Rabbi Jill Jacobs is executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights - North America. There is a strong and sturdy tradition of pursuing social justice in Judaism. This valuable resource has been designed for those who want to "engage their institutions in meaningful and effective justice work."
All who set out on this path must ask themselves whether they want to contribute time, energy, or money to neighborhood projects or ones that include the wider worlds of state, nation, or foreign country. Those who live or work in large cities will find that they have many options to make a difference in the world.
Jacobs sees social justice as more than a series of service projects or advocacy campaigns. That is why she includes suggestions for storytelling as a means of stirring and then capitalizing on passion; incorporating justice issues into communal life; setting up cooperative ventures; and relating Jewish source texts to contemporary life. The rabbi hits high stride with her insights into the five kinds of social justice work: direct service, advocacy, tzedakah, community investment, and organizing. There is also a fine list of organizational resources at the end of the book.
