Jewish Voice for Peace Organizing Newsletter Sept 2011

8/4/2019 Jewish Voice for Peace Organizing Newsletter Sept 2011

1/6

J V P O R G A N I Z I N G

VP Organizing Newsletter

A quarterly-ish collection of reports, inspiration, and reflections about the

fabulous activists and organizing within Jewish Voice for Peace

The Jewish Voice for

Peace-Community

Center (JVP-CC)!

The educational &community-buildinghome of our organizingprogram.Page 1

Elul Flipbook

Read all about the Elulflipbook created by a

JVP rabbinical councilmember out of words &images from JVPmembers.Page 3

A Quarterly Report Issue 3: September 20Working & Dancing:

The First Regional LDI

A must-read reflection

from Badia Ead, aparticipant at the

Midwest LeadershipDevelopment Institute!Page 2

Organizer Reflection

An honest reflection ofa new organizer in

Philly stepping forwardto lead their July 19thaction.Page 5-6

July 19th Actions

A round-up of thesuccessful national day

of action targetingTIAA-CREFPage 4

CDI Reportback

A reportback fromparticipant in the

Chapter DevelopmInstitute.Page 6

We imagine coming together tocelebrate the unique beauty of diverse Jewishcommunities, history, andculture while at the same time being aplace to sparkour connection tobroader struggles for justice. We dream of Jewishcommunitieswhere we build connections with each other, educate ourselves,and strive fora better world.It turns out, that is exactly what we are doinghere at JVP!A central value of the organizing program at JVP is that the best organizinghappens when we deepen our relationships to each other and ourunderstandings of the issues. As we listen to each others voices andideas onconference calls, shareknowledge and deepen political understanding in studygroups, transform ritual into political education, orgather together in-person foraregional leadership retreat orcampaign strategy sessionwhen webuildcommunity and share political educationwe are creating anew kind of Jewishcommunity center--

the JVP-CC.

The JVP-CC is the home for the educational and community-building work of our organizing program. Open to Jeand non-Jews alike, the JVP-CC is a sometimes virtual, sometimes physical space where we deepen our connectioeach other and oursupport for Palestinian liberation & self-determination.Download the catalog here where you will find details on:

Institutes: Regional Leadership Development Institutes, Chapter Development Institutes

Political analysis workshops, book groups, and education sessions

National Workgroups: Tech Team, Welcoming Committee, Safety Training

Online Community

jcc
http://www.scribd.com/doc/63764480http://www.scribd.com/doc/63764480http://www.scribd.com/doc/63764480


2/6

J V P O R G A N I Z I N G N E W S L E T T E R

JVP Organizing News

When the St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee (STL-PSC) asked me and

another member of the group if wed be interested in attending a gathering that

Jewish Voice for Peace was hosting in late July, I wondered what a couple of

Palestinian girls could possibly gain from that experience. I was sure JVP didnthave the two of us in mind when they were asking the group to send

representatives.

We flew to St. Paul, Minnesota for the Leadership Development Institute (LDI)

with, quite honestly, a little apprehension, wondering how well wed fit in. The

goal of going back to St. Louis with a solid, local plan of action against TIAA-

CREF weighed heavily on our shoulders. But, honestly, the whole idea of

Palestinians attending JVP gave us pause. Would the group accept us? Would we

feel comfortable? Would the two of us being Palestinian make them

uncomfortable?

From the get-go, there were so many individuals who went out of their way to

make us feel welcome. In fact, the whole weekend felt like one big reunion, even

though I had never met any of the other attendees before. I had a chance to speak

with every single person while I was there. I heard their stories about how they

came to openly oppose the occupation and support BDS, even at the cost of

many relationships within their communities and even their own families. They

willingly listened to my perspective as a Palestinian.

