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For Passover, the JCPA along with MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, is once again offering a phenomenal mobilizing event through which JRF communities, congregations from every Jewish stream and local JCRCs can engage community members in meaningful anti-poverty advocacy: The Child Nutrition Seder
.

As well, in preparation for the reauthorization of the child nutrition and WIC programs in 2010, thousands of national, state and local organizations representing anti-hunger, religious, education, medical, nutrition, direct service, school food, pre-school and child care, unions, children, after school, industry, agriculture and a host of others will join in support of a "Statement of Principles" to guide our reauthorization efforts.

If you have any questions on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization and mobilizing your community around the legislation, or questions on implementing the Seder in your community and/or how to best partner with your local Jewish Community Relations Council, please contact Becky Eisen

The Seder will be an opportunity to:

• Educate the Jewish community and its partners about the prevalence of hunger and malnutrition in the US, its life-long impacts on children, and the solutions to address this growing problem;
• Enable the Jewish community to play a leading role in advocating for a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization;
• Create a cadre of informed activists to supply a continuous stream of strong Jewish voices on the issue of domestic hunger;
• Strengthen relations between JCRCs, JRF communities and other Jewish organizations, as well as other local partners; and
• Mobilize towards the national goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015.

Background:

Psalm 82 calls on us to "Defend the poor and the orphan; deal justly with the poor and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy" (Psalm 82:3-4). In September of 2007, the American Jewish community responded to that call by participating in and promoting the Food Stamp Challenge in the week between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, in order to raise the profile of hunger and poverty issues in the United States. Individuals took a pledge to subsist on the budget of the average food stamp recipient: $1 per meal per day ($21 for the week).

In September, 2008 the JCPA co-chaired and promoted Fighting Poverty with Faith - a week long interfaith initiative with 21 national partner organizations and nearly 100 participating communities, designed to elevate the issue of poverty in the 2008 elections. Through participation in these large national actions, communities that had not previously been involved in hunger and poverty issues began to advocate for effective poverty relief measures. Jewish communities and their partners became involved in the debate over national legislation concerning domestic hunger and poverty in a meaningful and united way.

In 2009- a year in which legislative decisions were be made that affect the provision of social services and poverty reduction programs for the initiative focused on the Child Nutrition Bill that was re-authorized.

Logistics and Resources:

We are urging JRF Communities to hold the Child Nutrition Seders around the nation during the week before and during Passover, March and April 2010. This week will culminate in a JCPA National Seder held in the Nation's capital and led by Rabbi Steve Gutow. The JCPA has secured the commitment of a number of Jewish denominational movements and youth groups to promote participation in these Seders to their local affiliates.

We recognize that putting together a Child Nutrition Seder is a big commitment. The JCPA has tried to anticipate the resources that you and your community will need to participate. In addition to the resources provided in this memo, we will be sending out sample op-eds and letters to the editor, legislative updates, and will arrange best practice sharing calls in the months to come in order to help facilitate your community's engagement.

The JCPA will also provide a Seder template in the coming weeks that can be adapted to the needs of the local groups with whom you are working. The template content will include Jewish texts on hunger, educational resources on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization, and action steps that can mobilize Seder participants.

The Seder will focus on educating younger participants on the general state of hunger in America and older participants on legislation that helps to combat childhood hunger. It will follow a typical Seder format (though we do not expect local partners to provide a full meal), but the emphasis will be on how it is our responsibility as Jews to let all who are hungry come and eat. The Seder will end with children and parents making calls and writing letters to legislators in support of a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill to put us on a path towards the reachable goal of ending child hunger by 2015. Specifically, the Jewish community will be joining with our other partners in the anti-hunger community to ask for $1 billion in new funding for Child Nutrition over the next 5 years. Participants will then discuss how they can remain informed and active on this issue and become a strong voice in their communities to end childhood hunger.

