The Social Justice Committee supplements direct social service projects of the Tzedakah committee and others with a focus on public policy issues of concern to us as members of the Jewish community.   

The underlying premise of our work is the Torah's call for justice. This includes:

• Educating ourselves and the congregation on issues of social justice at the local, state or national level
• Promoting advocacy on these issues
• Working in coalitions with other faith communities as well as like-minded organizations 

The basis of much of our work is informed by resolutions adopted by the Religious Action Center Commission on Social Action (www.rac.org), an arm of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Their work is inspired by Prophetic Judaism, the basis of the Reform Movement.

Our major focus is on issues of local concern to the greater Asheville and Western North Carolina communities. In 2012 our efforts are directed to issues of economic justice. In the previous two years we concentrated on environmental justice through our project, Preserving Our Planet. (POP).  (Click here for the full report.) The committee has also worked on issues around separation of church and state, race relations, gender equality and health care.

The Social Justice Committee welcomes new members and the experiences they bring to enrich our work and learning.