For my particular group, every day was filled with meetings that informed usand ultimately empowered us to return to our cities with concrete plans on

changing TIAA-CREF into an organization that would divest from Israels illegal

occupation. My initial apprehension vanished with this realization, and at the

immediate ease I felt with my LDI comrades. By the second night, after the days

work had ended, we even transformed a meeting room into a miniature dance

party. As Michael Jackson, the Spice Girls and, yes, even ABBA blasted, we

danced and laughed as if we had known each other our whole lives.

The final day arrived and I was confident with the alliance I had made with JVP-

one I had been determined to make. But it was the effortless friendships I hadgained that caught me off guard. When my fellow STL-PSC member and I got up

to leave for the airport, I was moved by the number of people who interrupted

the group session to get up and hug us goodbye. It was exciting to go back to St.

Louis with a TIAA-CREF plan. But it was equally exciting to know Id met

individuals who were fighting for justice and that these individuals would be

lifelong friends. Needless to say, I look forward to working -- and dancing -- with

my friends again. -Badia Ead, St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee

The next Regional LeadersDevelopment Institute will

Pacific Northwest/

Northern CaliforniaRegion

January 27-29, 201Portland, Oregon

Sessions at the LDI include- messaging & communicat- preparing for the organizopposition

- grassroots organizing skil- chapter-building strategie- anti-oppression analysis- campaign strategy setting- BDS movement- storytelling for political ac

For more info: [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


3/6



Dearest JVP community,

I have created a thing Ive been calling the flipbook,* which has nothing on the surface to do with theupcoming UN vote on the establishment of a Palestinian state. But the idea for it got thought-of while soof us on the JVP Rabbinic Cabinet were talking together about how JVP will address the UN vote and whwe rabbis might offer in support.

It seems that the UN vote on the establishment of a Palestinian state may happen during the Jewish monof Elul (August 30-Sept. 28 this year.) Elul, which is the last month of the Jewish year before Rosh Hashais dedicated to heightened teshuvah -- turning, returning, repenting, remembering the core of who we are

Its a time to revitalize our core values and passions, as individuals and as a community. I love Elul.I was thinking that, while JVP, and the world, figures out how to relate to whatever happens at the UN in

the days to come, it might be a good time to try to recall what brings us all together as a Jewish Voice for

Peace. Sometimes its possible to get bogged down in the politics and positions. Maybe there are a fewpeople out there who could jog our memories of what its all about. Something like that.So I put out a call to JVP members for any photos, writings and so on which come from your own

witnessing of life in the occupied territories. And I was blown away by what came back to me -- by thesheer amount, by the intensity of your words and images, by your generosity in sharing them. So first ofall, thank you, todah rabbah, shukran. I didnt use nearly all I received. And theres a lot more out there inour various hard-drives. I apologize for all mistakes! Mine and mine alone.As Ive put this together, Ive seen parts of

Palestinian life than I hadnt known before. And Ialso saw that others of you have walked where I

have walked and seen what Ive seen, each from

our own perspective. Ive realized that we share apassionate knowledge, gained from our own and

each others spirit of inquiry, which gives great

strength to our advocacy and to our life together.I hope that together we inch closer to peace and

justice in the new year.

- Rabbi Margaret Holub, for the JVP Rabbinic

Council

Great thanks to: Stefan Lynch, Rebecca Arian,

Avital Aboody, Shachaf Polakow, Rich Forer, Diane

Tracht, Carl Zaisser , Rachel Greene, Vincent Stravino,

Bob Bobic aka Cap Dad, Lois Pearlman, Gerson

Robboy , Alice Rothchild, Andrew Miller, Jean Carr,

David Chadwick, Susannah Nachenber , Liza Behrendt & Glen Hauer

Some thoughts about how to use the flipbook*

There are 29 pages, corresponding to the 29 days of Elul.You mightlook at one a day and let that days images or story travel with youthrough the day. Or you might glance through it all and return to thewords and images that call for your further attention.

You might ask yourself, as you read:~ What of what I see here do I already know? How do I know it?~ What surprises me? What especially disturbs me?~ What would I like to know more about?

