Cast Reflections from DJJ Purim 2024!
On March 23rd, 2024 DJJ leaders performed an original Purim Spiel, re-interpreting the Book of Esther in the context of housing crises in Detroit and Israel/Palestine. The spiel imagines how Mordechai and Esther's lives would have unfolded had they been forced to leave Shushan, and fled to the lands that hold the greatest number of Jews today: Israel and the United States. You can watch the spiel, and some of our local housing partners talk about their work here. Here are some of the character's reflections:
Read moreDJJ Post-Passover (Re)Orientation and Water Affordability Phonebank
New to our work or need a re-grounding? Come to our Post-Passover Re/Orientation! Pesach/Passover is one of the times when Jewish tradition supports us to grapple with what liberation means for each generation. Join us to think about what liberation means for you, and how together we can achieve it for all of us.
At DJJ, we support Jewish activists, advocates, and organizers to make meaningful contributions to social justice movements. Join us!
DJJ-niks voice opposition to billionaire tax subsidies for Future of Health
On Thursday, February 8th, the Detroit Planning and Economic Development Committee held hearings on the Future of Health proposal. Some of our members attended the hearing, but did not get a chance to make public comment due to the hearings' length and other obligations. As such, we are posting their testimonies here.
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Read moreA definitive ranking of DJJ's 2023 accomplishments
2023 was an incredible year for DJJ. We organized, celebrated, mourned, strategized….and many more cool verbs. But the question that has been flooding my inbox over the last week: what was best? Just kidding, literally no one has asked me this, but rankings are fun, so here are the five best things DJJ did in 2023.
Read moreMichigan Rabbis Call on the Michigan Legislature to Pass Driver’s Licenses for All
To the Michigan Legislature:
Undocumented Michiganders deserve dignity and security—one critical step to making that a reality is to restore driver’s licenses for all. Over the last seven years, undocumented Michiganders and their allies have gotten the Drive SAFE bills introduced five times, but the bills have never passed. That wait cannot continue. We, the undersigned Michigan Rabbis, call on the Michigan Legislature to pass the Drive SAFE bills in this legislative session.
Read more2023 Myra Wolfgang Award Host Committee
Ro'eh - Visionary
Patti Aaron
Harriet and Alvin Saperstein
Macher - Mover and Shaker
Lori Lutz and Greg Gamalski
Roslyn Schindler
Susannah Goodman and Aaron Mondry
Tzadik - Righteous One
Adina Lopatin
Mary Freeman and Andy Levin
Ozer - Helper
Beth and Barry Goldstein
Justin Sledge, Alana, Gregg, Merrill, Sarra, Aaren, Adina Alpert, and Micah Shapiro
Janet McAuliffe
Linda and Jim Kohlenberg
Amud - Pillar
Rabbi Ariana Silverman
Wendy & Elliot Wagenheim
Steve and Miriam Wolock
Andy Nickelhoff and Jo Rosen
Dan Korobkin
Erica Peresman and David Jaffe
Reverend Edwin Roe
Caryn Noveck
Daniel Perlmutter
Victoria Kohl
Andrea and Rob Teitel
Audrey Sasson, Executive Director of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice
Hayley Sakwa, DJJ Board Chair
Daryl Toby
Alice Audie-Figueroa and David Hecker
Stuart Batterman and Gloria Mason
Marcia and Martin Baum
Michigan Welfare Rights Organization
Thanks to our generous sponsors!
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_____________________________________________________
With gratitude,
Detroit Jews for Justice Staff: Allie Zeff, Eleanor Gamalski, and Solomon Medintz
2023 Myra Wolfgang Awards Planning Committee: Ammara Ansari, Hannah Berger, Jocelyn Cohen, Levi Teitel, Lisa Tencer, and Ronit Wagman
We are delighted to invite you to join them and become a member of our Host Committee to make it a success. Host Committee members also have the opportunity to join our speakers and honorees for an intimate reception at 6:30pm ahead of our scheduled programming. Here’s how Host Committee members will be able to support our exciting event and ongoing work:
- Purchase a ticket at one of the host levels on behalf of yourself, or an organization;
- Invite your colleagues, friends, and neighbors to purchase tickets at a guest or host level. (See next page for more information.)
