At JSPAN’s annual membership meeting on May 19, State Representatives Daylin Leach and Josh Shapiro presented their views on the experience of the new generation of young Jewish politicians. Shapiro, completing two terms in the State House, explained his interest in politics with the proverb, “To whom much has been given, much is expected.” Although their backgrounds differ markedly - Leach worked his way up from poverty -both became lawyers, and as the discussion ensued, expressed many shared views.

Board member Randy Schulz, moderator for the evening, asked how their religion and background influenced their political experience. Both Leach and Shapiro acknowledged that “diversity” among Pennsylvania communities raises challenges for legislators. Shapiro stated that it is necessary to recognize differences in viewpoint, if legislative progress is to be made. He noted the need for tolerance. Leach pointed to tougher election campaigns, less bipartisanship, and less civility in political debate.

How do the candidates respond to single-issue voters? Shapiro stated that the single issue Israel voter simply misses the issues that drive state politics. Leach explained that some single issues are “deal breakers,” giving as examples Zionism and the separation of church and state. Leach noted that church-state separation has to be defended in the courts, not in the Legislature where intrusions of religion into government are too likely to be tolerated.

Re: Need for Broader More Affordable Health Insurance

Dear Senator:

Too many of your constituents need but cannot afford health insurance. Lacking insurance, they receive little or no preventive care and inadequate remedial medical care. Legislative initiatives are pending before you to address the problem.

JSPAN, the Jewish Social Policy Action Network, urges you to support legislation to develop a health insurance policy that is both available and affordable to those who are uninsured today. JSPAN is a member of the group Pennsylvanians United for Affordable Health Care.

If you have any question as to our health care policy please contact Rabbi Mort Levine, our Executive Director (mortlevine@verizon.net), or visit our web site (www.JSPAN.org).

Yours truly,

Kenneth R. Myers, Esq.
Vice President – JSPAN

JSPAN urges its readers to contact the members of the House Government Operations Committee immediately and to ask for their support of H.B. 2420. The contact list of members of the Committee is included below.

H.B. 2420, introduced by Rep. Steve Samuelson (D – Lehigh County) and signed by eighty-seven other sponsors, was referred to the House Government Operations Committee on May 7. The Bill would amend the State Constitution to establish a new procedure for the required redistricting done every ten years: the Legislative Reference Bureau (“the Bureau”) would have the task of drawing district maps for U.S. House of Representatives and Pennsylvania Senate and House seats.

According to Good Schools Pennsylvania, a statewide network of citizens who are informed and mobilized in support of public education, the study served as the first comprehensive audit of all 501 Pennsylvania school districts and revealed some sobering numbers: that $11,926 is the average level of funding required to ensure that every student reaches state standards, nearly $2,500 above what is currently being spent; that 474 out of 501 districts are underfunded under the current system; and that Pennsylvania needs to invest an additional $4.6 billion to adequately fund all school districts.

The costing-out study reinforced that Pennsylvania needs a more effective and equitable statewide funding system. Good Schools Pennsylvania states that "there are promising signs that the study has gained traction and champions among lawmakers who recognize that an effective system of public education is an investment in our communities and the prosperity of our commonwealth." To continue the momentum from the costing-out study, legislators have recently advanced proposals for the creation of a Joint Legislative Commission on Public School Finance, which would help to raise awareness of the value of sound school funding policies.

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is joining the massive international relief effort. MAZON has partnered with long-time grantee, International Medical Corps (IMC), to help the survivors of the deadliest natural disaster to hit Myanmar in recorded history.

As of May 15, IMC received visas and has deployed to Myanmar to deliver life-saving medicine and medical supplies. IMC has secured millions of dollars worth of donated medicines, medical supplies and other relief items that will provide initial care to approximately 50,000 people for a three-month period, including IV solutions and antibiotics to treat acute respiratory infections, diarrheal disease, cholera, malaria, dengue and typhoid fever. Once the immediate emergency has subsided, IMC will begin the hard work of rebuilding the health, sanitation and food systems.

Myanmar is the largest country in Southeast Asia and is also the poorest due to the ruling of a reclusive military government. This largely rural country has an estimated population of 50 million people. The region that was severely hit by the cyclone is the most densely populated (24 million people) Irrawaddy Delta, including Yangon (Rangoon), the nation's main city.

In the wake of this humanitarian crisis, critical support is needed to ensure help to those most vulnerable in the region. MAZON is urging JSPAN readers to provide aid to affected individuals through its Relief Fund for Myanmar. When you make your contribution to MAZON, make sure to indicate that your donation should be used for "Myanmar relief." Your donation will then be forwarded to IMC.

To contribute to this fund, click here.

SB 1250 is now off the voting calendar and can not be considered unless there is another vote to move it back on the calendar.

The prime sponsor of the legislation, Sen. Michael Brubaker (R- Lancaster), stated that he was proposing the legislation be tabled because the Speaker of the House, Dennis O'Brien (R-Philadelphia), was going to assign the legislation to the House State Government Committee if it passed the Senate. The House State Government Committee is chaired by Rep. Babette Josephs (D-Philadelphia), a strong supporter of the LGBT community, who is opposed to the legislation. Rep. Josephs has stated that she would not move the legislation out of committee.

It is important for everyone to understand that the bill is STALLED, not DEAD. Sen. Brubaker said that if the House indicates that the bill will go to another committee or that it is interested in voting on the bill, the Senate will bring it to the floor for a vote. So we need you to call or email your state Representatives now and tell them to oppose SB1250. Visit the Equality Advocates Pennsylvania Legislator Locater to find the name and phone number of your state Representative -- please click on the "state" tab above the legislators' pictures for your state elected officials.

Your calls and emails also had an impact. Many Senators were losing their enthusiasm for the legislation due to strong constituent opposition. We need to deliver the same message to the House. Equality Advocates Pennsylvania has been working hard in the Capitol to defeat this legislation and will be there until this legislation is defeated.

Click here to access a sample letter to be sent to your Representative.

A two-day series of panel discussions, featuring presentations by world figures on the "global tomorrow", the "Jewish tomorrow" and the "Israeli tomorrow", offered "descriptions, some poetic, others merely compelling, of contemporary crises and possible Jewish responses. Peres's decision to convene the conference suddenly made sense. Using the power of the Israeli presidency, .... (he) managed, at least for a moment, to change the subject in discussing Israel. For those few days, Israel appeared on television screens ..... around the world .... not as an occupying army but as a thoughtful country producing great art and science and earnestly considering the world's problems and its own."

To read J.J. Goldberg's editorial in its entirety, click here.

Mr. Gorenberg offers several examples of the "old challenges" that are still in play today, but in different forms: issues involving the borders of Israel and the defense of the nation; the increasing income inequality between those who are succeeding and those who are struggling; questions around the integration of economic immigrants into the society; finding political compromises between the secular and religious camps; and addressing the question of what it means to be a Jewish state while assuring equal social and political rights to all citizens.

In conclusion, Mr. Gorenberg reminds the reader: "The messy, complex reality of Israel today is a product of the founders' accomplishments. Their achievements created problems we need to solve - and our solutions will be the problems that our grandchildren confront 60 more years from now."

To read Gershom Gorenberg's essay in its entirety, click here.

Please remember that JSPAN welcomes your donations to help us continue our important and effective work in Tikkun Olam. You may send gifts via PayPal on www.jspan.org. or to JSPAN, 1735 Market Street, Suite #A417, Philadelphia, PA 19103