Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) is an
American left-wing non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
grassroots Jewish organization. JFREJ describes itself as a "movement to dismantle racism and economic exploitation" and is based in New York City. It operates both a
501(c)(3)
A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...
, also known as JFREJ Community and a
501(c)(4)
A 501(c) organization is a nonprofit organization in the Law of the United States#Federal law, federal law of the United States according to Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 501(c)) and is one of over 29 types of nonprofit organizations exe ...
known as JFREJ Action.
History
JFREJ was founded in New York City in 1990.
Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz
Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz (September 9, 1945 – July 10, 2018) was an American essayist, poet, academic, and political activist.
Early life
Born Melanie Kaye in 1945 in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, her parents had angli ...
served as the organization's first director. The creation of JFREJ was inspired by
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...
's 1990 visit to New York City, during which many local Jewish groups and leaders, including the
American Jewish Congress
The American Jewish Congress (AJCongress or AJC) is an association of American Jews organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad through public policy advocacy, using diplomacy, legislation, and the courts.
History
The AJCongress was ...
and the
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), formerly known as the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, is an international Jewish non-governmental organization based in the United States specializing in civil rights law. It was founded in late Septe ...
, snubbed Mandela due to his support for the Palestinian cause. JFREJ's first event, held on 15 June 1990, honored Nelson Mandela and raised $50,000 for the anti-apartheid cause.
During the
Trump administration
Donald Trump's tenure as the List of presidents of the United States, 45th president of the United States began with Inauguration of Donald Trump, his inauguration on January 20, 2017, and ended on January 20, 2021. Trump, a Republican Party ...
, JFREJ was active in the movement to
Abolish ICE
Abolish ICE is a political movement that seeks the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The movement gained mainstream traction in June 2018 following controversy of the Trump administration family separation policy. The m ...
.
In 2019,
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (; ; born October 13, 1989), also known by her initials AOC, is an American politician and activist. She has served as the U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district since 2019, as a member of th ...
spoke at a JFREJ event where she discussed her Puerto Rican ancestors' distant
Sephardi Jewish
Sephardic (or Sephardi) Jews (, ; lad, Djudíos Sefardíes), also ''Sepharadim'' , Modern Hebrew: ''Sfaradim'', Tiberian: Səp̄āraddîm, also , ''Ye'hude Sepharad'', lit. "The Jews of Spain", es, Judíos sefardíes (or ), pt, Judeus sefa ...
heritage.
JFREJ is critical of calls for more security as a way to counter the growth of violent
antisemitism in the United States
Antisemitism in the United States has existed for centuries. In the United States, most Jewish community relations agencies draw distinctions between antisemitism, which is measured in terms of attitudes and behaviors, and the security and status ...
, citing the concerns of
Black Jews and other
Jews of color
Jews of color (or Jews of colour) is a neologism, primarily used in North America, that describes Jews from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, whether biracial, adopted, Jews by choice, or part of other national or geographic populations (or a ...
that security would not make them safer and would increase
racial profiling
Racial profiling or ethnic profiling is the act of suspecting, targeting or discriminating against a person on the basis of their ethnicity, religion or nationality, rather than on individual suspicion or available evidence. Racial profiling involv ...
.
In June 2022, the Anti-Defamation League condemned JFREJ as "out of touch" with mainstream Jewish-American opinion. The ADL's CEO
Jonathan Greenblatt
Jonathan Greenblatt (born November 21, 1970) is an American entrepreneur, corporate executive, and the sixth National Director and CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Prior to heading the ADL, Greenblatt served in the White House as Special A ...
retweeted a Twitter thread singling out JFREJ and the Jewish Vote as a "far-left scam". An ADL spokesperson later confirmed the organization's agreement with the sentiment that JFREJ isn't representative of Jewish opinion or Jewish values. Sophie Ellman-Golan, communications director for JFREJ, criticized the ADL for attacking the Jewish identity of JFREJ members.
The Jewish Vote
The Jewish Vote is the electoral arm of Jews for Racial & Economic Justice Action. Their goal is to endorse and help elect a new generation of "reformers and radicals" who will fight for
Medicare for All
Single-payer healthcare is a type of universal healthcare in which the costs of essential healthcare for all residents are covered by a single public system (hence "single-payer").
Single-payer systems may contract for healthcare services from p ...
, universal rent control, a
Green New Deal
Green New Deal (GND) proposals call for public policy to address climate change along with achieving other social aims like job creation and reducing economic inequality. The name refers back to the New Deal, a set of social and economic refo ...
, publicly funded elections, fair wages and working conditions for all, and an end to mass incarceration and criminalization of people of color.
See also
*
Beyond the Pale (radio program)
References
{{reflist
External links
Jews for Economic and Racial Justice official website
Anti-Semitism Training with JFREJ ResourceGeneration.org
Jewish anti-racism
Jewish anti-occupation groups
Jewish socialism
Jews and Judaism in New York City
Opposition to antisemitism in the United States
Socialism in New York (state)