The fourth annual Social Justice Award was presented to Sheila and Dan Segal at a reception at the Independence Visitor Center on December 9. Keynote speaker was Georgetown Law Professor Peter Edelman, a long-time friend of the Segals, who spoke on "Life after Bush: Social Justice in the New Administration."

The award program welcome was provided by co-chairs Ruth Laibson and Adena Potok who introduced Professor Edelman. Well known as a national expert in the fields of poverty, welfare, and juvenile justice, Professor Edelman was a Legislative Assistant to Senator Robert F. Kennedy and served as Issues Director for Senator Edward Kennedy's Presidential campaign. During President Clinton's first term, he served as Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He is also the past President of the New Israel Fund, the leading organization committed to democratic change within the State of Israel.

Professor Edelman described the coming transition to the new Obama Administration as "a transformational moment" an exercise in democracy that we have seldom seen." But for those who would advance the progressive agenda, it is "only the beginning of our work. Democracy is not a spectator sport. It will take the same outpouring of support [received by Obama in the election] to carry out his program," according to Edelman. The work to be done includes steps "to revitalize defunct agencies" to protect working people." Moreover, "when it comes to poverty and near poverty, we need to press the Obama Administration to do more."

Professor Edelman urged a "tripartite strategy" of public policy, carried out by non-proift agencies such as JSPAN, a civic responsibility element to assure that job training leads to new jobs, and the private, personal responsibility to support social justice.

Stay tuned for updates on this important case!

Same-Sex Marriage

• Mindful and respectful of the diversity of views within the Jewish community and other religious communities on the issue of same-sex marriage;
• Dedicated to preserving the separation of church and state as an essential bulwark of individual liberty;
• Committed to promoting a democratic, pluralistic and just society in which individuals are entitled to participate as full members of the political community unencumbered by invidious discrimination in any aspect of life on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status; and
• Aware that a long and sorry history of discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender individuals and members of their families has weakened our community, undermined family values and deprived individuals of the ability to share their lives with partners based on loving, committed, long-term unions with the equal dignity granted to others under the law;

1. We defend the authority of any clergy or denomination to continue to define its own requirements with respect to religious marriages and oppose any government action that would interfere with that right.
2. We support the continued ability of members of the clergy to perform civil marriage ceremonies consistent with the requirements of civil law.
3. We support recognition that marriage under civil law is independent of any particular religion’s views.
4. We support making marriage under civil law available to consenting couples without regard to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
5. We support extending all rights, privileges and obligations of heterosexual marriage to same-sex marriages.

A few days ago, a group of congregants gathered to discuss how to make Chanukah about more than just presents for our children. In these difficult economic times, many families are scaling back their celebrations and find themselves particularly aware of the excesses that generally mark this season. At the same time, their concerns about wages and employment and evaporating savings are making them even more conscious of how much need there is around them in the wider community.

It’s not surprising that parents are looking for help countering the prevailing materialistic ethos this holiday season – an impulse that led to three deaths on "Black Friday," including a Walmart security guard who was trampled to death trying to unlock the front door for shoppers. The fact is that for decades American Jews built up Chanukah as the Jewish alternative to Christmas, and now we are victims of our own success – many school wintertime pageants feature a nominal Chanukah "carol" along with the more numerous (and better) Christmas ones, Chanukah decorations festoon the mall, and Chanukah gift cards are available adjacent to the Christmas gift cards at the local Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond. This is progress?

In one manner of speaking, yes. Concerned about assimilation in the face of the allure of Christmas, American Jews have successfully launched Chanukah as a legitimate alternative (turning it, in the process, from a minor festival into one of the biggest holidays on many Jewish families’ calendars). If Chanukah, as some rabbis suggest, is a holiday about standing firm against the temptations of assimilation, then, at one level, we have succeeded. At another level, of course, we’ve failed miserably. The Christmas against which Chanukah was competing wasn’t the birth-of-Jesus version, but rather the how-many-gifts-can-we-stuff-under-the-tree version, and so now Chanukah is subject to the same materialism and excesses that my minister friends habitually bewail about Christmas this time of year.

Don’t get me wrong – presents are fun, and there’s nothing wrong with giving and getting them. But Christmas and Chanukah are about more than gifts. In my office, parents shared various ideas for connecting their children to a deeper message for Chanukah – from giving tzedakah each night when lighting the candles, to sharing readings from organizations such as MAZON that focus us each night on those in need, to planning family celebrations that don’t center around swapping gifts, to having each child light his or her own chanukiyah and tell the story of hope growing in the darkness.

