The Honorable Sumner Z. Kaplan

Link to Page of Rembrance

It is with great sadness that JALSA shares the news that Sumner Z. Kaplan, one of JALSA’s founders and one of our greatest fans, passed away Tuesday at the age of 92.  As most of you know, Sumner had tremendous energy and actively participated in everything we did until just a few months ago when he became ill.  We hoped his health would return, but unfortunately, that was not to be.   We have lost a tremendous friend.

Sumner was the beloved husband of 66 years to Eleanor ( Ellie) Kaplan; devoted father of Ruth Kaplan and her husband Toby Kusmer, Marjorie Kaplan and her husband Michael Stanislawski;  dear grandfather of Sarah Rose Kusmer and Anna Kusmer, Ethan, Aaron and Emma Stanislawski .

We extend our deepest sympathies to Sumner’s wife, Ellie, and his daughters, Ruth and Marjorie, and to his entire extended family.  As a community we mourn the loss of our dear friend and fierce leader for justice.

Sheila Decter

Feb 27, 2011 Rally for the Immokalee Tomato Workers

As of March 17, 2011, current agreements are with Whole Foods supermarket (the only one), Burger King, McDonalds, and Taco Bell. For information see: www.ciw-online.org

and  http://news.change.org/stories/activists-protest-stop-amp-shop-demand-slave-free-tomatoes

Gus Schumacher speaking at JALSA on Feb. 22, 2011.

Gus Schumacher, chairman of Wholesome Wave, is a leader in the “prescription vegetables” movement.  This innovative pilot program has enabled doctors at three health centers in Massachusetts to treat families struggling with health and obesity, by writing “prescriptions” that can be used at local farmers markets to buy fruits and vegetables to feed their families. http://wholesomewave.org/

Larry was CLSA directer & executive director New Eng. region, American Jewish Congress, as well as a long-time leader of the region.  A staunch advocate for civil rights, Larry was involved in many cases and actions to help end racial discrimination.

His input into efforts around school desegregation were immensely important.  He represented Black community leader Elma Lewis in important issues around the transfer of the old Mishkan Tefilah property to Black communal institutions and represented the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe in its historic land suit against the town of Mashpee.

His concerns around religious liberty guarantees continued in his work on the bench where he had important input in matters dealing with a balance of protection of religious rights for Christian Scientists and the State’s need to protect children.

After his retirement from the bench, Larry and Lily moved to Falmouth. For many years after that, he would still bus to Boston to join us for various JALSA meetings.  However, for the last several years,he has experienced ill health and we have missed his good counsel.

Condolences may be sent to Lily Shubow, 339 Gifford Street, Falmouth, MA  02450.

Sheila Decter, Executive Director, JALSA

We are pleased to report that the JALSA posting and participation in the Feb 27 March from Copley Square (yes, Copley) to the Brigham Circle Stop and Shop in support of the Immokalee Workers was featured in the Feb. 21 Issue of Quick Picks for 20s and 30s.  Link is as follows: http://www.jewishboston.com/blogs/6-20s-30s

Governor issues Executive Order Adding Gender Identity and Expression to Groups Protectred by State’s Non-Discrimination Laws.   State Employees Now Covered by Non-Discrimination Protection.  Legislation still Needed to protect those working for private parties.

LETTER FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS TRANSGENDER POLITICAL COALITION.

Gunner Scott, Executive Director, MTPC

Earlier today, Gov. Deval Patrick signed an historic Executive Order that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and expression in state employment. It applies to all state agencies in the Executive Branch, including executive offices, boards, commissions, agencies, and departments as well as businesses and organizations that contract with the Executive Branch.

Unfortunately, there are a number of people who need the protection offered by this executive order but who will not get it because they are not state employees. Transgender residents of the Commonwealth face pervasive job discrimination and workplace harassment. A study released earlier this month by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force found that 76 percent of transgender respondents from Massachusetts were harassed or mistreated on the job, and 20 percent reported losing their jobs, because they are transgender. No one should have to live in fear that they can be legally fired for reasons that have nothing to do with their job performance. All hardworking people in our state, including transgender people, should have the opportunity to make a living and provide for themselves and their families.

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition applauds Gov. Patrick’s decision to sign this Executive Order protecting the jobs of transgender state employees. This is not the first time Gov. Patrick has demonstrated his commitment to the community—he also streamlined process by which transgender men and women can get proper state IDs. We know that there are transgender individuals who are state employees and we celebrate the job security the Executive Order affords them. The Commonwealth is the largest employer in the state of Massachusetts. Gov. Patrick’s decision puts the state in line with other organizations that embrace transgender employees, and opens up numerous job opportunities for transgender residents of the Commonwealth. However, we realize that not everyone works for the State. Transgender people, like all people, have a wide variety of skills, professional experiences, and employment interests. Transgender individuals need equal protections under the law so that they are free to best utilize their skills and experiences, in a way that can only benefit the Commonwealth as a whole.

This Executive Order is a good first step toward that goal. But it’s up to lawmakers to do the rest. Please contact them and ask them to pass An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights. And please take a moment to thank Gov. Patrick for his historic move today to bring equality to transgender residents of the Commonwealth.

JALSA participated in an amicus brief in the 9th Circuit with several Armenian groups and genocide education groups supporting state reference to Armenian Genocide in a bill dealing with statute of limitations on insurance claims.  The plaintiffs had sued saying the state could not
reference the Armenian Genocide because the federal government had not recognized that event.  Lower courts and an earlier 9th Circuit review said the ambiguity of the federal government on recognition of the Armenian Genocide did not preempt use of that term in state legislation.              Movsesian v. Victoria Versicherung AG, et al

JALSA has participated with Armenian leaders in several court briefs and has supported the ability of students to study the Armenian Genocide.

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

Thank you all for coming to Sunday’s Annual Meeting.  Wonderful to see everyone.  We thank everyone for their support.

Sheila Decter, Executive Director, JALSA

Several years ago, JALSA members helped to encourage adoption of a new state school curriculum requirement on Genocide.  The curriculum adopted by the Dept. of Education allowed teachers to select from a range of historical acts of genocide to meet the interests of different student populations.  A resource list of suggested materials was provided.   Teachers were left to their own discretion as to what materials within or outside of that list to use for the unit.   At the request of Turkish groups, materials were added to the Curriculum Resource list that denied the Armenian Holocaust.   Subsequently the Department of Education removed those materials.   A classroom (including teacher and parent) challenged the removal of those materials as censorship.

JALSA provided an amicus brief in that lawsuit arguing that the Dept. of Education had a right to determine what materials should be listed as reflecting the core curriculum. The establishment of the resource list did not prevent teachers and students from bringing in a range of materials to the classroom.   Lower federal courts agreed and now the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to take up the case; thus a victory for the position argued in the JALSA brief.

See: JALSA Victories for an earlier story on this issue.