We hope that your generous investment sparks or maintains a long and satisfying journey of annual support of our work.
Our staff is ready to answer your questions at (847) 990-0207.
Sponsor Level |
Gift of… |
Recognition |
Ro’eh Visionary |
$5,400 or more |
|
Macher Mover & Shaker |
$3,600-5,399 |
|
Tzadik Righteous One |
$1,800-3,599 |
|
Ozer Helper |
$720-1,799 |
|
Amud Pillar |
$360-719 |
|
Join our Host Committee! (All host committee members will receive an invitation to a private reception with the honorees before the start of the event.)
You all demonstrate what it means to invest in a Jewish left capable of fighting for collective liberation. Thank you for believing and investing in our work here in metro Detroit!
If you have any questions, please contact Allie Zeff at [email protected] or (847) 990-0207.
DJJ Leaders Watch Premier of 'Whose Water' Documentary
Last Saturday, the People's Water Board Coalition hosted the premiere of Kate Levy's recent film, 'Whose Water', at the Wayne County Community College NW Campus.
Read moreSix Local Grassroots Progressive Jewish Groups on Biden Administration National Strategy on Antisemitism
Jews For Racial & Economic Justice, Jewish Community Action, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, Detroit Jews for Justice, and Carolina Jews for Justice released the following statement in response to the Biden Administration's historic announcement of a national strategy to combat antisemitism:
Read more2024 Purim Tickets
Thank you for visiting the DJJ Purim 2024 donation page! While there is no required fee to attend, your contribution helps us make this event a reality.
$0-36 sliding scale tickets!
Donate
Allie's Birthday Speech
This shabbos, I have a lot to celebrate!
Read moreHelp us DJJ- Do Justice Jewishly!
To buy your Purim 2024 tickets, please click here!
To become a monthly donor to DJJ, please click here!
Donate online here or send a check addressed to "Detroit Jews for Justice" to the following address:
Detroit Jews for Justice
440 Burroughs, Suite 625
Detroit, MI
48202
DJJ is building Jewish political communities we can be proud of—communities based on local and intergenerational relationships, that practice solidarity with all oppressed people, and that embody the world we want to live in. We are building Jewish spaces that center the young, queer, non-white, and disabled among us, spaces that people won’t run away from. We are following the lead of movements of other marginalized groups, and building deep coalitions that will protect each other from the far-right. But in order to do all of this well, we need resources.
DJJ relies on its extended community for a substantial portion of our budget because we need to, but also because it reflects DJJ's commitment to letting our volunteer leaders guide the organization. If you value the work of local, progressive, Jewish political organizing, donate today to celebrate a breakthrough 2022!
Thank you so much for your generous gift! Your support makes this work possible.
If you would like to become a monthly sustaining donor to DJJ, please click here.
DonateMichigan Voices Joint Fundraiser
Here is a copy of the joint fundraising email we sent out yesterday, in partnership with Michigan Voices:
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO DJJ AND MI VOICES
Read moreCELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON!
Here is the mass email we sent out the day after Election day:
Read morePublic Transport Source Sheet
Public Transportation: A Jewish Value
Source Sheet by Rabbi David Polsky and Detroit Jews for Justice; Translations adapted from Sefaria
To access a printable version, click here
Read moreIntroducing DJJ's Inaugural Board of Trustees!
We are so thrilled to announce the formation of DJJ's first Board of Trustees!
Read moreSusannah's Goodbye
Shalom chaverim! My time as a DJJ staff member has come to a close. It was just one chapter in a long-term story of commitment to the cause of pulling the Jewish community to the left while building Jewish community within the justice movements of our time.
Read moreWelcome Solomon Medintz to the DJJ Staff!
Hiya DJJ Fam! My name is Solomon (he/him), and I am straight up elated to be DJJ’s new Organizer for Fundraising and Communications.
Read more