This program presents a unique opportunity to engage the parents of young and pre-teen children, who are often hard to reach because of scheduling conflicts and time constraints. By reaching out to parents through their children, the Child Nutrition Seder can be a particularly effective means by which to get these members of the Jewish community involved in a significant and ongoing way.

Though the Seder is a one-time event, it is meant to serve as a gateway to engage participants in more sustained anti-poverty advocacy. Part of the planning process will also be to develop structures and relationships through which future advocacy and activism can be more easily planned and more quickly implemented.

Child Nutrition Seder Resources.

What JRF Congregations can do now:

Though the Seder is not until the end of March/beginning of April, there are a number of things that you can do now to ensure a successful program.

1. Send out the call--start reaching out to potential local partners now, especially your local JCRC, to ensure robust participation in the Seder, and as JRF is now a member religious organization of the JCPA, deepen ties to the local CRCs.
2. Save the date--get the event on your community 's calendar and get it on the calendars of your local partner organizations.
3. Spread the word--start getting your community excited about the Seder. Make sure it is on their calendar and their organization's calendars so that they do not plan overlapping programming. Put a notice in yours newsletter or e-mail blasts highlighting the Seder.

On a National Level:

The JCPA, with JRF as a member organization, hosts a national Child Nutrition Seder in the nation's capitol during the same time that local JCRCs will be hosting their own Child Nutrition Seders and JRF congregations are encouraged to do so as well. The JCPA invites legislators to attend the Seder and ask for their cooperation and support in pursuing a Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act that provides adequate tools and funding to end childhood hunger by 2015. JCRCs and JRF congregations can invite local and state legislators, school principals, school board members, and other political figures to attend local Seders, urging them to weigh in with national legislators to make the same ask. This will show that the individual activism in each community is linked to a larger Jewish movement in support of Child Nutrition Reauthorization, and will allow for maximum publicity opportunities for the Child Nutrition Seder.

We are so excited to work with you to create a strong and united Jewish voice on the issue of child hunger in America. If you have any questions on implementing the Seder in your community or conducting outreach, please contact Becky Eisen at beisen@thejcpa.org.

Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Contact Person: Rabbi Shawn Zevit

215-885-5601 X24, Write to
Rabbi Shawn Zevit

JRF affiliates: http://jrf.org/cong

http://www.jrf.org/ ; http://www.noarhadash.org/

Anti-Hunger and Poverty Initiatives:

http://www.jrf.org/hunger
http://www.jrf.org/omer2008-hunger
http://jrf.org/omer/2006/intro

With tremendous excitement, we are launching the Keruv/Outreach page on the JRF website; a center for collective wisdom and experience in models, programs and resources for best practices in creating welcoming Jewish congregational communities. We welcome you to visit  www.jrf.org/keruv-library, review the wealth of resources and models, and contribute your own.

The site is a product of two years of intensive, creative work connected to the JRF NY/NJ region's Kehillah Kedoshah: Every Voice Matters Keruv/Outreach project.

We are enormously grateful to UJA Federation of New York for funding this Keruv Project, to Dru Greenwood for her guidance and to Susan Leon of Bet Am Shalom Synagogue for her help in the development of the grant proposal; and to each of our Keruv pilot synagogue membership and outreach groups from: Bet Am Shalom Synagogue; Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore; Kehillath Shalom Synagogue; Congregation Mishkan Ha'am; The SAJ; and West End Synagogue. These groups and their members embarked on focused work to look carefully and strategically at their congregations, and change to welcome more Jews and their families. The excellent outreach work of these and so many more congregations is reflected on the site, and we sincerely thank them for their contributions.

Most of all, we acknowledge Rabbi Hannah Greenstein, the professional leader of the Keruv project, for bringing her engaging presence and outreach expertise to each step in this important initiative.   

We look forward to the Keruv site growing to include your congregation's experiences and resources, as it becomes an increasingly rich source of inspiration and ideas for welcoming all Jews into our communities.

