Jews for Racial and Economic Justice

{{Infobox organization

| name = Jews for Racial and Economic Justice

| logo = JFREJ Logo.png

| type = Nonprofit

| key_people =

| website = {{URL|https://www.jfrej.org/}}

| footnotes =

| founded_date = {{start date and age|1990}}

| headquarters = New York City, NY, U.S.

| addnl_location =

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| product =

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| leader_title = Executive Director

| leader_name = Audrey Sasson

| leader_title2 =

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| revenue =

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| endowment =

| num_volunteers = 6,000+

| owner =

| dissolved =

}}

Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) is an American left-wing non-profit grassroots Jewish organization based in New York City. JFREJ describes itself as a "movement to dismantle racism and economic exploitation". It operates both a 501(c)(3), also known as JFREJ Community and a 501(c)(4) known as JFREJ Action.{{cite web | url=https://www.jfrej.org/about | title=Who We Are }}{{cite web | url=https://www.jfrej.org/jfrej-community | title=JFREJ Community }}

History

JFREJ was founded in New York City in 1990. Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz served as the organization's first director.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/nyregion/melanie-kaye-kantrowitz-dead.html |title=Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, Feminist, Activist and Author, Dies at 72 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=2022-07-27}} While initially focused on local issues, JFREJ's first event was a Shabbat gathering honoring Nelson Mandela during his visit to New York City in June 1990. Mandela's visit drew mixed reactions from the local Jewish community, with organizations including the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, the American Jewish Congress, and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations requested him to clarify his stance on Israel following recent interactions with Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat and Libyan president Muammar Gaddafi.{{cite web|url=https://forward.com/opinion/514618/an-honest-conversation-about-jfrej/ |title=An honest conversation about JFREJ |date=August 16, 2022 |publisher=The Forward |accessdate=2022-08-18}}{{cite web |title=Don't Test Mandela on Israel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/08/opinion/don-t-test-mandela-on-israel.html |accessdate=2023-03-27 |work=The New York Times}}{{cite news |title=Jewish Groups Question ANC Leader Over Israel|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/06/09/jewish-groups-question-anc-leader-over-israel/eef75c4e-73fd-46dd-92cc-a0db57caf6cb/ |accessdate=2023-03-26 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} Some members of New York City's Jewish community protested Mandela during his visit.{{Cite web |date=2013-12-14 |title=Why I Had To Protest Nelson Mandela |url=https://forward.com/opinion/189138/why-i-had-to-protest-nelson-mandela/ |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=The Forward |language=en}} To counter to this response, JFREJ's first event, held on June 15, 1990, honored Mandela and raised $50,000 for the anti-apartheid movement.{{Cite web |date=2013-12-06 |title=Rinku Sen: What Mandela Taught Us - Colorlines |url=https://colorlines.com/article/rinku-sen-what-mandela-taught-us/ |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=colorlines.com |language=en-US}}

Following the 1999 killing of Amadou Diallo by four New York City Police Department officers, JFREJ began organizing its members to address issues of police brutality and advocate for police accountability.{{Cite web |last=Dickter |first=Adam |date=1999-03-26 |title=Jews Breaking Silence On Diallo Shooting |url=https://www.jta.org/1999/03/26/ny/jews-breaking-silence-on-diallo-shooting |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US}} On March 24, 1999, 126 JFREJ members were among the 212 individuals arrested during protests against Diallo's death, as reported by The New York Times.{{Cite news |last=Finkelstein |first=Katherine E. |date=1999-03-25 |title=Protests in Police Killing of Diallo Grow Larger, and More Diverse |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/25/nyregion/protests-in-police-killing-of-diallo-grow-larger-and-more-diverse.html |access-date=2023-05-04 |issn=0362-4331}}

Between the early 2000s and 2010, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) participated in the campaign led by Domestic Workers United (DWU) to pass the Domestic Worker's Bill of Rights in New York State.{{Cite web |date=2010-06-15 |title=The Jewish Group Behind the Nanny Bill of Rights |url=https://forward.com/life/128754/the-jewish-group-behind-the-nanny-bill-of-rights/ |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=The Forward |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jews for Racial and Economic Justice {{!}} S&F Online {{!}} Valuing Domestic Work |url=https://sfonline.barnard.edu/work/jfrej_01.htm |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=sfonline.barnard.edu}} JFREJ began collaborating with DWU in 2002 and supported the passage of a New York City Council resolution for domestic workers' rights in 2003–2004. JFREJ worked with Jewish employers of domestic workers to improve employment practices and advocate alongside domestic workers to secure the legislation. After the bill's successful passage, Ai-jen Poo of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and JFREJ members who had been organizing domestic employers established Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network.{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://domesticemployers.org/about/ |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Hand In Hand |date=September 10, 2018 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2021-08-17 |title=New York Domestic Worker Bill of Rights |url=https://domesticemployers.org/campaigns/new-york-domestic-worker-bill-of-rights/ |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Hand In Hand |language=en-US}}

