“Tzedek, tzedek tirdof.”

צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף

“Justice, justice you shall pursue, that you may live, and inherit the land which the Lord your G-d gave you.” —Deuteronomy 16:18

“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation.” —Elie Wiesel

About Us

Tzedek LaKol: Justice for All focuses on achieving racial and social justice within our congregation and community. We are committed to collaborating with others through action and educational programs, confronting injustices, and pursuing equal and equitable rights for all.

Our Vision 

We believe in a world where everyone can live with dignity and social and economic equality. Our tradition teaches us to care for those in our community who are most vulnerable to injustice. Tikkun olam is a call to and for all Jews to repair the world. We, as Jewish lay leaders, seek to create lasting social change to ensure all voices are heard and equal rights upheld. We seek to honor our tradition’s calling to dismantle systems of oppression through direct work and partnership with churches, synagogues, and other organizations and individuals who are committed and aligned to our pursuit of justice.

This group is open to any and all members of CSH.

For more information and to get involved, please contact Barbara Sidman at Barbara.Sidman@gmail.com.

December 16, 2023The Fragility of Democracy: The Rise of Nazism and Its Lesson for America and the Jewish Community Today presented by Jan Darsa as a precursor and in connection with the course she’ll offer at He

Past Events

In the picture from left to right: S.U.R.E. Diversity Executive Board Members-Margaret Somer, Ralph Edwards, Sue Burgess, Keli Khatib, Martha Curry.

September 9, 2023: S.U.R.E.: Swampscott Unites Respects, Embraces

On September 9, 2023, Ralph Edwards from S.U.R.E.: Swampscott Unites Respects, Embraces Diversity talked about their mission and the Tell Us Your Story initiative. Go to (surediversity.org) for more info.

Mission of Deeds Donation Drive

The organization welcomes donations. Go to their website https://www.missionofdeeds.org/

Black History is Our History: A Town-wide Celebration

Rabbi Michael Ragozin will participate in this community event.

Film Showing Joachim Prinz: I Shall Not Be Silent
Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 10 am

The film tells the story of Rabbi Joachim Prinz, who was expelled from Germany in 1937 after multiple arrests for preaching against Nazism and for promoting the values of Judaism. After emigrating, Prinz became rabbi of Temple B’nai Abraham in Newark, NJ and later President of the American Jewish Congress. He became a leader of the civil rights movement after witnessing the racism against African Americans in his new home and realizing America’s democracy was also filled with prejudice and bigotry. Prinz worked to organize the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, declaring, “bigotry and hatred are not the most urgent problem. The most urgent, the most disgraceful, the most shameful and the most tragic problem is silence.” Moments later, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech.

Saturday, June 4, 2022 • If Not Now, When?

A conversation with Mimi Lemay, transgender rights advocate, on how Jewish communities can support gender-diverse youth.

Saturday, May 14, 2022 • Nosh & Drash

Olam Chesed Yibaneh: Creating Affordable Housing for All with Rabbi Margie Klein Ronkin, Exec Dir of ECCO

Rabbi Margie Klein Ronkin is the Executive Director of the Essex County Community Organization, a network of 59 congregations and the North Shore Labor Council working to create a world where everybody belongs, everyone can thrive, and we all have a say in the decisions that affect our lives. In addition to directing ECCO, Rabbi Margie is the founder of Kavod Boston, a multi-ethnic, multi-racial community led by young Jews, committed to each other and to building a liberated world for all people, and served as rabbi of Congregation Sha’arei Shalom in Ashland, MA for 7 years. A graduate of Yale, Rabbi Margie is co-editor of Righteous Indignation: A Jewish Call for Justice. She has appeared in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the LA Times, CNN, and Newsweek for her faith-based social justice work, and was invited to the White House for her leadership.

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Tzedek LaKol is proud to be a community partner and present the film, Complicit, a production of the SS St Louis Legacy Project,  which contains rare footage and candid interviews with the heroic Jewish refugees from Germany who were turned away by the United States in June 1939. Question and answer period to follow with film creator, SS St. Louis survivors and Holocaust expert. Register for your link.

Saturday, March 26, 2022

Tzedek LaKol invites you on Saturday, March 26, at 11:15 am for a presentation by Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and CSH member Dr. Jeremy Schiller, Chair of the Salem Board of Health. Dr. Schiller will discuss how he and his family have been targeted with antisemitic threats and messages over Salem’s response to vaccine and mask mandates.

Mayor Driscoll, who has always spoken out forcibly against all forms of hate and injustice, worked closely with Dr. Schiller in response to these acts of antisemitism. She will give us her thoughts and reactions to this and other incidents of hate in our communities.

The program will end at 12 pm with Ruach Rally.

Shared Legacies

February 28, 2022

Tzedek LaKol led a discussion on the film, Shared Legacies.

STATE OF HATE

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2022

In observance of Black History Month (February 2022), Peggy Shukur, Deputy Regional Director of ADL New England, discusses the impact of hate on our communities. Recorded on February 13, 2022.

Tzedek LaKol’s first big initiative was the launch of a three-part speaker series, We Shall Not Be Silent: Conversations On Race. The series theme was Inspired by the words of Rabbi Joachim Prinz, from his remarks at the March on Washington, August 28, 1963. We Shall Not Be Silent focused and centered necessary conversations by examining racism through national, Jewish, and local lenses, consisting of three virtual fireside chats. This series was made possible with generous support from Arthur Epstein.

We were pleased to offer these webinars free of charge in these challenging times and hope you enjoyed them and find them inspirational.
Any contribution to support our efforts is greatly appreciated.
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