Judaism and Civic Engagement: A Seminar & Panel Discussion

How does our faith inform our role as citizens? Join us for an enlightening morning as we explore the intersection of Reform Judaism, social justice, and the mechanics of government. This session brings together spiritual leadership and field professionals to examine the theological and practical foundations of Jewish advocacy.

From the historic roots of the Religious Action Center (RAC) to the modern-day halls of local legislation, our panel will pull back the curtain on how Jewish values are translated into civic action.

Key Discussion Points

• The Mandate: Understanding the Reform movement’s historical commitment to social justice and the RAC’s pivotal role in shaping Jewish involvement.
• The Art of Lobbying: Learning how "The Jewish Voice" and special interest groups interact with legislators to represent our community's unique perspectives.
• The Toolkit: Identifying practical ways to engage with local and national government through a faith-based framework.

Event Schedule

• 9:00 AM | Coffee & Bagels Arrive for breakfast and informal conversation with our panelists. This is a great time to review our educational handouts before we begin.
• 9:30 AM | Panel Discussion The seminar begins promptly, diving into our moderated discussion and Q&A.
• 11:30 AM | Conclusion

Featured Panelists

We are honored to welcome a distinguished group of experts to lead this conversation:

• Cantor Short: Providing spiritual and theological grounding.
• Barry Davis: Our Congregation’s representative to the RAC.
• Jill Goodman: Vice-Chair for the URJ. Advocate and community leader.
• Artie Malkin: Veteran lobbyist with deep experience in Jewish interests and the RAC since its inception.