Some Observations About
The National Jewish Fast Day In Washington, DC
Murray Polner,
Co-Chair, JPF
* The planning committee properly decided to lobby selected representatives
and senators on three issues: opposition to the death penalty and the
proposed national missile "defense" system plus support for
a throughgoing reform of the campaign finance system. We were assigned
to various congressional offices and received cordially by legislative
aides.
* Unfortunately, I wonder if any of the aides were persuaded by our
arguments. Several seemed sympathetic but being in the employ of their
politicians, none dared express any view unless it accorded with those
of their boss.
* We only saw congressional aides, leading me to believe that had we
donated $25,000 or more to their congressional campaign funds or represented
a potent lobby, each senator and representative would have rushed to
meet with us.
* Since we obviously fit neither category, I do believe that we have
to concentrate on acting in coalitions with groups that have, more or
less the same views as us. We need to seek allies for specific causes
even if we cannot agree entirely with their stands. For example, we
should be on the lookout for groups and politicians who may not (at
least yet) oppose executions but are willing to favor a moratorium and
with hope, even have an open mind on the subject. Similarly, there are
a number of fiscally conservative tax groups in the Beltway anxious
about the proposed missile system and its $60 billion price tag (Rest
assured that the final bill will be lots greater.) Do they know about
us? Do we even know they exist? Have we ever sought them out?
* Even more important: Groups like the FOR and WRL and other peace and
social justice groups outside of Washington need to seriously consider
banding together and opening an active Washington office, the better
to get to know politicians, their aides, the media, and other knowlegable
people. Who knows? Perhaps we can then educate a few, get more attention
in the press and TV, and even persuade a few that we're on to something.
Operating in distant Nyack or NYC or other regions isolates them from
Washington political life. If it's good enough for think tanks, good
government advocates and even lobbyists, why not us too?
* Finally, the National Jewish Fast Day was important, given that only
one American Jewish organization joined with us (Reform Judaism's Washington-based
Religious Action Center) and Am Kolel, a local Jewish resource and renewal
center, and Jews United for Justice, another D.C. group providing a
way for Jew to be active on social justice causes. As Americans, virtually
all Jewish mainstream groups are silent on anything but Israel and "Jewsh"
issues. It should be our task to persuade some of them to join with
us on selected issues of mutual concern.
National Jewish Fast
for Peace and Justice
Rabbi Philip Bentley
Three organizations combined
forces to represent progressive Jewish views on issues of peace and
justice in Washington DC on July 20. The Jewish Peace Fellowship, the
oldest and largest Jewish peace organization in America, was joined
by Am Kollel, a local Jewish resource and renewal center, and by Jews
United for Justice, a local group providing a way for Jews to be active
on social justice issues as Jews. The day of programs focused on three
issues: opposition to a missile defense program, support for a moratorium
on the death penalty, and advocacy for the Living Wage campaign.
It began in the morning with a vigil in front of the Capitol. Speakers
included Senator Paul Wellstone, Stephen Young of the Coalition to Reduce
Nuclear Dangers, Cherie Brown of the National Coalition Building Institute,
Murray Polner and Rabbis Lynn Gottlieb and Philip Bentley of the Jewish
Peace Fellowship, and Debra Kolodny of the Living Wage Campaign of Montgomery
County. Ms. Brown spoke of the importance of Jews being actively involved
on important issues both as progressives and as Jews.
During the afternoon participants went to lobby on the issues with senatorial
staff members. Because of the shift in public opinion against capital
punishment legislative aides seemed open to discussion, especially on
legislation making DNA and other high-tech evidence more easily available.
Even Senators Spector and Hatch are supportive of such efforts.
An evening program held at George Washington University Hillel honored
three Jews for a lifetime of activism. The first of these honorees was
Edgar Cahn, lawyer, activist and inventor of the "time dollar."
This latter idea, described in his book, "No More Throw-Away People",
is based on the idea of creating a tax-exempt currency based on the
value of such activities as community-building and strengthening the
family. Cantor David Shneyer Director of Am Kollel presented his award.
The second honoree was Evely Laser Shilensky, immediate past chair of
the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism and a local activist
in southern California, especially in the area of worker justice. Her
award was presented by Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious
Action Center of Reform Judaism, an important lobbying organization
in Washington DC. The third honoree was Rabbi Everett Gendler long-time
civil rights, peace, and environmental activist who currently works
with the exiled Tibetan community in India where he teaches community
nonviolent organizing. Rabbi Philip Bentley, Honorary President of the
Jewish Peace Fellowship, presented his award. The evening also included
music by Cantor David Shneyer, Ken Giles and friends.
The event was called a fast because July 20 coincided with the traditional
fast of the 17th of Tammuz which commemorates the breach of Jerusalem’s
walls by the Babylonians in 586 CE and by the Romans in 70 CE. The day
was part of a 40-day event sponsored by the Fellowship of Reconciliation,
an 85-year-old multi-faith peace and justice organization. This event,
called the People’s Campaign for Nonviolence, was held in support
of the UN’s Year for a Culture of Nonviolence (2000) and Decade
of for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World
(2001-2010). This UN initiative was the result of a petition signed
by all living Nobel peace laureates.
Several participants expressed the hope that this event would be the
first of many of its kind.
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