JCUA Blog - Jewish Council on Urban Affairs

G-d forgives, but unfortunately not the United States.

February 15, 2019

| By Kalman Resnick

Categories: Immigrant Rights, Immigration Reform

This blog is taken from the D’var Torah given by Immigration Attorney and JCUA Member Kalman Resnick at Beth Emet Synagogue last Friday. Shabbat Shalom. The Book of Exodus from which we continue reading this Shabbat has resonated through my life. As a young child, I saw the parallels between our Exodus from Egypt and …

Voting, Civic Engagement, and the Parsha

February 11, 2019

| By Rabbi Fred Reeves

Categories: Civic Engagement

When contemplating the portion Tetzaveh in terms of voting and elections, at first blush few portions would seem more at odds with democracy. The portion starts with instructions for lighting the Menorah regularly then proceeds to describe the various elements of clothing of the High Priest. Of course, the High Priest is the head of …

JCUA Announces its Newest CVP Loan to LUCHA for the Humboldt Park Residence

February 5, 2019

| By Hannah Wolod

Categories: CVP

JCUA is pleased to announce its new Community Ventures Program (CVP) loan to Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA). LUCHA received a $100,000 loan to cover a portion of the predevelopment costs for the rehabilitation of Humboldt Park Residence (HPR), an existing 68-unit single-room occupancy (SRO) development on Chicago’s West Side. JCUA has a longstanding …

#ErasetheDatbase Campaign Update

February 1, 2019

| By Anna Rubin

Categories: #ErasetheDatabase, Immigrant Rights, Immigration Reform

Hello! I wanted to update you on our organizing work with the campaign to #EraseTheDatabase. As a reminder, we are working with the Campaign to Expand Sanctuary, as part of the Immigration Policy Working Group, to eliminate the use of the Chicago Gang Database. The Gang Database is a tracking and targeting tool for people of …

Civic Engagement: It Is About Power.

February 1, 2019

| By Marla Bramble

Categories: Civic Engagement

As the municipal elections approach, JCUA has been taking action to make sure civic engagement is a priority for Chicago’s Jewish community. We keep saying, because it bears repeating, If we want a city council and mayor that will support our campaigns for a more equitable Chicago, we need to work to elect representatives who …