JCUA Blog

Rabbi Robert J. Marx founded the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) in 1964 out of a conviction that the Jewish call to pursue justice — as it says in Deuteronomy, “Justice, Justice You Shall Pursue” — is the most sacred of all the Torah’s teachings. He carried out this imperative by denouncing all forms …

Read More

We have a new campaign! Following a two-month selection process of proposals, presentations, and deliberation, the JCUA membership has voted to join Bring Chicago Home (BCH), a grassroots movement to combat homelessness in Chicago. The campaign seeks to create a dedicated revenue stream for permanent supportive housing by restructuring the way the city collects taxes when properties are bought and sold. Currently, Chicago collects …

Read More

For 57 years, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) has worked to advance racial and economic justice across Chicago and Illinois. As a Jewish organization dedicated to social justice, we are deeply committed to the fight against antisemitism. We believe that adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism at the …

Read More

After five years of organizing, the Welcoming City Ordinance amendments have passed through the Chicago City Council. Thousands of immigrants in Chicago can now live in less fear for their basic safety and stability because the ordinance cuts off cooperation between local police and federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This is a …

Read More

The coup attempt unfolding in Washington D.C. and state capitals across the country should shock but not surprise us. Since taking office, Donald Trump and his administration have embraced white supremacists and their authoritarian disregard for democracy, civil liberties, and equality. Today’s actions were the obvious next steps following years of escalating rhetoric and behavior. …

Read More