In October 2012, JFREJ began working with Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) to oppose stop-and-frisk in New York City.{{Cite web |title=JFREJ vs. Stop-and-Frisk |url=https://jewishcurrents.org/jfrej-vs-stop-and-frisk |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Jewish Currents |language=en}}

From its founding through the mid-2010s, JFREJ primarily consisted of white Jews and engaged with non-white communities through partnerships with non-Jewish organizations. In 2014, Leo Ferguson joined the organization to promote greater inclusion of the diversity within the Jewish community. By 2020, this effort resulted in increased diversity within JFREJ's membership, the establishment of a Jews of Color caucus led by Ferguson, and a staff composition that included 3 Jews of color out of a total of 9 staff members.{{cite news |last1=Dolsten |first1=Josefin |title=Jewish communities are finally paying attention to Jews of color. Here's the long road to how they got there. |url=https://www.jta.org/2020/07/15/united-states/jewish-communities-are-finally-paying-attention-to-jews-of-color-heres-the-long-road-to-how-they-got-there |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=July 15, 2020}}

During the first presidency of Donald Trump, JFREJ was active in protests against the Trump travel ban and as part of the movement to Abolish ICE.{{Cite web |author=Al Jazeera Staff |title=Protest at JFK airport over Trump's refugee ban |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/1/29/protest-at-jfk-airport-over-trumps-refugee-ban |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/qvgjj3/you-have-blood-on-your-hands-jewish-protesters-call-for-palantir-to-drop-its-ice-contract |title="You Have Blood on Your Hands": Jewish Protesters Call For Palantir to Drop Its ICE Contract |date=September 13, 2019 |publisher=Vice Magazine |accessdate=2022-07-27}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/08/22/liberal-jewish-resistance-goes-far-beyond-disloyaltotrump/ |title=The liberal Jewish resistance goes far beyond #DisloyalToTrump |newspaper=The Washington Post |accessdate=2022-07-27}}

In 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke at a JFREJ event where she discussed her Puerto Rican ancestors' distant Sephardi Jewish heritage.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/ocasio-cortez-reveals-her-jewish-heritage-i-knew-it-i-n946041 |title=Ocasio-Cortez reveals her Jewish heritage: 'I knew it! I sensed it!' |date=December 11, 2018 |publisher=NBC News |accessdate=2022-07-27}}

Following the Monsey Hanukkah stabbing in 2019, Audrey Sasson, JFREJ executive director, opposed increased police presence as a response to antisemitism, expressing concerns that such measures could make Black Jews and other Jews of color feel unsafe.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jewish-community-grapples-how-stem-growing-anti-semitic-violence-n1108326 |title=Jewish community grapples with how to stem growing anti-Semitic violence |work=NBC News |accessdate=2022-07-27 |first=Ben |last=Kesslen |date=December 29, 2019}}

In June 2022, the Anti-Defamation League condemned JFREJ as "out of touch" with mainstream Jewish-American opinion. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt retweeted a Twitter thread describing JFREJ and the Jewish Vote as a "far-left scam." An ADL spokesperson later affirmed the organization's stance that JFREJ does not represent Jewish opinion or values. Sophie Ellman-Golan, JFREJ's communications director, responded by criticizing the ADL for questioning the Jewish identity of JFREJ members.{{cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2022/07/29/ny/adl-condemns-ny-progressive-group-jews-for-racial-and-economic-justice-as-out-of-touch |title=ADL condemns NY progressive group Jews for Racial & Economic Justice as 'out of touch' |date=July 29, 2022 |publisher=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |accessdate=2022-08-18}}

