An Emerging Ecosystem
A Growing Field
Making a Difference
There is an expanding gratitude for and application of the radical inheritance of Jewish text, ritual and Judaism’s ethical imperative of mutual obligation.
The galvanizing moments of the 2016 election, Covid, and the uprising in the summer of 2020 have been catalytic.
More than ever, Jews are showing up for racial justice, immigrant justice, workers’ rights, climate change, a new frame on Israel/Palestine and more.
Rise Up grantees are shaping an inherently Jewish blueprint for leaders, activists and citizens.
They are illuminating new access points and creating structures born of a commitment to liberation, all in a deeply relational framework that enables a solidarity that transcends the traditional fault lines which often divide the Jewish community.
Streams of Work
Here are some of the streams of work Rise Up grantees are engaged in:
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Leadership development rooted in spiritual, organizational, political and emotional maturity. This means building capacities like trust, vulnerability, sitting in discomfort, and adaptive leadership; skills in organizational development, fundraising and strategy; and new approaches to ritual engagement.
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Text and practice from the Jewish tradition, in an educational style that enables people to root in the depths of Torah, Talmud, contemplative practices like Mussar and embodiment. Ancient content is made relevant, immersing the “student” and holding them in a transformational way.
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Arts and cultural work is reclaiming song, revitalizing Mizrahi and Sephardic culture from a feminist lens and creating new liturgy based on Jewish holidays and existing prayer.
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Communities rooted in liberation, including JOC-led communities, synagogues centering justice and networks that build spiritual support for leaders forging new pathways.
Documenting Impact
Rise Up embarked on a much-needed documentation project to illuminate the growing field of practitioners who are drawing from the well of Jewish wisdom, practice, and tradition to strengthen Jewish social justice movement work. This research is co-sponsored with the Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah and led by Tobin Belzer.
This research lifts up overarching themes and stories in order to illuminate:
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The growing and diverse ecosystem of this work;
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The impact the work is having on the Jewish social justice movement and Jewish life more generally; and
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The role Rise Up and other funding institutions can play to expand the reach and potency.