Tzedek: Social Justice Action
Our Statement:
Tzedek, the Hebrew word meaning justice, is the Social Justice Action arm of Congregation Ner Shalom. Jewish social justice is a way to respond to the brokenness of our world and to inform that work with Jewish knowledge and insights. Central to Jewish practice is the principle of tikkun olam, to repair the world –– working to transform suffering and pursue justice, in alignment with core values of compassion and equity. For Jews to fully live our justice values, we believe that we must involve ourselves with those who are in need now. By being social justice advocates we try to listen to those who are suffering—hear their stories, become connected with their pain and then help by standing up with them and for them.
Tzedek, Tzedek, Tirdof - Justice, Justice shall we pursue.
The History of Ner Shalom’s Tzedek
The Social Justice Arm of Ner Shalom was created in response to the 2016 election. Shoshana Fershtman and Roberta Teller took their deep concern for social justice and channeled it into what was then called The Social Justice Cafe.
During the early years we used a cafe setting with food, drink, music and of course schmoozing, to present issues important to our community. Local activists presented, educated, and offered actions and engagement.
At that time, Elaine Leeder became a featured speaker offering talks on American Jewish Radicals, the History of Jewish Activism and Immigration. Her talks were so well received that she traveled far and wide sharing our proud history with others.
A couple of years later Rita Rowan, Eszter Freeman and Elaine Leeder joined the team. It was at that time that we changed the name to Tzedek which most appropriately means justice in Hebrew.
Despite the name change, the focus has always been the same- to advocate for marginalized groups, work towards addressing systemic inequalities and injustices, educate, get out the vote and to involve the greater community in actions for the betterment of all - local, national and international.
In 2019 Jill Rose, Jane Lawhon and Abby Bogomolny brought their wise woman wisdom and energy to Tzedek.
In 2019 Jenny Holland introduced Andrea Miler from Reclaim Our Vote to the Ner Shalom community. ROV is a grassroots, primarily volunteer-run campaign that focuses on increasing People of Color's voter turnout in Southern States. Contact is made through postcarding, texting, phone banking, and on-site democracy centers. After our sold out event at Ner Shalom, Tzedek began our long term postcarding relationship with ROV and to date with our community's help have mailed out over 20,000 postcards.
Over the years we have had forums on:
Immigration and Refugee Rights with North Bay Organizing Project & Rapid Response
Climate change
Homelessness and the Unsheltered facilitated by Jeff Hoffman, Terry Rowan and Adrienne Lauby
Prison rights and Restorative Justice
Rethinking Justice: We invited formerly incarcerated persons and agencies, that work with them and artists to discuss decarceration and the school to prison pipeline: facilitated by Elaine Leeder
Reproductive Justice organized by Jill Rose & Jane Lawhon with Dr.s Shelley Sela, and Ashley Weinert, Attorney Karen Thompson and Northern CA Planned parenthood Board Chair Nicole Barnett
Voting Rights; Andrea Miller & Indivisible
Black Jewish relations with Rebecca Pierce
We have:
Mailed over 20,000 Reclaim Our Vote postcards since 2018. The 2024 campaign led by Abby Bogomolny included:
Off campus postcard writing events at Cafes
Two ROV Community Postcarding Writing Events at Ner Shalom
Co-sponsored Rabbi Maurice Harris’s talk on Israel/Palestine
Posted actions in the e blast
Made public statements about the murder of George Floyd and the conviction of his murderer.
Offered a statement of solidarity and support with our Asian American communities.
Teamed with Cal Valley Matters and donated to Dolores Huerta Foundation in Fresno, Valley Voices in Kings Valley Forward in Fresno…..
Over the years, Tzedek has teamed with many local agencies and raised money to support their causes: These include:
Indivisible
North Bay Organizing Project
Rapid Response
Cal Valley Matters
Sonoma Applied Village Services.
Workers Circle/Arbeter Ring
We have worked collaboratively with
Shomrei Torah
St Stephens Church
We have just begun:
Today we are facing unprecedented challenges on so many levels. Our democracy is threatened: our fundamental rights as Americans are being compromised; our safety nets are unraveling; our communities are facing deportation, and our trust in our institutions is rapidly diminishing.
Many of us are scared, confused, unnerved and overwhelmed…..And rightfully so…..Some of us are ready to stand up and confront head on the oppressors and criminals…Many of us are both…..
Regardless of where you are……you are not alone….you are part of something so much bigger than bigotry and hate and oppression and chaos. You/we stand tall upon the brave shoulders of those who have come before us and hopefully others will stand upon our shoulders….You/we have the strength of community to hold and nurture us; to laugh and cry and offer tender, quiet solace when needed; and you/we have the opportunity to be part of the opposition, voices for justice in 2025….
If you are interested in joining Tzedek or have questions, please contact Roberta at tzedek4theworld@gmail.com for information….
Please check our Tzedek page on the Ner Shalom website regularly for information, actions, events and community support.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Meade
In solidarity……
Rita, Abby, Jill, Jane, Eszter, Elaine, Roberta