 

JRF WEST Mini Camp

Modeled on the successful program of Camp JRF, founded in the Midwest and now in its fourth summer on The Aaron and Marjorie Ziegelman Campus in Pennsylvania's Pocono mountains, JRF WEST Mini Camp at Camp JCA Shalom will bring a taste of Camp JRF to Reconstructionist youth in the Western Region.

JRF WEST Mini Camp provides campers in grades 3-7 with strong connections to Reconstructionist Judaism and positive human values in a beautiful, fun, safe environment.

Campers will also live and learn the Values of Spiritual Peoplehood, a cornerstone of our Reconstructionist community.

Below please find the 2010 Registration form for JRF WEST Mini Camp.

Now’s your chance to snag some great bargains and support a worthy cause. The first ever online auction of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation is now open! Up on the auction block are jewelry, books, vacation packages, professional services, and much more! Check it out.

Looking for other ways to help make our online auction a huge success?
Donate items to our auction.
Refer friends to our auction so they can place bids too.

Aid for Chile in the aftermath of Saturday, February 27th's tremendous earthquake.

NEW YORK, NY, February 28, 2010—In the wake of today’s 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the world’s largest Jewish humanitarian assistance organization, announced that it will collect funds for relief efforts, said JDC CEO Steven Schwager. American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, http://www.jdc.org/templates/media-center-template.aspx?id=4116

JRF is also a member of the executive council of the Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief, which has opened a Jewish national coaltion donation fund at https://www.jdc.org/donation/donate.aspx?type=JCDR

Report on Jewish community in Chile: http://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/1147275/jewish/Shabbat-Earthquake-Devastates-Chile.htm

Americares is sending medical supplies: http://www.americares.org/newsroom/news/help-chile-earthquake-quake-relief-aid.html

Operation USA, http://www.opusa.org or 800-678-7255, is collecting money online, as well as corporate shipments of medical supplies. Checks may be sent to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave., Culver City, CA 90232. Or text REBUILD to 50555 to donate $10.

Masorti Olami Chile Earthquake Relief Fund for destroyed synagogue http://www.masortiworld.org/molami/update23

Please join us for the New York/New Jersey Region's Evening of Celebration Monday March 8th, 2010 at the landmark Eldridge Street Synagogue on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Reserve your spot or contribute now.

This year, for Passover, the Reconstructionist Press is offering special discounts on all A Night of Questions items through the holiday.

Soft Cover - This popular haggadah is being reprinted and will be available to ship in early March. We are offering each book at $18.00 when you purchase 10 or more, so that your seder can be well-stocked. To take advantage of this discount, click here to go to the JRF bookstore and use the discount code "nqbulk" when at checkout.

Limited Edition 10th Anniversary Hard Cover - We are offering a great discount on this limited edition. The regular price is $72.00, but you can buy it now for $27.00! This is a great gift, a wonderful edition to keep. This was printed in 5769 / 2009 to celebrate the Reconstructionist haggadah's 10th anniversary and includes a new section, "The Seder as a Spiritual Practice" by Rabbi Michael Strassfeld. Click here to order!

Music from A Night of Questions: CD by Shabbat Unplugged - This wonderful collection of music inspired by the haggadah is $22.00. Right now it is on sale for $9.99! Click here to order!

All of these discounts are for a limited time only, so take advantage now!

www.jrfbookstore.org

Please join us for the New York/New Jersey Region's Evening of Celebration Monday March 8th, 2010 at the landmark Eldridge Street Synagogue on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Reserve your spot or contribute now.

Mordecai Kaplan's masterpiece continues to captivate readers three quarters of a century after its initial publication. Judaism as a Civilization is garnering national attention in part due to a January 28 piece by Diane Cole in the Wall Street Journal, titled Invented the Bat Mitzvah, Rejected a Supernatural God. Cole delivers a succinct recap of Kaplan's life and challenges, and explains why Judaism as a Civilization remains relevant today.