Ultimately, Chanukah is about spreading light and, amidst our current economic woes, it’s a message we must find additional ways to inject into our celebration this year. Because so long as Chanukah’s main raison d’être remains to be an alternative gift-giving festival to Christmas, it’s all going to be about who gets the most loot.

Asher Lev is a young Hassidic artist torn between his observant Jewish community and his need to create. His artistic genius threatens his relationship with his parents and community, and weighs heavily on his conscience.

Over a period of two years, Adena Potok worked with Playwright/Director Aaron Posner and his dramaturg on the background for the book, "My Name Is Asher Lev", as they transcribed it to play form. In addition she oriented the cast and directorial staff to the historical background of the book/play, as well as the religious concerns inherent in the story and the lives of the characters. As Adena described the interaction that ensued, "Fine artists that they were, they listened and questioned and then transcribed information into their dramatic interpretations."

Reservations are required for this performance. For more information about how to register, refer to the flyer below.

The Al-Aqsa Islamic Society joins other people of good will in strongly condemning the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. The wanton destruction and killings of innocent civilians is a crime that is unacceptable. We are additionally angered that from all the news reports we are aware of, the terrorists killed these people in the name of Islam—we reject this as preposterous and wrong. The killing of innocent people is a crime not tolerated by any religion, especially Islam—we speak out against this terror attack as well as any other terror attacks.

We pray for the dead and offer condolences to the survivors and urge that all means are used to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Al-Aqsa Islamic Society

Chukri Khorchid

How did this "Jewish festival of diminishing popularity in the 1880s rebound on the American landscape" in such a remarkable way? In her historical perspective, Ms. Weissman Joselit outlines several factors, including a recognition of the value in exploiting the commercial aspects of the holiday. "By the 1940s, gift-giving had become an integral aspect of Chanukah, ... and in the years following World War II, the outside world increasingly freighted Chanukah with the same cultural and social significance as Christmas, yoking the two together in demonstration of America's 'cultural oneness.' "

Ms. Weissman Joselit places the ultimate responsibility for the resurgence of Chanukah on "the cultural ingenuity and determination of American Jewry."

To read "The Comeback Holiday" by Jenna Weissman Joselit in its entirety, click here.

There is responsibility on all sides. In Israel, "a few hundred thousand settlers are holding the entire country hostage" with their "abuse and humiliat(ion)" against Palestinians. In Gaza, "their Hamas counterparts are even worse" in perpetrating acts of terror against Israelis, while "Palestinian kids are suffering, and dying, from the Israeli blockade, which .... makes no distinction between children and terrorists."

Mr. Rosenberg insists that it is an "obstacle in the way of Arab-Israeli peace" to support "a status quo that cannot be sustained. There are four million Palestinians in the occupied territories. Do the proponents of doing nothing imagine that they will disappear?"

"For Israel's sake, and our own," Mr. Rosenberg concludes, "President Obama should appoint a Special Envoy to the Middle East charged with implementing the Arab Initiative and Arab-Israeli peace. With 365 electoral votes, a Congress in the hands of his party, and with the votes of 80% of American Jews in his pocket, President Obama has no excuse not to act. Nor do I think he is looking for one. Barack Obama will be the President who ends this conflict."

To read "President Obama: Go For It" by MJ Rosenberg in its entirety, click here.

"Dayan's plan had three pillars: large-scale settlement on the West Bank mountain ridge, permanent Israeli rule of the territories without Israeli citizenship for the Arab residents, and economic integration of the territories with Israel. ... Dayan sought to establish a colonial regime. ...(His) words reveal his worldview with shocking clarity. 'We want to keep this population calm.' ... Dayan and others who came after him managed to carry out his intent to a large degree."

Mr. Gorenberg continues the comparison: "Now comes Netanyahu, gleefully proclaiming that there's no chance of a political agreement with the Palestinians any time soon, just as Dayan declared with satisfaction in the fall of 1968 that 'no peace with the king of Jordan is in sight.' So, Netanyahu says, he'll seek 'economic peace' (which) will be 'a corridor leading to the possibility of political peace' sometime in the future. ... Netanyahu is really offering the Palestinians a free-market economy within shrinking enclaves dependent on Israel's good will."

"Netanyahu's platform is a con game twice over", Mr. Gorenberg concludes. "Palestinians will not abandon their demand for independence because of economic growth. And given the absolute lack of free movement in the territories, even a colonial economy can't grow there. The question is what will happen first: a new violent confrontation, or an international economic boycott."

To read "Dayan As Tragedy, Bibi As Farce" by Gershom Gorenberg 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