~ What kind of voices speak most clearly to me? What is hard tolisten to?~ Does any of this affect how I will be or what I will do in the newyear?

*Flipbook -- one of those little cartoon books where you flip the pagesto see still images come to life.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/63764069/Jewish-Voice-for-Peace-Elul-Flipbookhttp://www.scribd.com/doc/63764069/Jewish-Voice-for-Peace-Elul-Flipbookhttp://www.scribd.com/doc/63764069/Jewish-Voice-for-Peace-Elul-Flipbookhttp://www.scribd.com/doc/63764069/Jewish-Voice-for-Peace-Elul-Flipbookhttp://www.scribd.com/doc/63764069/Jewish-Voice-for-Peace-Elul-Flipbookhttp://www.scribd.com/doc/63764069/Jewish-Voice-for-Peace-Elul-Flipbook


4/6


JVP Organizing News

Summer 2011Turned Up theHeat onTIAA-CREF!

Across the US this summer,hundreds of activists took to thestreets to demand that TIAA-CREF divest from fromcorporations profiting from Israeli occupation ofPalestinian land.

In June, flashmobs took NYC, San Francisco, Boston,and Denver by storm.

In July, Divestment from Israeli occupation dominates

CREF annual meeting in Charlotte, NC as part ofsimultaneous 20-city protest against the retirement

giant.

Highlights of the July 19th nationwide day of actions

targeting TIAA-CREF:

During the CREF shareholder meeting, allquestions but one focused on TIAA-CREFs

holdings with companies like Caterpillar, whichprofits from Israeli destruction of homes, andVeolia, which profits from bus lines that aresegregated and serve illegal settlements.

About a dozen people in the CREF meetingchallenged TIAA-CREF CEO Roger Fergusonon his seemingly inconsistent commitment tosocially responsible investing. Ferguson lateradmitted that his staffincluding he himselfwas erroneously telling concerned shareholdersto switch investments into TIAA-CREFs

Socially Responsible Investment funds,ignoring the fact that these funds have sha

in companies targeted in our campaign,like Motorola and Caterpillar. Mr. Fergupromised to tell the truth from now on, bhe did not commit to cleaning its SRIaccounts, which remain socially-responsible, except for Palestine.

Just days before the July 19th actions anCREF shareholder meeting, an op-ed in Charlotte Observer by ArchbishopDesmond Tutu, called the TIAA-CREFcampaign important because it is one of

the most broad-based divestment efforts in thU.S.

Press covered our story in The CharlotteObserver, The Jewish Week, News 14 CarolinMaan News Agency, Your News Now in Itha

and other media outlets across the country. Gorgeous documentation of the actions, a

TIAA-CREF Client Alert video by the JVPSouthbay chapter, and a daylong twitterpresence (#tcdivest).

James Schamus, Oscar-nominated head ofFocus Features spoke at the 75 person protestNew York City.

Protest organizers in Ithaca, Denver,Washington D.C., & Philadelphia report

stronger attendance than anticipatedeven inscorching temperatures. All in all, hundreds oactivists took to the streets nationwide todemand that TIAA-CREF divest for the greagood.