The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation is proud to have partnered with the Jewish Publication Society to reprint the book that inspired the birth of the Reconstructionist movement. Many consider this work to have contributed more than any other to the shaping of contemporary North American Judaism. JRF is grateful to Mel Scult, Kaplan's principal biographer, for providing this edition with a new introduction. This edition is dedicated to one of Kaplan's closest and most influential disciples, Rabbi Jack Cohen, in celebration of his 90th birthday.

You can order the book from the Reconstructionist Press's online bookstore: here. Affiliate members receive 20% off after checkout. You can also order copies from JPS.

 

Start: Mar 21 2010 - 4:00pm

Plan to join us on Sunday, March 21, 2010 for the Chesapeake Annual Celebration in support of Reconstructionist Judaism, our congregations and JRF. This year we will be holding the Chesapeake JRF Annual Celebration at Oseh Shalom Congregation in Laurel, MD.

Visit our online form to place your tribute and reservations.

This is the 18th Anniversary of Oseh Shalom's current building and we are very excited to help them celebrate this special year! The Annual Celebration will take place from 4:00-7:00 p.m. including entertainment and a light dinner.

At our Annual Celebration this year, we are very pleased to be presenting three special awards.  We will be presenting the Yehudit Award for Creativity and Leadership to Linda C. Jum, who has been instrumental in making Camp JRF and other youth programming what it is today in the Reconstructionist movement. While Linda is not affiliated with a Chesapeake JRF congregation, her constant support of JRF's work warrants her recognition nationally. Linda has been a part of every Chesapeake function since I have been regional director. The Linda C. Jum Fund for Creative Youth Initiatives is being set up to honor her for all her hard work. We hope you choose to make a donation to this fund.

We are thrilled to be able to honor Bob Barkin, from Adat Shalom with the Tzadik Award for all his work for the movement. Bob is currently President of the Reconstructionist Movement.

We will also be honoring Sheila Feldman from Adat Shalom with the Shevach Award (Praise) for her 12 years of service to Adat Shalom. Sheila is currently their Executive Director. Sheila will be the first member of our region to receive the Shevach Award. Shevach is an acronym for Shalom Bayit Hashuv- (the importance of peace in the house (community)).

In addtion to our special honors we will be honoring members of our congregation and Havurot with the Moreh Derekh Judith and Ira Eisenstein Service Award for leadership in their communities. We are very pleased to be honoring Pauline Pivowar and Rose Fishman from Oseh Shalom, Alan Pomerantz from Columbia Jewish Congregation, Robin Kantor and Marcie Levenstein from Beit Tikvah, Tim Bartol and Steven Sharpe from Adat Shalom, Nadine Wobus from Mishkan Torah and the entire Reconstructionist Havurah of Greater Washington.

Please mark your calendars for this special event.  Plan to participate and honor some or all of our honorees by placing greetings and ads in our Tribute Journal.  This year in order to promote a more green community, we will be printing a copy of the Tribute Journal for each honoree, and distributing the journal to anyone who participates via e-mail the week after the Annual Celebration.  When you send in your response, please make sure to include your e-mail address so that you can receive a copy of the journal.

Start: Oct 10 2010 - 12:00pm End: Oct 12 2010 - 11:59am

Mayyim Hayyim (http://www.mayyimhayyim.org/) Community Mikveh and Education Center is hosting the international Mikveh Conference, “Gathering the Waters” in Boston, October 10-12, 2010. JRF is a partner for this event, and we encourage you to attend this exciting program.

The conference will provide an in-depth exploration of the contemporary mikveh in theory and practice. Internationally renowned scholars, clergy, and educators will teach about immersion as a powerful tool for spiritual renewal, marking life transitions, and observing mitzvot.  