Initiatives

=The Jewish Vote=

The Jewish Vote is the electoral arm of JFREJ. They endorse and support candidates who advocate for policies such as universal health care, universal rent control, a Green New Deal, publicly funded elections, fair wages and working conditions, and the end of mass incarceration and the criminalization of people of color.{{cite web|url=https://jewishvote.org/videos/who-we-are/ |title=Who We Are - The Jewish Vote |publisher=The Jewish Vote |accessdate=August 16, 2022}}{{Cite web |date=2021-04-21 |title=Left-Wing Jewish Group Endorses Dianne Morales For New York City Mayor |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dianne-morales-jfrej-endorsement-new-york-city-mayor_n_607f3a3ee4b0df3610c17f3b |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cretaz |first=Britni de la |title=How The Jewish Group That Helped Elect Jamaal Bowman Is Disrupting The Establishment |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/07/9929442/the-jewish-vote-jamaal-bowman-election-progressive-jews |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=www.refinery29.com |language=en}}

The Jewish Vote played a significant role in Jamaal Bowman's successful 2020 primary campaign in New York's 16th Congressional District. Before launching his campaign, Bowman met with JFREJ members to discuss Jewish history and antisemitism. During the campaign, 100 JFREJ members volunteered under the banner #JewsForJamaal to support his candidacy.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-30 |title=How Jamaal Bowman Beat Rep. Eliot Engel In The Bronx |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-jamaal-bowman-beat-eliot-engel-new-york-democratic-primary-congressional-seat_n_5efa4cf9c5b6ca970913947d |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}

= Fair Pay for Home Care =

As a member of the NY Caring Majority Coalition, JFREJ advocated for the passage of the Fair Pay for Home Care Act in New York State, which proposed increasing home care workers' wages to 150% of the minimum wage.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-14 |title=Advocates rally for better wages for home health care workers in New York |url=https://abc7ny.com/home-health-care-worker-better-wages-money-raise/11339767/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=ABC7 New York |language=en}} The wage increase did not reach the target of 150% in 2022, with the state budget including a $8 billion investment over four years to raise wages for home care workers.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-04 |title='Strong and Loving, Relentless and Fierce': NY Home Care Workers Win Big |url=https://convergencemag.com/articles/ny-home-care-workers-win-big-we-were-strong-and-loving-relentless-and-fierce/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Convergence |language=en-US}}

= Fighting antisemitism and white nationalism =

JFREJ has provided advice to the White House on combating antisemitism.{{Cite web |last=House |first=The White |date=2023-05-26 |title=WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Bipartisan Members of Congress, State and Local Leaders, Faith-Based Organizations, and Advocates Applaud Release of White House National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/05/26/what-they-are-saying-bipartisan-state-and-local-leaders-faith-based-organizations-and-advocates-applaud-release-of-white-house-national-strategy-to-counter-antisemitism/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}

In collaboration with other Jewish organizations, JFREJ co-sponsored the Jews Against White Nationalism project.{{Cite web |last=Burley |first=Shane |date=2021-09-02 |title=How the left is reclaiming the fight against antisemitism |url=https://wagingnonviolence.org/2021/09/jews-against-white-nationalism-fight-antisemitism/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Waging Nonviolence |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2021-02-04 |title=Learn who's fueling antisemitism. |url=https://www.howtofightantisemitism.com/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Learn who's fueling antisemitism. |language=en-US}}

In 2019, JFREJ launched NYC Against Hate, a coalition of community-based organizations focused on enhancing safety for minority communities in New York City. The initiative received over $1 million in funding from the New York City Council as part of the 2020 budget. This funding was eliminated in the 2021 budget.{{Cite web |title=A Program to Reduce Hate Violence in NYC Was Showing Promise, Then the City Defunded It |url=https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/program-reduce-hate-violence-nyc-showing-promise-then-the-city-defunded |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=nextcity.org |language=en}} Together with its coalition partners, JFREJ organizes community safety canvasses and bystander intervention training sessions in response to incidents of antisemitism.{{Cite web |last=Gergely |first=Julia |date=2022-01-06 |title=In Brooklyn, a Jewish group tries a face-to-face approach to fighting antisemitism |url=https://www.jta.org/2022/01/06/ny/in-brooklyn-a-jewish-group-tries-a-face-to-face-approach-to-fighting-antisemitism |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US}}

= Jews for Black Lives =

In 2014, JFREJ participated in Black Lives Matter protests in New York City following the killing of Eric Garner.{{Cite news |title=Leading New York Rabbis Arrested for Protesting Death of Eric Garner |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/2014-12-05/ty-article/.premium/nyc-rabbis-protest-garner-death/0000017f-dc25-df9c-a17f-fe3d8bd40000 |access-date=2023-05-26}}{{Cite web |last=Cassano |first=Jay |date=2014-12-05 |title=Taking action on racial injustice is the 'responsibility of all New Yorkers' |url=https://wagingnonviolence.org/2014/12/taking-action-responsibility-new-yorkers/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Waging Nonviolence |language=en-US}}

