Jewish Earth Alliance Monthly Briefing
Tuesday, April 20th, 2025
5:00 pm PT / 8:00 pm ET 

REGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/hrplLtbES0SATicZfrt-aA#/registration

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Secretary Lee Zeldin is so committed to giving fossil fuels free rein that he's willing to expose the public to toxic greenhouse gas emissions.  

Based on the preponderance of scientific evidence, the EPA established that greenhouse gases endanger the public's health (the so-called "endangerment finding").

If Zeldin's efforts succeed in repealing the endangerment finding, the EPA will loses its authority to place limits on polluters.

For details, see our Action Alert, Tell EPA Administrator Zeldin that Air Pollution is Still Dangerous: https://www.jewishearthalliance.org/post/tell-epa-administrator-zeldin-that-air-pollution-is-still-dangerous

Jewish Earth Alliance is a national, grassroots, advocacy network raising a moral voice on climate change to the US Congress and Administration.

Reject Cruel Cuts to Lifesaving Programs: Protect Medicaid and SNAP

These proposed cuts are not just misguided — they are morally indefensible.

* One in five women depends on Medicaid to access essential health care, including reproductive health care like STI testing, cancer screenings, birth control, and family planning services;
* One in five children depends on SNAP for groceries and access to nutritious food.

Link: https://www.ncjw.org/act/action/tell-congress-defend-medicaid-and-snap/

Our government has a moral obligation to create a federal budget that supports the most vulnerable among us.

Don't want to sign a petition or join NCJW? That's ok, you can still help in the right to keep someone else's religion out of *your* doctor's office.

Link: https://www.jewsforabortionaccess.org/the-fund

Push back against having christian nationalist beliefs imposed on Jews and other faiths, or secular materialists.

They have no right to legislate their false beliefs. Jewish Women are fighting back - won't you join us?

Forced pregnancy is a violation of every woman's human rights, and the UN Declaration.

Link: https://www.ncjw.org/act/action/pledge-recommit-to-reproductive-freedom/

As a nation constitutionally committed to religious freedom, we must ensure that everyone has the ability to make their own moral or faith-informed decisions about their bodies and health care.

From Svivah:
We have 11 INCREDIBLE clinicians coming to hold space for so much... and the responses of gratitude from those coming are just WOW. Who knew we needed to talk about this so much?!?!

Here are the groups we've got... if you know anyone to invite???
Lost a mom
Lost a child
Estranged from mom
Estranged from child/ren
On a fertility journey
With challenging/tense relationship mom
Challenges with motherhood and identity as a mom
Mom of a trans child
Not a mom (by choice or fate)
Mom to a kid facing challenges (illness, mental health, etc)
Single/solo-moms

It's a lot -- I know. And Mothers Day can just be so YUCK when you're also holding so much more.

We just want to make sure that the people who need something like this can find it!

Register: https://www.svivah.org/gatherings/mothersday2025

From the Workers Circle:
These weekly gatherings bring together anyone who wants to join with others to oppose the threats to our democracy, rights and well-being from the Trump Administration's attacks. Together, we say, democracy, not autocracy!

Each week will feature different speakers. Come with your sign and an electric candle or cellphone as we light the way for our democracy in this crucial hour. Look for the Workers Circle “Demand Democracy” sign when you arrive. If you can, let us know you plan to join us.

Register: https://www.circle.org/events/preserving-democracy

Due to all the chaos in the US right now, there is more need than ever for mutual aid to help Jewish LGBTQ folks and Disabled Jews make it, as their programs for medical care and even survival are cut out from under them. Some need to relocate to get the care they need.

Even small donations can help - and you don't have to join the Chevra to give tzedakah to Miriams Wellspring (or any other Chevra program).

Link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=4P32EZSC9Q2MS

For more info about the Chevra, visit our temp page at: https://ahavahariel.com/chevra-hachachamot We are a 501c3 nonprofit, and a certified Paypal charity. Thank you for your help!

Shalom!

About this Episode

Activist and organizer Roan Boucher details the unprecedented surge in anti-trans legislation across America and its connection to Christian Nationalism.

Despite addressing these troubling developments, Boucher discusses sources of hope and resilience, pointing to mutual aid networks and Jewish spiritual practices.

This compelling dialogue weaves personal experience with sharp political analysis. It’s essential listening experience for anyone trying to understand our current moment.

Boucher also addresses deep divisions within Jewish communities and stresses Jews need to work across divides to oppose antisemitism and assaults on human rights.