Panels and workshops will provide skill development in the following areas:
* Honoring Conversion and Affirmation
* Exploring Contemporary Understanding of Niddah (Monthly Immersion)
* Marking Life Transitions with Ritual Immersion
* Facilitating Mikveh Guide (Attendant) Training
* Teaching About Mikveh for Students of All Ages
* Creating or Enhancing a Mikveh in Your Community

Read an article in a previous issue of RT: http://www.jrf.org/files/Fall-Vol14-1.pdf

Get more information at: http://www.mayyimhayyim.org/Resources/Conference-2010

Contact Amy Chartock, National Programs Director at amyc@mayyimhayyim.org or 617-244-1836 x 203

JRF is encouraging our member communities and people everywhere to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti due to the recent disasterous earthquake there. To expidite donations we are not setting up a separate donation fund, rather encouraging donations to our partner organizations who work directly on the ground in relief efforts.

With a per capita income of $3.60 per day, Haiti is the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere. Thus, its population is especially vulnerable to natural disasters, such as the recent earthquake. Based on initial reports of widespread devastation and a high number of casualties, relief agencies anticipate that the immediate and long-term needs will be profound. Our prayers and our concrete actions are directed at this time to the many people in Haiti, both Haitian citizens and the many international visitors, aid workers and support people who have lost their lives and those who have lost loved ones. We also pray for the healing of those injured by the earthquake.

Prayers for the People of Haiti: http://jrf.org/Prayers-for-Haiti

Donations to AJWS's "Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund," which can be made at www.ajws.org/haitiearthquake, will enable AJWS's network of grantees in Haiti to meet the urgent needs of the population based on real-time, on-the-ground assessments.

The Jewish Federations of North America is partnering with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to provide aid and relief to victims http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=213133.

The Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief, of which JRF is an executive committee member participating in decisions on relief funding, is also responding long-term: http://www.jdc.org/jcdr_about.html.

MAZON, an external affiliate with JRF, is also responding to the situation, http://mazon.org/2010/01/13/mazon-launches-emergency-haiti-fund/

Joint Distribution Committee: https://www.jdc.org/donation/donate.aspx

Gig Pomerantz, a member of Shir Hadash, Milwaukee, WI, is President and Executive Director of Youthaiti, http://www.youthaiti.org/

Beverly Bell- Blog from Haiti http://www.michaelmoore.com/blogger/BeverlyBell

For an extensive list of faith-based global relief organizations responding to the disaster see http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti

Jewish Communities Response: http://jta.org/news/article/2010/01/19/1010227/jewish-community-stands-behind-haiti

Mother of Haitian baby honors IDF rescuers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL2PPJaiPOQ

To find information about friends and family in Haiti: The U.S. State Department set up a toll-free number to call for information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747.

Click here for Reconstructionist movement and other general resources for living a sustainable, Jewish life!

http://jrf.org/Sustainable_Synagogue_Resources

http://jrf.org/Jewish-Climate-Change-Initiative

The Obamas Light the CandlesOn December 16th, JRF President, Robert Barkin represented the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation at the White House's annual Hanukkah celebration. Mr. Barkin attended with his wife, Cathy and were on a guest list of about 400 Jewish leaders from across the country.

Mr. Barkin blogged about the experience and invites you to read it at The NonProphet.

You can also see more photos here.

Start: Mar 8 2010 - 7:00pm Reserve or Contribute Online Here

Please save the evening of Monday March 8th, 2010 for the New York/New Jersey Evening of Celebration at the landmark Eldridge Street Synagogue on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Enjoy a concert of World Jewish music which spans cultures and continents with Avram Pengas.

Edward Rothstein of the New York Times says this of the Eldridge Street Synagogue: "It is possible to be awestruck by the exotic splendor of this meticulously restored sanctuary." See more of the Synagogue: here.

The night will honor leaders of our congregations, Reconstructionist movement, and the global community with the Moreh Derech Award for "The Ones Who Show Us the Path."

