Progressive Jewish Alliance
The Progressive Jewish Alliance was founded in 1999 by Jews within Los Angeles. Their aim was to assert an authentic progressive Jewish presence in the campaigns for social justice in Southern California which is home to the nation’s second largest Jewish community.[1]
About
The PJA educates, advocates and organizes on issues of peace, equality, diversity and justice, as a progressive voice in the Jewish community and a Jewish voice in the progressive community. They fight for economic justice by educating Jews about their obligation to stand with the working poor, and then organize the Jewish community to join in campaigns to improve working conditions and secure a living wage for low-wage workers. They work to reform the criminal justice system and to promote a more just and humane system of restorative, rather than retributive, justice through a program that trains volunteers to mediate between non-violent juvenile offenders and their victims throughout Los Angeles. They work to promote understanding and tolerance between Muslims and Jews. They also seek to build a vibrant, creative and engaged community through education programs and quarterly holiday events that explore the intersection of art, culture and politics.
With the desire to impact future generations, the PJA has established the two-year Jeremiah Fellowship which trains young Jews to be the next generation of Jewish social justice leaders.[1]
NewGround
NewGround is a joint project of the PJA and the Muslim Public Affairs Council which was launched in February, 2007. The stated mission of the alliance is,
- "NewGround provides opportunities for Muslims and Jews of all backgrounds to build honest, authentic relationships with one another, to establish a common commitment to change, and to become a new cadre of leaders who inspire hope in a troubled world."[2]
Personnel
The following were listed as staff and board members as at March 4, 2010:[3]
Staff
- Elissa Barrett, Executive Director
Southern California
- Jaime Rapaport, Regional Director
- Amy Brotslaw, Schweiger Development Director
- Josh Feldman, Ziegler Director of the Jeremiah Fellowship
- Malka Fenyvesi, Director of Interfaith Programming
- Cory Fischer, Communications Director
- Jonathan Matz, Campaign Organizer
- Carole Pearson, Office Manager
- Aaron Phillips, Community Liaison
Northern California
- Rachel Biale, Regional Director
- Sarah Leiber, Church Program Director
- Zachary Lazarus, Program Associate
- Alexander Sharone Community Engagement Coordinator
Statewide Board of Directors
- Douglas Mirell, President
- Steven Kaplan, Secretary
- Patricia Mintz, Treasurer
- Joan Patsy Ostroy, Past-President
- Gary N. Braitman
- Susan Freundlich
- Deborah Kaufman
- Paul Kivel
- Paula Litt
- David Myers
- Rabbi Dorothy Richman
- Stephen Rohde
- Lawrence Trilling
Los Angeles Regional Council
- Stephen Rohde, Chair
- Helen Katz, Vice Chair
- Scott Einbinder, Secretary Barbara Balaban
- Celia Bernstein
- Rabbi Sharon Brous
- Dan Cardozo
- Jean F. Cohen
- Danny Feingold
- Rabbi Dara Frimmer
- Susan Berke Fogel
- Julie Gerchick
- Judith Glass
- Eric Greene
- Steven J. Kaplan
- Laureen Lazarovici
- Rita Lowenthal
- Douglas Mirell
- David Myers
- Paula Pearlman
- Larry Trilling
- David Weiner
- Justin Weissman
- Lee Winkelman
- Sam Yebri
Bay Area Regional Council
Founders
- Susan Adelman
- Honey Kessler Amado
- Aris Anagnos & Carolyn Anagnos
- Elaine Attias
- Barbara Balaban
- Susann Bauman & Steve Bauman
- Harriett Bay
- Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak
- Elaine Berke
- Nicholas Butterworth
- Jean F. Cohen
- Rabbi Laura Geller
- Judith Glass & John Glass
- Danny Goldberg
- Herbert Goldenberg & Irene Goldenberg
- Victor Goldberg
- Richard Gunther & Lois Gunther
- Elaine Hoffman
- Rabbi Steven Jacobs & Linda Jacobs
- Greg Leeds & Maria Jobin–Leeds
- Steven Kaplan
- Roger Kohn
- Irwin Levin
- Janet Levine
- Richard Levin & Kathleen Levin
- Dennis Levitt & Jane Gordon
- Roger Lowenstein
- Rabbi Richard Levy & Carol Levy
- Rita Lowenthal
- Beth Meltzer
- Barbara Meyer
- Wally Marks
- Todd Marsh
- Robin Meadow
- Stacey Mickell
- Douglas Mirell & Laurie Levenson
- Susan North
- Patsy Ostroy & Joe Ostroy
- Ramona Ripston
- Stephen Rohde
- Roth Family Foundation
- Marvin Shapiro
- Muriel Fine Sherman
- Alan Sieroty
- Stuart Sieroty & Marlene Sieroty
- Carol Sobel
- Ann Sokatch & Seymour Sokatch
- Edith Stern & Arthur Stern
- Susan Jacoby Stern
- Sanford Weiner
- Susan Weiss
- Howard Welinsky
- Fredric Woocher