2020 election".  Learn more out Fair Fight 2020 here and consider supporting this effort. 
 
SERVICE:
Dane Sanctuary Coalition’s Volunteer Driver Project
“Are you looking for a great way to help immigrants deal with the legal system? Consider volunteering as driver to give rides to immigration hearings and appointments. The Volunteer Driver Project of the Dane Sanctuary Coalition has provided over 30 rides since it began last December. About 2/3 of the rides were to the US Customs and Immigration (USCIS) office in Milwaukee and 1/3 to Immigration Court in Chicago. Immigration attorneys have been ecstatic about the assistance this service provides.” The training will be on Monday, October 7, from 7:00-8:30 PM at First Baptist Church, 518 N. Franklin Ave, Madison. Please RSVP by October 4 if you plan to attend. Email Dorit Bergen at elanor3560@att.net.
 
Winter Coat Collection
Shaarei Shamayim is participating with Jewish Congregations for Social Justice in donating gently used winter coats for refugee children (ages birth through 18) and men. You may bring them to any of our High Holiday services, take them directly to Jewish Social Services, or drop off at the home of Roseanne Clark. Please contact her at 608-213-1544.
 
Emerson Elementary School Tutors Needed
If you can spare an hour each week during the school day you can make a positive difference in a child's education. Jewish Congregations for Social Justice is looking for adults who want to work with young children on beginning reading skills and basic math concepts. Training and materials will be provided. For more information, contact Marcia Vandercook at marcia.vandercook@gmail.com.
 
MISCELLANOUS:
**Check out this week’s episode of Inside Stories, a podcast I co-host with Takeyla Benton. We feature a story from the UW Odyssey Project’s writing class -- Victor’s story of crossing the Mexico/US border when he was 16. 
 
**Ari Bloomekatz from the Never Again Movement is interviewed on Riverwest Radio to talk about why we should be supporting Voces de la Frontera campaign to end collaboration between Milwaukee police and ICE. You can hear the conversation here.  
 
**If you haven’t listened to Greta Thunberg’s speech at the UN Climate Action Summit – here it is.
 
**Happy Holidays everyone. I hope you all have a sweet new year and an easy fast. I am taking a couple week break from this social action email because I am going to Barcelona this weekend for ten days. In trying to find a congregation to join for Kol Nidre services and realizing how much money I would need to spend to attend services - I was reminded how special a congregation Shaarei Shamayim is by keeping its doors open to all for the holidays.  L’Shanah Tova

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September 22nd, 2019

9/22/2019

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If each one sweeps before his own door, the whole street is clean. Yiddish Proverb
 
I come from a people who gave the Ten Commandments to the world. Time has come to strengthen them for three additional ones, which we ought to adopt and commit ourselves to: thou hall not be a perpetrator; thou shall not be a victim; and thou shall never, but never, be a bystander.  Yehuda Bauer


CSS EVENTS:
CSS Social Action Update:
September 22 from 9:50 - 11:30 after the Bet Sefer assembly.  
**Come hear an update on the 'Never Again Means Now' action at the ICE office in Milwaukee from one of the organizers and one of the people participating in civil disobedience;
**Bring your ideas for the planning for our next round of fundraising for the Madison chapter of VOCES;
**Many CSS members are already socially active in a broad range of issues. Some want to also be socially active as Jews and as part of their congregation. If you have ideas about what issues/organizations you would like CSS to be part of come join this conversation.
---contact Jen Rubin at rubinjen@gmail.com if you have any questions---
 
Global climate strike interfaith celebrations:Madison is participating in the big Climate Strike that is happening around the world on September 20th.  The actions/events will start at 10:30 to mobilize communities of faith with 4 simultaneous interfaith gatherings. These will take place in the churches closest to the square. It would be great to have a representative of CSS speak at each of these gatherings. If this interests you - youcan sign-up here.You can learn more about the climate strike here.
 
Voces de la Frontera:
We are gearing up to raise money for the Madison organizer for Voces. We will start this project later in the fall. If you are interested in hosting a house party or have connections/ideas for people outside the congregation who might be interested in hosting a house party – please contact Jen Rubin at rubinjen@gmail.com.
 
Friends of State Street Families meal:
Please consider helping our congregation serve a meal to the homeless population in Madison! On Sat, Sept. 21st at noon at the Beacon Day Shelter we’ll come together and serve a delicious, healthful meal to people in need. We need people to buy and prepare food and then serve it. There is money available to be reimbursed. (We only have $150 left in our FSSF fund. Donations are greatly appreciated to the FSSF fund.). You can sign up at this link. Please contact Kimberly Wilson at kimberlyRwilson@gmail.com or call her at 608-287-6710 if you have any questions. 
 
EVENTS AROUND TOWN:
Well it is no secret that this world, our country, Wisconsin and sometimes Madison can be a depressing place to live and be part of. So, in addition to sharing action-oriented events happening in Madison - I will try to be a bit more intentional about mentioning events that I think are part of actively making Madison a better, more inclusive and equitable community.
 
September 18: Unlock the Vote
Organized by EXPO (Ex-incarcerated People Organizing) and takes place from 10-2 at the State Capitol. They are challenging the undemocratic practice of people released from prison with supervision not being allowed to vote and prison gerrymandering – where incarcerated people are not counted in their home district but in the location of the prison where they are detained. More details here.
 
September 20: Global Climate Strike!
“This September, millions of us will walk out of our workplaces, schools, and homes to join youth climate strikers on the streets and demand an end to the age of fossil fuels. Our house is one fire -- let’s act like it. It's now time to rebel.” Young strikers for climate action around the world are calling adults to join a global general strike on September 20th. The first events start at 10:30 at four houses of workshop near the capitol, at Noon there will be a Concert for Climate at the State St corner of the square and from there a parade to the Youth, who will be at MG&E demanding we go 100% renewable by 2030.   
 