Those honored include:

Ruth Messinger, SAJ

Harriet Feiner, RSNS

Ann Schaffer, Bet Am Shalom Synagogue

Fran Hoffinger, West End Synagogue

Ellen Kolba, Bnai Keshet

Steven Ukco, Hebrew Congregation of Somers

Charlie Roemer, Reconstructionist Congregation Beth Emeth

 

Linda C Jum will be honored with the Yehudit Award for Creativity and Service

The 2010 EOC Leadership Team:

Janet Rosenberg, President

Lisa Carlin, Vice President

Audrey Feiner, Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Short

Richard Haimowitz, Bet Am Shalom Synagogue

Lisa Stern, Society for the Advancement of Judaism

Jane Susswein and Deborah Newberger, Chairs, Linda C Jum Youth Initiative Fund

Melanie Schneider, Director Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, NY/NJ Region

For details, call 212.870.2483 or email events@jrf.org

Start: Mar 8 2010 - 5:00pm

Save the Date! 

Please save the evening of
Monday, March 8, 2010
at the landmark Eldridge Street Synagogue on Manhattan’s Lower East Side

 for the annual
JRF NY/NJ Evening of Celebration.
Enjoy a concert of World Jewish music

which spans cultures and continents with

Avram Pengas  

The Moreh Derech Award
"The Ones Who Show Us the Path"
honoring leaders of our congregations, Reconstructionist movement &
global community including:

Ruth Messinger, SAJ

Harriet Feiner, RSNS

Ann Schaffer, Bet Am Shalom Synagogue

Fran Hoffinger, West End Synagogue

Ellen Kolba, Bnai Keshet

Steven Ukco, Hebrew Congregation of Somers

Charlie Roemer, Reconstructionist Congregation Beth Emeth

 and Yehudit Award for Creativity & Service

Linda C. Jum

Details: 212.870.2483
events@JRF.org

Online registration coming soon.

Mark your calendar for November 11-14, 2010 for the 2010 JRF Convention; the largest gathering of Reconstructionists and likeminded friends in North America. Our convention will take place at the stylish Hyatt Regency in sunny Newport Beach, California.

Plan to join us for four informative and uplifting days as we engage with experts and emerging leaders in the Jewish world. Experience a joyful, meaningful Shabbat together with lively, inspiring services and opportunities for Torah study, networking, and a wealth of Jewish learning.

Want to learn more?  Please visit the JRF Convention Website.

www.jrf.org/convention

Share YOUR outreach idea with the community!

Chag Sameach! Welcome to an annual time of rededication, liberation and seeing light in the darkest of times! Here are some resources to help bring warmth, meaning and new light to this ancient holiday. Wishing you much joy as we join with Jews celebrating Hanukkah around the world, and wish the best for many other faith traditions and peoples, celebrating their own festivals of light at this time of year!

• One for Each Night: A Hanukkah Study Guide for a Brighter Future
• Rabbi Steve Segar: The United States of Channukkah
• Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat and Lighting the Hanukkiah
• Rabbi Toba Spitzer: Hanukkah: December and Dedication
• Recon educators debate how to teach Hanukkah
• Jewish Parenting at Hanukkah
• Family Guide to Spiritual Celebration of Hanukkah
  Hannukah and Global Climate Change Initiative
• COEJL: Hanukkah and Environment Resources:

Faithful Reform- Interfaith Coalition for Healthcare“Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?” --Jeremiah 8:22

JRF and our member communities have been actively supporting the need for healthcare reform in the United States. We will continue to join other Jewish religious movements and organizations to this end. Please join with other faith communities in the Interfaith Virtual Vigil of Prayer, Hope, and Action, a daily prayer and advocacy initiative from now until heathcare reform is passed. Also see http://delicious.com/JRFtikkun/healthcare for additional resources.

As people of faith, we envision a society where each person is afforded health, wholeness, and human dignity.