Congratulations to all of us for a histor

day of action for the BDS movement in

the United States!
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=11&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DlPpAb3W4T8Ahttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=6&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlotteobserver.com%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2F2459590%2Ftiaa-cref-should-hear-us-divest.html%2523ixzz1SgYSyvg4http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=7&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thejewishweek.com%2Fnews%2Fnew_york%2Fprotestors_rebuffed_bid_get_pension_manager_boycott_israelhttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcharlotte.news14.com%2Fcontent%2Ftop_stories%2F644017%2Fprotesters-gather-outside-tiaa-cref-shareholder-s-meetinghttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=11&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DlPpAb3W4T8Ahttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=11&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DlPpAb3W4T8Ahttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=10&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcentralny.ynn.com%2Fcontent%2Ftop_stories%2F550504%2Fprotesters-rally-outside-investment-firm%2Fhttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=10&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcentralny.ynn.com%2Fcontent%2Ftop_stories%2F550504%2Fprotesters-rally-outside-investment-firm%2Fhttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=9&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmaannews.net%2Feng%2FViewDetails.aspx%3FID%3D406445http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=9&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmaannews.net%2Feng%2FViewDetails.aspx%3FID%3D406445http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcharlotte.news14.com%2Fcontent%2Ftop_stories%2F644017%2Fprotesters-gather-outside-tiaa-cref-shareholder-s-meetinghttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcharlotte.news14.com%2Fcontent%2Ftop_stories%2F644017%2Fprotesters-gather-outside-tiaa-cref-shareholder-s-meetinghttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=7&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thejewishweek.com%2Fnews%2Fnew_york%2Fprotestors_rebuffed_bid_get_pension_manager_boycott_israelhttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=7&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thejewishweek.com%2Fnews%2Fnew_york%2Fprotestors_rebuffed_bid_get_pension_manager_boycott_israelhttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=6&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlotteobserver.com%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2F2459590%2Ftiaa-cref-should-hear-us-divest.html%2523ixzz1SgYSyvg4http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=6&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlotteobserver.com%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2F2459590%2Ftiaa-cref-should-hear-us-divest.html%2523ixzz1SgYSyvg4http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=6&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlotteobserver.com%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2F2459590%2Ftiaa-cref-should-hear-us-divest.html%2523ixzz1SgYSyvg4http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=6&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlotteobserver.com%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2F2459590%2Ftiaa-cref-should-hear-us-divest.html%2523ixzz1SgYSyvg4http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlotteobserver.com%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2F2459590%2Ftiaa-cref-should-hear-us-divest.html%2523ixzz1SgYSyvg4http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlotteobserver.com%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2F2459590%2Ftiaa-cref-should-hear-us-divest.html%2523ixzz1SgYSyvg4http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlotteobserver.com%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2F2459590%2Ftiaa-cref-should-hear-us-divest.html%2523ixzz1SgYSyvg4http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlotteobserver.com%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2F2459590%2Ftiaa-cref-should-hear-us-divest.html%2523ixzz1SgYSyvg4


5/6



Almost as soon as I stepped forward to organize the July 19th protest I was struck with doubts about whether Icould pull it off. I felt exposed stepping forward as an individual to take responsibility for a protest in a city withmany activists doing similar work, especially without having the structure of a JVP chapter to fall back on.

I dont have a lot of experience as an activist, I had never done political organizing before, and Im a relatively

recent transplant to Philadelphia. But in my network of friends and acquaintances I knew people withbackgrounds in mass emailing, campaign strategy, and local media. I tried to pull in as much collective wisdomas possible.

I was confident about making plans, printing handouts, drawing up signs; at some point I even became fairlyconfident wed have a good turnout. But I still couldnt figureout exactly what we were going to do. The suggestions in theJuly 19th workbook from national JVP didnt seem right, and Iwas letting my lack of experience paralyze me.

I was also totally wired. My brain was constantly chatteringduring the day and I was lying awake at night for hours,unable to slow the pace of list making and prioritizing. I dont

usually have trouble sleeping and it was getting to me. I wasexhilarated with how things were going but on a physicallevel I felt awful.

I did what Id been doing all along, and sought out the expertsin my life. My first friend has been an organizer for decadesand in addition to being a brilliant strategist had recentlygiven a lot of thought to work/life balance. I told her I was worried Id be worn out by Tuesday and that I wasnteating properly. She said, It sounds like youre not taking care of yourself. I had known that, but hearing itfrom someone else made a difference. You need to stay in charge ofyou. No one else can do that.