For more information: 
-The Global Climate Strike – Wisconsin FB page
-The Global Climate Strike - Madison Facebook page. 
-Organizers ask us to watch this 5-minute video and share it.
-Take this on-line pledge 
-Join the strike on the 20th. 
 
September 21: Madison Membership Meeting for Voces de la Frontera
2pm at 810 W. Badger Rd. “Join us for our monthly membership meeting! We'll discuss the next steps in the fight to restore driver licenses for all in Wisconsin.” More details here.  
 
September 21: The Rally for Refuge
This fundraising event is to support border relief efforts. It will be from 1-7pm at the Madison Labor Temple. More details here.
 
September 26: ICE out of Milwaukee
Voces is organizing an action to end police collaboration with ICE in Milwaukee. It would be great to have a good turnout of Madison Jews to support this action. You can RSVP for the event here. And more details here.
 
September 27:  Ho-Chunk History & Land Discussion
From 5 – 7 at 215 N Brooks St. Join Wunk Sheek for a discussion about the Ho Chunk Tribe of Wisconsin and their history on the land we now know as "Madison". Details here.
 
October 6: Know Your Rights Training
The Dane Sanctuary Coalition’s Community Resource Team is presenting a Know Your Rights training on Sunday, Oct. 6, 12:30 – 2:00 at Madison Christian Community, 7118 Old Sauk Road, Madison. This training is open to anyone, but required for anyone who volunteers to be on-site when we have someone in sanctuary. Please RSVP to Corkey Custer at jcorkey.custer@Lfg.com.   
 
October 8:  Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System
This is the start of a three-part series hosted by the Nehemiah Center for Justice and Reconciliation. More details here.  
 
ACTION ITEMS:
Add Your Name: Wisconsin Jews demand Milwaukee police and local law enforcement agencies across the state stop collaborating with ICE.
Wisconsin Jews for Immigrant Justice is circulating this petition.
 
Stop Milwaukee Police Department Collaboration with ICE:
The #ICEOUTOFMKE groups has a series of actions to demand that that the Milwaukee
Police Department and local resources not be used to collaborate and assist ICE in Milwaukee. “Barring collaboration between the Milwaukee Police Department and ICE will decrease racial profiling, improve public safety, and keep families together. (See attached poster for more information) 
 
WHEN 
September 26th @ 4:30 PM
▪ Public Presence & testimony @ FPC Standards & Policy Committee
▪ First vote on proposed changes
 
October 3rd @ 4:30 PM
▪ Final vote by full FPC members on proposed changes
 
WHERE
City Hall, Room 301-B
 
SERVICE:
Dane Sanctuary Coalition’s Volunteer Driver Project
“Are you looking for a great way to help immigrants deal with the legal system? Consider volunteering as driver to give rides to immigration hearings and appointments. The Volunteer Driver Project of the Dane Sanctuary Coalition has provided over 30 rides since it began last December. About 2/3 of the rides were to the US Customs and Immigration (USCIS) office in Milwaukee and 1/3 to Immigration Court in Chicago. Immigration attorneys have been ecstatic about the assistance this service provides.” The training will be on Monday, October 7, from 7:00-8:30 PM at First Baptist Church, 518 N. Franklin Ave, Madison. Please RSVP by October 4 if you plan to attend. Email Dorit Bergen at elanor3560@att.net.
 
JSS of Madison with HIAS
JSS of Madison needs 118 people to donate chai ($18) so that our Immigration Accredited Representative can partner with HIAS (for a week to provide legal help to asylum seekers in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. You can donate here.
 
More details: Families trying to escape violence in Cameroon, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico are fighting for their lives. They have undertaken a dangerous journey, sometimes across continents to seek asylum in the United States. We believe that people have the right to request asylum in the U.S. without being criminalized, turned back, or separated from their children. We are proud to send Carrie Fox-Kline, JSS’ accredited rep. to Juarez for the week of September 22nd, but we need your financial support to make it happen.
 
When JSS planned for 2019, we did not know that the humanitarian situation at the border would become a crisis. We also didn’t know when JSS would be able to provide Immigration Legal Services again, because the Department of Justice took six months processing Carrie’s paperwork to be certified to provide legal services. I can’t even imagine applying for asylum without the support of someone who knows how the process works. You can help us to provide these needed services. The waiting list in Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso, jumped from 4,500 to 5,600 people in a short period of time. Today, that list is even longer. The U.S. government generally processes only 20 to 30 claims a day, and went six days in July without accepting a single one.
 
A gift of $18 or multiples of 18 is a symbolic representation of giving a “life.” Please donate to our short fundraiser so that you and JSS can give hope to people waiting to apply for asylum at the Texas border. The total cost for Carrie’s week at the border is around $2,800. This will cover Carrie’s flights, local transportation, time spent working, food and lodging. We have already raised $736. Please be a mensch and help us to raise the rest! 
 
Any funds that we raise beyond $2,800 will go directly into providing Immigration Legal Services to refugees in Madison.
 
MISCELLANOUS:
**Climate change activist Greta Thunberg on the Daily Showwith Trevor Noah. 
 
**Madison will soon have a public market. Keep up to date with the plans here.
 
**Justified Anger’s ‘Social action Plan Training’. Takes place at the Fountain of Life Church from 6 – 8 pm on September 23, September 30, October 28. See here for more information.

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      ​I am the social action committee chair for Congregation Shaarei Shamayim (CSS) and send out social action updates by email bi-weekly.

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