That vision as collectively articulated by the interfaith coalition Faithful Reform for Healthcare and the former "We Believe" interfaith action, embraces a system of health care that is inclusive... accessible... affordable... and accountable.

2010 Moral Vision in the Health Care Reform Bills

November 2009 Faithful Reform Interfaith Coalition Letter to Congress:

We urge you to support comprehensive health care reform legislation that:

§ includes a strong public health insurance option that is available on day one and in all states;

§ expands Medicaid to all individuals under age 65 with incomes up to 150% of the federal poverty level;

§ prohibits pre-existing condition exclusions;

§ provides adequate subsidies for all individuals and families up to 400% of the federal poverty level and reasonable limits on annual out-of-pocket expenses for all people;

§ eliminates underwriting based on health status, age, gender or occupation;

§ provides legal immigrants with equal access to subsidies to help them purchase health insurance and allows undocumented immigrants to purchase their own health insurance through any insurance exchange offered;

§ eliminates the five-year waiting period for all legal immigrants to receive Medicaid and CHIP benefits;

§ includes all immigrant children and pregnant women, regardless of immigration status, in eligibility for Medicaid.

In June 2009, JRF joined 40 national faith organizations have come together to plan the largest faith-inspired mobilization to ever happen around health care reform. The mission statement for the "We Believe" Initiative reads:

US based health care must change now because the system is inefficient, costly, and most importantly, immoral.

We believe together in a health care future that is grounded in the sacred bonds of our common humanity, defined by compassion, especially for those who are most vulnerable, and reflective of faithful stewardship of our abundant health care resources.

Vision ~ Inclusive: Health care is a shared responsibility that is grounded in our common humanity. In the bonds of our human family, we are created to be equal. We are guided by a divine will to treat each person with dignity and to live together as an inclusive community. Affirming our commitment to the common good, we acknowledge our enduring responsibility to care for one another. As we recognize that society is whole only when we care for the most vulnerable among us, we are led to discern the human right to health care and wholeness. Therefore, we are called to act with compassion by sharing our abundant health care resources with everyone.

Vision ~ Affordable: Health care must contribute to the common good by being affordable for individuals, families and society as a whole. We believe that in the sacred act of creation we are endowed with the talents, wisdom and abundant resources necessary to meet the needs of one another, including the health care needs of all. Therefore, in our calling to be faithful stewards, we understand our responsibility to use our health care resources effectively, to administer them efficiently, and to distribute them with equity.

Vision ~ Accessible: All persons should have access to health services that provide necessary care and contribute to wellness. We believe humanity is sacred and that all persons should benefit from those actions which contribute to our health and wholeness. Therefore, we are called to act with justice and love, to ensure that all of us have access to the health care we need in order to live out the fullness of our potential both as individuals and as contributing members of our society. We must work together to identify and overcome all barriers to and disparities in such care.

Vision ~ Accountable: Our health care system must be accountable, offering a quality, equitable and sustainable means of keeping us healthy as individuals and as a community. We believe that as spiritual and sacred vessels, we are responsible for the care of our bodies to the best of our ability and for the care of one another regardless of individual circumstances. Therefore, individuals, families, governments, businesses, and the faith community are called to work in partnership for a system that ensures fully-informed, timely, quality and safe care that treats body, mind and spirit.

If you are involved in local actions or wish to share rituals, worship services or action intitiaves you have developed locally, please e-mail Rabbi Shawn Zevit so your holy initiatives can be added to our resources to inspire and educate others.

Additional Resources:

o Website: http://www.webelievetogether.org

o Resources for Sermons, Worship and more: http://www.faithfulreform.org/index.php/Worship/

o Jewish and Multifaith resources for Healthcare below and at www.jrf.org/tikkun-olam-issues

o Children's Prayer Service for Health Care http://jrf.org/files/Prayer%20Service%20for%20Children's%20Health%20Care.pdf