NCJW Weekly Advocacy Wrap-Up:
March 4, 2022
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In this issue...
Take Action on WHPA – URGENT
Advocacy Day for the Afghan Adjustment Act – February 28
HIAS Refugee Shabbat – Local Observance
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Take Action on
Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA)
BEFORE 1pm on Monday, February 28
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On Monday, February 28, the Senate will hold a cloture vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), which would create a new tool for safeguarding access to high-quality abortion care and securing constitutional rights by protecting patients and providers from dangerous political interference.
Even if your senators disagree with you on this issue — especially if they disagree with you on this issue — it is critical they hear from their constituents. If they agree, be sure to thank them for their support.
Raise Awareness on Social Media – NCJW has provided a toolkit with Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter graphics as well as sample posts and hashtags.
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Advocacy Day for the Afghan Adjustment Act
Monday, February 28
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February 8th, the Advocacy Day for the Afghan Adjustment Act, was a huge success with more than 1,000 calls made by HIAS supporters.
There will be a second call in day on Monday, February 28. As you all know, it is essential that everyone that arrived with a humanitarian parole status be granted a permanent legal status, and we will be encouraging Congress to include this language in the next federal budget package. You can easily make the calls by clicking below:
Are you wondering….
"Would it be helpful for the same people who called their congressperson on Feb 8 to call the same congressional office again on Feb 28? Do repeat calls several weeks later make a difference? Or do the congressional offices take note of the name of the person and discount the second call as a repeat?"
Yes, not only does HIAS think it's helpful to call again, it's essential that everyone who called on the February 8, call again. It is as important as new folks joining our efforts. It shows we are persistent. It also shows we're paying attention, because a AAA was not in the previous budget bill, so of course we're going to ask again. We are holding them accountable – we want to see them act on this, and they didn't successfully on the previous bill. It is a different ask, because it's a new budget bill so it's not duplicative.
You can also amplify the issue by posting on Social Media. This toolkit provides sample posts, graphics, hashtags to use and accounts to tag.
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HIAS Refugee Shabbat – Local Observances |
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HIAS Refugee Shabbat is a moment for congregations, organizations, and individuals in the United States and around the world to dedicate a Shabbat experience to refugees and asylum seekers. This past year our hearts have swelled at the massive global effort to evacuate and find safe homes for Afghans fleeing for their lives; and they have broken seeing people whose lives are in danger being turned away at border crossings around the world. This is a critical moment for all of us to reaffirm and redouble our support for refugees and asylum seekers.
Please join one of the observances at our local synagogues:
Beth David will hold its monthly family service at 7 pm on Friday, March 4th. Rabbi Myers will share family friendly stories about refugee challenges and triumphs. A live stream is available here or you can attend in-person at 6100 Hefley Street, Westminster.
Temple Beth Shalom’s Rabbi Cantor will explore the plight of the refugee during his Saturday, March 5th morning service at 10 am. All are welcome to attend in person at 3635 Elm Avenue in Long Beach. A live stream is also available here.
Joe Goldman, HIAS Community Engagement Director, Western Region, will speak at Temple Israel on Friday, March 11th. Services begin at 7 pm in person at 269 Loma Avenue, Long Beach or via livestream here.
HIAS has also provided this special video message from HIAS’ Senior Vice President for Programs, Raphael Marcus. Raphael shares thoughts about the moment we find ourselves in today, in relation to the global refugee crisis, and what it looks like to act in solidarity with and in support of those who are forcibly displaced.
Additionally, as part of Refugee Shabbat weekend HIAS will be hosting a global webinar program (Sunday, March 6 at 10:30pm PT) to discuss how different Jewish communities are putting their values into action. We will hear from HIAS and JIAS leadership from Canada, Europe, and the United States about the ways that the global Jewish community is rising to meet the challenges of this unprecedented moment in the refugee crisis: advocating for more humane asylum and refugee policies, engaging in direct action to support and sponsor refugee newcomers in their communities, and tackling the ever-present shadow of xenophobia.
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