In 2016, JFREJ organized a month-long #JewsForBlackLives campaign, culminating in a march of 400 participants, which was the largest Jewish mobilization for Black Lives Matter at the time.{{Cite web |last=Jew |first=Kung Fu |date=2016-08-12 |title=PHOTOS: Largest-ever Jewish demonstration for #BlackLivesMatter · Jewschool |url=https://jewschool.com/over-400-jewish-new-yorkers-demonstrate-for-blacklivesmatter-and-seven-arrested-77225 |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Jewschool |language=en-US}}

In 2018, members of JFREJ's Jews of Color caucus organized a Juneteenth Seder, using traditions from the Passover Seder. The event highlighted demands for justice for Black New Yorkers killed by the NYPD and called for reparations.{{Cite web |date=2018-06-19 |title=Black Jews and Allies Celebrate 'Juneteenth' — The End of Slavery — With A Seder |url=https://forward.com/schmooze/403456/black-jews-and-allies-celebrate-juneteenth-the-end-of-slavery-with-a-seder/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=The Forward |language=en}}

In 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, JFREJ participated in the ensuing protests in New York City, joined advocacy efforts to defund the New York Police Department,{{Cite web |date=2020-10-27 |title=There Was a Jewish Black Lives Matter Rally in New York |url=http://www.essence.com/news/there-was-jewish-black-lives-matter-rally-new-york/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Essence |language=en-US}} and organized a Shabbat service at the Occupy City Hall encampment.{{Cite news |title=N.Y.C. Protests Find New Routine With Occupy City Hall – and Even Hold Shabbat Service |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2020-06-29/ty-article/.premium/n-y-c-protests-find-new-routine-and-even-hold-shabbat-service/0000017f-e22b-d804-ad7f-f3fb2eba0000 |access-date=2023-05-26}}

Notable members

Abby Stein{{Cite web |last=Brachfeld |first=Ben |date=2023-03-05 |title=Eric Adams says religion and government shouldn't 'interfere,' but stops short of saying 'separate' {{!}} amNewYork |url=https://www.amny.com/politics/eric-adams-says-religion-and-government-shouldnt-interfere-but-stops-short-of-saying-separate/ |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=www.amny.com |language=en-US}}
Adrienne Cooper{{Cite web |title=Mourning the loss of Adrienne Cooper |url=https://jwa.org/weremember/cooper-adrienne/jfrej |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Jewish Women's Archive |language=en}}
Alisa Solomon{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/08/opinion/don-t-test-mandela-on-israel.html |title=Don't Test Mandela on Israel |work=The New York Times |accessdate=2023-03-26}}
Brad Lander{{cite web |date=January 26, 2022 |title=A lifelong Jewish activist, new NYC comptroller vows to lead on progressive issues |url=https://forward.com/news/481429/brad-lander-jewish-activist-nyc-comptroller-progressive/ |access-date=27 April 2023 |publisher=The Forward}}
Ilana Glazer{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/stories/ilana/3607240340362712608/?igsh=MTdyM3N4NTJxNnh0eg%3D%3D |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.instagram.com}}
Jennifer Hirsch{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Jennifer Hirsch, PhD |url=https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/profile/jennifer-hirsch-phd |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health |language=en}}
Judith Plaskow{{cite web |last1=Plaskow |first1=Judith |date=March 8, 2017 |title=I Am Here as A Jewish Feminist |url=https://www.fsrinc.org/i-am-here-jewish-feminist/ |access-date=27 April 2023 |publisher=Feminist Studies in Religion}}
Julia Salazar{{cite web|url=https://www.jfrej.org/news/2021/04/unity-ticket.html |title=Unity Ticket! |publisher=jfrej.org |accessdate=2023-04-27}}
Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz{{cite web |title=Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, Feminist, Activist and Author, Dies at 72 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/nyregion/melanie-kaye-kantrowitz-dead.html |accessdate=2023-03-27 |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web |date=2013-12-06 |title=The Jewish establishment refused to embrace Mandela in 1990 |url=https://mondoweiss.net/2013/12/establishment-embrace-mandela/ |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=Mondoweiss |language=en-US}}