Social Justice

One of Dorshei Tzedek’s Core Values is that of Tikkun Olam, Repairing the World. Our congregation’s name means “seekers of justice,” and, as that name implies, we strive to create a just and kind world by pursuing a variety of social action initiatives and projects both within our congregation and in conjunction with the broader community. We view such actions to end injustice and oppression as core to our spiritual journey and as a cornerstone of our ethical and moral tradition.

At Dorshei Tzedek, pursuing justice takes place in many different forms including personal, social and political. We welcome all and encourage individuals to pursue existing efforts or bring new ones to explore. Join one of the events or meetings, or, for more information, contact us at tikkunolam@dorsheitzedek.org.
 

Temporary Housing Fund

Please help CDT support those in need of shelter in Massachusetts. Housing is the linchpin for stability for the most vulnerable in the Commonwealth — whether it is migrants just starting on their journeys to make the United States home or trans people fleeing persecution. The most pressing immediate need is to keep families off the streets this winter. 

In early August, Governor Healey responded to the influx of migrant families looking for safety by abandoning the Commonwealth's proud 40 year Right to Shelter commitment for families. Local social service agencies are scrambling to help families affected by this draconian policy. 

Our goal is to raise funds to provide housing support. Our first effort is to help by paying for 1 or 2 nights in a hotel — a desperate last ditch strategy to ensure that families are not sleeping out in the cold. The Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN) Grant Fund is organizing this emergency effort. Hotel rooms cost between $150 and $220 a night. 

We will be organizing more ways to help soon! Funds can be donated online via the CDT website, please choose Temporary Housing Fund from the drop down menu. Checks can be mailed directly to CDT; please put Temporary Housing in the memo line.

Congregation Dorshei Tzedek supports Black Lives

CDT is committed to the movement for Black lives and has joined over 600 Jewish organizations in signing THIS LETTER — saying with one voice that the best way we can fight back is with unity. 
 

Highlights:

• Watch the recording of the October 20, 2024 talk, From Radical Hospitality to Radical Accountability: How Higher Education Can Meaningfully Support Refugee Newcomers with Professor Diya Abdo

Current congregational focuses:

• Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO): Since 2003, Dorshei Tzedek has been a member of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO). GBIO is a broad-based coalition of area churches, synagogues, mosques, unions and community organizations that have built a loving and action-oriented community on the basis of shared values and a strong commitment to economic justice. GBIO is one of the only organizations in the area that brings people together across racial, ethnic and religious lines in relationships of equality to work together toward a common vision of justice.

• Israel Palestine Peace (IPPeace) was organized in 2016 and focuses on topics related to Israel and Palestine. The group is especially dedicated to furthering our learning about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its ramifications, and to considering actions that might contribute to ending the occupation and achieving a just and lasting peace. IPPeace seeks to foster respectful dialogue across different points of view. The group maintains a listserv open to all members of CDT and hosts programs providing information, perspectives, and possible pathways to action.

• CDT’s Undoing Racism (UR; f.k.a. Understanding Racism) group was formed to provide a supportive environment for CDT members to explore issues of racism and white privilege, to educate ourselves and our congregation, and to listen to each other as we unwrap our own misunderstandings in these areas.

• Ongoing supporting of the work of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute by participating in the annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace.

In addition to these efforts, CDT continues to support the Food Matters initiative begun in 2009 through the following:

• In partnership with Sindyanna of Galilee, CDT members have the opportunity to make regular purchases of Sindyanna’s certified organic, fair trade and kosher (for Passover) olive oil and za’atar which supports this non-profit organization led by a team of Arab and Jewish women working to create social change from the ground up. Sindyanna’s goals are to produce outstanding olive oil and other premium food products, while enhancing Arab-Jewish cooperation, promoting Fair Trade, creating economic opportunities for Arab women, and assisting local growers and producers.

• Supporting the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. CIW is a worker-based human rights organization internationally recognized for its achievements in the fields of social responsibility, human trafficking, and gender-based violence at work. Built on a foundation of farm worker community organizing starting in 1993, and reinforced with the creation of a national consumer network since 2000, CIW’s work has steadily grown over more than twenty years to encompass three broad and overlapping spheres: The Fair Food Program, The Anti-Slavery Campaign, The Campaign for Fair Food.

Past efforts include Climate Change and Behind the Labels.

See the CDT calendar for upcoming Tikkun Olam meetings and related events.

On Sunday, May 31, members of CDT's Nitzanim/Gan class, our 3-5 year-olds and their parents, participated in Wee The People's "Chalk the Walk Family Day of Action," in response to racial injustice. We hope you are inspired by our youngest activists!