Jewish Social Policy Action Network (JSPAN)
Jewish Social Policy Action Network (JSPAN) introduces itself with the line, "Progressive Voices for a Healthy Democracy", and gives the following descriptive information:
A small group of activists recognized that our Jewish community's progressive voice had become quiet on important domestic policy issues. We formed an action organization for positive change, and evolved into a vibrant agency for social action.
Today, JSPAN invites everyone with a passion for progress in human events and a commitment to Jewish principles of justice to join us in working for a better world.
We join forces to research, to inform, and to act:
- To advance equality and opportunity for all women and men in our pluralistic democracy.
- To protect the Constitutional liberties and civil rights of Jews, other minorities, and the weak in our society.
- To secure for ourselves and society the benefits of Jewish learning and culture.
- To carry out the goal of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world.
Information
JSPAN Policy Centers are at the core of what JSPAN does. Working with nationally renowned experts in various fields, JSPAN informs our members and engages them in the major issues that should be of concern to our Jewish community.
Education
We are committed to sharing the work of our policy centers and committees with our members, encouraging member participation through our bimonthly newsletter, creating educational events throughout the year that focus on key issues, and working with local universities and organizations to expand the base of Jewish activists.
Action
Join us in our activism: be part of the process of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world! In the past several years, we took the lead for the Jewish community nationally by filing several friend of the court briefs to enforce separation of church and state in public education, including the now famous "Intelligent Design" case. Recently we filed our successful amicus presentation in the Third Circuit in a case that threatens to allow Bible reading back into a school in this region.
We testified before the legislature on the importance of raising the minimum wage; we are challenging religious discrimination by private companies; we advocate progressive policies; we fight the slow chipping away at the rights of women; and we challenge both political parties to disavow both open and more subtle anti-Semitic and anti-American conduct wherever it arises.