I told her how I couldnt figure out what we would do at the protest, and she helped me think through who wewere targeting and what we wanted to accomplish. She also said, You dont have to do this. If it doesnt feelright you can call a strategy meeting or have a press conference. Do what feels right.

Having options was freeing. I still wanted to have the eventI was very clear on thatbut it suddenly felt like achoice instead of an obligation. I took a break from emailing and intentionally lightened up on how much work Iwas doing. I scoped up our site downtown and drew a detailed, slightly wonky, out-of-scale map before sittingdown with my next expert.

Im pretty sure well have a good turnout, but I dont know what were going to do.

What do you mean? You have signs, right? And chants? And I know youve got fliers, cause I printed them. Sowere going to stand with the signs, chant, and hand out the fliers. You know, a protest. People will recognize

that.

Everything seemed much clearer. I was worried about thespace so we looked at the map, picked the best stretch ofsidewalk, and that was it. We had the props, we had thechants, we had some number of people showing up, andwe had a plan.

My anxiety disappeared, replaced by anticipation. Wesorted out carpool logistics, assigned someone to keep aneye on timing and the overall vibe, someone to lead chants,and someone to deal with any security guards or police in


6/6


JVP Organizing News

Ive been an activist for many years, and even so the Chapter Development Institute was helpful and fun. Eventhough Ive done quite a bit of organizing, it was good to hear people talk about specific advantages anddisadvantages of the different types of initial organizing events and agendas, depending upon who youre hopingwill come and what youre trying to accomplish.

Possibly the most important thing I learned was what they call One to Ones. Its a process of assessing wherepeople are at and what theyre looking for in an organization; it brings potential members issues, concerns,desires, etc. into the mix as we begin to design the local chapter, which makes me think it will belong to more of ufrom the get-go.

Last but not least, it was helpful to meet JVP folks from around the country: to hear about new chapters, to hearabout different approaches to similar issues, and to learn of some inspired solutions to questions and problems.

- Sallie Shawl, JVP-Tacom

case we had trouble. On the drive over I realized that I didnt have a minute-by-minute plan, but that we didntneed one, either.

People showed up gradually, in ones and twos. We started with handing out the big signs, then the smaller ones athey ran out. People started distributing fliers to passersby; we got our first signature for the petition. At somepoint our deputy in charge of the vibe suggested we start chanting. I took a step back and realized wed gone frombeing a Few to being a Many, and we had a large enough group to start singing the parodies, which had been mypersonal goal all along.

At 1:30, when it was over, I was elated. We had shown up and done great work. Every person that we had talkedto, every person who had walked by and heard something about TIAA-CREF, had now gotten their first contactwith this push for divestment, and they had been much more receptive to learning about the campaign than Idexpected.

I learned a lot from that experienceabout getting things done, writing good, direct emails, and making an ask. Isaw again and again how enthusiasm is infectious and people are eager to help. I learned to think about the bestway to contact someone, whether an email would work or a phone call would be more effective. I learned nuts anbolts things like making sure one person at the protest is responsible for collecting names and contact info, and totry getting staged protest photos before people have to leave, without letting it interfere with the actual protest. Ilearned how powerful it felt to be working on a national campaign, while similar protests were taking place acrosthe country.

But the most important thing I learned was that my anxiety about stepping forward had been misplaced, becauseit had never been about me. I could never have willed the demonstration into being, I was only laying thegroundwork to make it possible. In the end our success was built entirely on peoples relationships, and thesupport of activist networks doing similar, parallel work for justice.

Having been on the receiving end of that support, Im ready to give back and build on those networks. After theJuly 19th protest some folks were inspired to create a JVP chapter in Philadelphia, so weve started to figure outwhat we would want that to look like and how we can link up with the great organizations in our area. Im excitedto see where the TIAA-CREF campaign is headed because I know this is a moment full of opportunity. Onward!

- Rachel Brown, JVP-Philadelphi

Organizer reflection continued...

Documents

Jewish Voice for Peace Organizing Newsletter Sept 2011