Pursuing Social Justice
by Laura Dorf Queller, Vice President, Communications and Marketing
The commandment from Deuteronomy, “Justice, justice shall you pursue,” appeared on the flyer announcing the Women’s Philanthropy Civil Rights Journey. This four-day mission in March took 42 women from Greater MetroWest to Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma to explore Jewish involvement in the Civil Rights Movement in America. Along the way, women learned about the injustices that African Americans strove to overcome in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and were reminded that social justice struggles in the United States and around the world are far from over.
This Women’s Philanthropy eNewsletter examines the theme of social justice. I did a Google search for the current-day meaning of the term “social justice” and a variety of explanations appeared. Nearly every definition included words like fairness and equality and access to opportunity for all members of society, including the most vulnerable. This is a fundamental Jewish belief and lies at the core of Jewish Federation’s values.
The ongoing fight for social justice cuts across all religions, ethnicities, nationalities, sexes, and sexual orientations. That’s why the Civil Rights Journey concluded with a visit to the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which serves as a peaceful vehicle for combatting prejudice against the LGBTQ community and for affecting change. It is also why the National Women’s Philanthropy Heart to Heart Mission to Israel this year visited a tahini factory that employs Christian Arab women with disabilities, a group in need of services and a chance for a level playing field. And it is why the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest initiated and supports Project Atzmaut, which helps integrate Ethiopian Jewish families into Israeli society, ensuring that they have the tools necessary to thrive in their new homeland.
The Torah compels us to pursue justice. In Hebrew, this commandment takes the form of three simple words: Tzedek tzedek tirdof (Justice, justice shall you pursue). It is a daunting and never-ending task. But through Jewish Federation, we can strive to create a more just world together.