Podcast Link: https://evolve.fireside.fm/66

From the Workers Circle:
First Fridays

Friday, May 2, 2025
12:00 PM 1:00 PM

Register: https://www.circle.org/events/first-fridaysmay2025

From the Workers Circle:
Live from the Frontlines: The Fight for Our Democracy

Tuesday, April 29, 2025
7:00 PM 8:00 PM

Register: https://www.circle.org/events/live-from-the-frontlines

If some traditional prayers don't resonate with you, that's ok. You can personalize them. The world won't end.

Register: https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/event/the-words-of-prayer-rewriting-and-revising-the-traditional-liturgy-with-rabbi-michael-strassfeld/

If you've been looking for a creative way to start exploring Mussar, this might be your chance.

Register: https://ritualwell.org/event/mussar-for-this-moment/2025-05-13/

In preparation for Shavuot, join the Institute for Jewish Spirituality for a three-part series engaging in mindfulness meditation, poetry, and generative writing practices to explore themes related to Shavuot.

This special collaboration between the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and Ritualwell brings you two expert instructors, Rabbi Dan Liben and poet and sound artist Elana Bell, as your guides. As we count the Omer and mark the weeks leading to Shavuot, find inspiration within community while creating your own meaningful kavannot (intentions) for receiving wisdom.

Register: https://ritualwell.org/event/discoveryourtorah/all/

These days it's important to try and stay connected to a community, even if it's just 15 minutes once a week.

Register: https://ritualwell.org/event/holding-each-other/all/

No matter how cool (and wonderful) it is to see big bookstores embracing displays of “banned books,” the truth is, libraries and classrooms are where most young people access books. The books at the center of these bans are overwhelmingly written by and about historically-marginalized groups, especially LGBTQ+ stories and those written by people of color. 

What, then, can the average “person of the book” do to stop this onslaught of book bans? How can we make sure that we— our kids, friends, and community—have access to diverse books that will allow them to see themselves, and the issues they face, reflected back at them? How do we help maintain—or regain—resources that will foster empathy rather than divisiveness?

Find out here: https://lilith.org/articles/fight-book-bans-save-democracy/

From Kabbalah Experience:

Streaming Courses:
Explore the Mysticism, Psychology and Physics of Transformative Kabbalah with Master Instructor, Dr. David Sanders.

Enjoy instant access to our self-study videos for you or a friend at 25% off using the discount code GIVE25.

Class options: https://kabbalahexperience.com/independent-kabbalah-study/

Join the Workers Circle a week from now on Tuesday, April 29, at 7:00 PM ET for an important conversation with Ari Berman, voting rights expert and award-winning author and journalist at Mother Jones.

During this conversation, we will be taking stock of the first 100 days of the second Trump presidency and the mushrooming grassroots opposition that is creatively taking on him and his lawless administration. We’ll examine attacks on democratic institutions and civil society, our rights and histories, the ongoing attempt to steal the NC judicial elections, rogue executive orders, and defiance of both law and judicial decisions.

We will not just be recounting the attacks on our democracy. We will discuss how these attacks are connected and how we can fight forward for the freedoms and rights that are essential to us all. ASL and closed captioning will be provided. 

Register: https://www.circle.org/events/live-from-the-frontlines

We're excited to introduce this new online course from our partners at My Jewish Learning, in which you'll learn many of the deep connections between Judaism and caring for the earth.  

With the help of scholar Ana Levy-Lyons, you'll study biblical stories and modern commentary on topics ranging from the creation story to the agriculture of ancient Canaan — and you'll leave with a new lens on the world around you. 

From today through this Sunday only, take 20% off the low registration price with code EARTHDAY at checkout here: https://my-jewish-learning.teachable.com/p/earth-wind-fire

It's Tax Day. The stakes are high as Trump and Musk’s DOGE are firing thousands at the IRS, making it easier for the wealthy to cheat on their taxes and robbing us of revenue that could fund child care, education, health care, and more.

Meanwhile, Republican leaders in Congress are putting billionaires first in their budget blueprint by cutting critical basic needs programs like Medicaid and SNAP. And for what?

So they can pay for tax cuts for billionaires.

More Info: ttps://nwlc.org/robbing-us/

This #Passover, some of us will remember enslaved #Uyghurs by placing #cotton balls on our #seder plates. Learn more at

https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/cotton-balls-on-the-seder-plate/

"We were slaves in Egypt
We will not turn away from those who are slaves today
We were redeemed from slavery
We will do our part to help the Uyghurs live in freedom
(Jewish World Watch Uyghur Freedom Seder)"