Jewish Alliance for Law & Social Action » Sheila Decter

JALSA organizer Annie Fox on NPR

Sheila Decter — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:09:38 +0000

NPR reporting on the Sukkah at Occupy Boston

Annie Fox is an organizer with the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action. For her, both the occupy movement and the holiday of Sukkot are reminders of our fragility. “We remind ourselves of the people who are homeless, of the people who are struggling, of the people who are facing unemployment. We remind ourselves of the struggle of the past, and the struggle of the present.”

Well done, Annie

Observing Sukkot at Occupy Boston

Sheila Decter — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:55:25 +0000

JALSA and several other Jewish groups from across the city had constructed a Sukkah at Occupy Boston. One theme of the holiday– as we live in these booths open to the wind and rain — specifically reminds us of the fragility of our material possessions.

We invite folks to visit Occupy Boston and bring our Jewish values to help shape this new movement. Stop by our Sukkah –which we will maintain for the immediate future for conversations, lunch, and discussion.

“Is this the fast I have chosen? ……

Cry out, spare not, raise your voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and Jacob’s house their sins. Isaiah 57:14-58:14

See Facebook for up-to-date schedule of events at the Sukkah.

Location: Dewey Square.
Area near the Ventilation Building.

Call the JALSA office for more details: 617-227-3000.

Attorney General refuses to certify new ballot issue attacking affordable housing statute

Sheila Decter — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:11:13 +0000

Notwithstanding the outstanding vote to protect the affordable housing statute last fall (40 B), the proponents of that ballot initiative tried once again to attack the law with a new ballot initiative. We are delighted to report that the Office of the Attorney General has agreed that the new initiative is substantially the same as the one turned down by the voters this past year, and by law cannot be repeated on the ballot in less than three years.

JALSA Outreach Conversations

Sheila Decter — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:59:08 +0000

As JALSA celebrates its 10th anniversary, we are launching an Outreach Campaign of conversations which will help to guide our organization’s future.

As part of this process, we are asking people to reflect on what JALSA is doing now, what their hopes are for Jewish social justice in our community, and how we can change and grow to ensure there will continue to be a vibrant progressive Jewish voice in the future. We are asking these questions of our own members, allies in the community, and others who care about our mission. The main goal of these conversations is to get community input and reflection as we envision our future.

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If you’ve participated in one of these conversations, here is aLINK TO THE RESPONSE FORM

If you are interested in taking part in one of these conversations, please email: annie@jalsa.org

MA Commission Against Discrimination Briefing

Sheila Decter — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:33:26 +0000

For those of you who attended the MCAD (Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination) Legislative Breakfast Tuesday, in spite of the snow, THANK YOU for coming! For those of you who couldn’t make it, we’re sorry we missed you. Attached please find a brief Newsletter with information about the MCAD – who leads the agency and how the agency carries out its important statutory mission of eradicating discrimination in the Commonwealth.

Hosted by Chairman, Julian T. Tynes and Commissioners Sunila Thomas-George and Jamie Williamson, they described the history of the agency that was founded in 1946 and its current missions. “Its statutory responsibility is to work for the public good of eliminating and preventing discrimination and to educate residents of the Commonwealth – businesses and individuals alike – with regard to their rights and duties under the Commonwealth’s anti-discrimination laws.” In 2010, 3308 cases were filed and there were a total of 5390 active cases. “Its staff investigates complaints of unlawful discrimination, offers mediation and conciliation to those involved in discrimination disputes, and prosecutes and adjudicates meritorious claims where conciliation efforts have failed.” In 2010, the highest number of cases were Disability (21.4%), Race, Color (19.1%), Sex (17.9%) , Retaliation (14.7%) and Age (12.0%). See the attached newsletter for more details.

MCAD Newsletter – page one …… MCAD Newsletter – page two