Happy Passover from NCJW|MN!
Chag Sameach, NCJW Minnesota!
We hope your Passover celebrations have been filled with warmth, community, and just enough matzah so far. Did you find the afikomen yet? We hope it isn’t still patiently waiting behind a couch cushion!
As we celebrate our ancestor’s journey to freedom at our Seder tables, NCJW is hard at work securing freedoms today. We are thrilled to share a major milestone in our fight for reproductive rights: a recent court ruling in Indiana has granted a permanent injunction against the state’s near-total abortion ban. As our national Campaign Director, Shira Zemel, recently highlighted in The Forward, we are successfully re-framing the conversation to show that reproductive freedom is religious freedom. By leveraging laws like the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, we are making it clear that our Jewish values, which prioritize the life and health of the pregnant person, must be protected from government overreach.
While we celebrate this progress, we know that the path to true reproductive freedom requires unwavering advocacy both here in Minnesota and across the nation. In Minnesota, we must remain vigilant in protecting and expanding our existing rights, ensuring our state remains a sanctuary for care. Nationally, we must continue to show up using our voices, our faith, and our collective power to support those in states where these fundamental freedoms are under threat. Together, we will continue to turn our Jewish values into action until reproductive justice is a reality for everyone, everywhere.
Register for our spring event!
They say democracy is a noun, but at NCJW|MN we know it’s actually a verb. It’s something we do, something we build, and something we protect together.
When women lead, the results aren’t just seen in the boardroom or ballot boxes, they are felt in the well-being of our families, the strength of our schools, and the vibrancy of our neighborhoods. Come for breakfast, be in community, and discover how our collective action creates lasting change and helps our communities reach their full potential.
Register now for a morning of purpose, passion, and great coffee.
Tuesday May 12th
8-9:30 AM – Doors open at 7:30 AM
Glass House, Minneapolis
Register Today!
Want to Help Foster Democracy? We’re Listening.
Passover reminds us that freedom requires constant attention. This winter, NCJW Inc invited sections to join with Jews for Freedom, a new coalition mobilizing American Jews to take Action to foster democracy. Given the assault on democratic principles caused by Metro Surge in the Twin Cities, NCJW MN was quick to sign on.
Our first step? Listening to you.
Join a Listening Session
We are hosting 60 minute virtual conversations to understand how current political shifts are impacting you and/or those you care about, what obstacles stand in the way of deeper involvement.
What: A small group discussion led by trained NCJW MN facilitators
Where: Virtually (join from anywhere)
Privacy: Sessions are recorded for transcription only; all names will remain anonymous.
Topics: We’ll Discuss the impact of authoritarianism, your current efforts to foster democracy, and the role faith plays in your advocacy.
If you can’t find a date that works, email info@ncjwmn.org
Why Your Voice Matters
Your group’s insights will be analyzed (anonymously) to shape NCJW MN’s future educational programming and will be shared with the national Jews for Freedom coalition. After we identify key themes from your stories, we’ll share them at our May 12 breakfast fundraiser, Democracy is a Verb.
Click here for more information about these listening sessions.
Ready to help shape the world you want to see?
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Good news Minnesota, your emails to lawmakers are working! The Minnesota Building Families Act has a hearing in the Senate Health Committee on April 8! But time is short – the legislative committee deadline in the House is April 17, and we must secure hearings in the House before then to keep the bill moving this session.
Take action. Send two emails with our easy forms, it only takes a few minutes!
Click the link below and follow the steps. 2 minutes. HUGE impact. Act now because time is running out!
Temple of Aaron Sisterhood Spring Program
Advocating for Self, Family, and Community
Join ToA Sisterhood for brunch and an educational speaker presentation. We also welcome women from Mpls/St Paul Hadassah and NCJW|MN. The program will end with a short meditation guided by Jenni Schwartz.
Sunday April 12th 10:30 am – 2:30 pm at Temple of Aaron
$18 pre-registration required.
Resources
Below are resources to familiarize yourself with, as well as connections to community organizations that are providing important training opportunities.
Stand with Minnesota – an updated directory of places to donate
MONARCA Training – rapid response line for peaceful demonstration; training to be an “upstander”
ACLU Immigrant Rights – promote, protect immigrant rights
MIRAC Know Your Rights Video – know your rights video and option to request training
Immigrant Defense Network Tools for Community Defense – has a handbook on being a constitutional observer
COPAL – Comunidades Organizando El Poder Y La Acción Latina
UNIDOS-MN – Builds power with Minnesota’s working families to advance social, racial and economic justice for all
Immigration Legal Resource Center – Red Cards. Cards you can print to keep so that you know your rights
Do you know of anyone who has signed up for our emails but have had trouble receiving them or finding it in their inbox? Please encourage them to add “info@ncjwmpls.org” to their email contacts. This should help direct our newsletters to their inbox.
You can find an archive of our newsletters on our website HERE
As well as an archive of Courts Matter updates online HERE
We know these are impossibly heavy and uncertain times. May we draw strength from one another and find healing through connection and action. As our tradition teaches, caring for each other is how we endure, and how we move forward together.
5905 Golden Valley Road, Suite 1
Golden Valley, MN 55422
(952)-922-7900 | www.ncjwmn.org