In the heart of Central Kentucky, the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass is turning civic concern into effective action. Amid increasing community anxiety about a wide range of issues - from antisemitism to the breakdown of American democratic norms - the Federation observed an urgent need: to equip their community with new knowledge, tools, and approaches to enact meaningful change. Realizing that legislative and societal shifts require more than just passion, they have created a comprehensive training initiative that transforms concerned citizens into confident advocates.

As politicized efforts grow to intimidate, investigate, or revoke the tax-exempt status of mission-driven nonprofits, Jewish leaders must protect our own and stand up for our partners. This one-pager outlines five key things Jewish 501(c)(3)s must know to safeguard themselves — and the civic space we all rely on.

Faith organizations and community members must feel confident that they can do this work safely and impactfully. Jewish and other faith organizations must invest in bolstering their security, critical relationships, and essential skills to enable them to mitigate threats to democracy. This toolkit is intended to help you develop the tools and techniques you need to engage in pro-democracy action without fear or anxiety.

Threats to cut federal funding been levied at many American institutions over the last few weeks, and while they claim to be “fighting antisemitism,” they should raise a number of concerns for us as Americans and as American Jews.

How can we prepare young people to become stewards of democracy in an increasingly polarized society? At the Brandeis School of San Francisco, educators are tackling this challenge by weaving it throughout the curriculum.And now, they are making it easy for other Jewish educators to build on their success.

How do we maintain relationships, heal societal fractures, and preserve civil discourse in an era of deepening political divisions? In September 2024, Limmud North America and the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies collaborated on an innovative day-long symposium designed to help learners navigate a contentious election season. “The Jewish Guide to Talking Politics" combined Jewish teachings with practical skills for engaging in difficult conversations across political divides.

Advocacy and community mobilization are core to the Religious Action Center’s (RAC) mission. The RAC, which is nested within the umbrella of the Reform Movement, has long pursued issue-focused social justice work. So when a new bill was introduced at the end of the 2023-2024 legislative session that could drastically rewrite the rule for government regulation of nonprofits in the U.S., the team at the RAC knew that Jewish organizations across the board were in a precarious situation, as well. 

Meet the Fellows of the American Jewish Civics Seminar (AJCS), a small cohort of Jewish scholars and educators working together to nurture the emergence of a distinctively American Jewish civic learning field.

On September 17, 2024, A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy brought together leaders from 75 Jewish organizations across the United States for the Equip 2024: Community Preparedness Summit. This first-of-its-kind summit aimed to furnish Jewish organizations with the knowledge, values, skills, and strategies needed to support their communities through any election-related challenges. 

Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom is no stranger to civic engagement. As a founding partner of the Jewish Partnership for Democracy, this community has long been active in participatory democracy work. But in 2024, they wanted to try something new. Recognizing the deepening political divisions in their community and beyond, Oheb Sholom launched an ambitious new project: an interfaith clergy book group focused on bridging political divides.

Temple Emanu-El has long valued civic engagement. For the past ten years, the Dallas synagogue has encouraged participatory democracy through voter registration drives and a civic engagement committee. Recently, they wondered how they might expand these efforts. After workshopping a few ideas with A More Perfect Union’s Aaron Dorfman, Temple Emanu-El decided to widen its focus on civic engagement to recognize volunteers through bimah honors.

At its core, theatre dybbuk’s podcast, The Dybbukast, poses the following question: How can our society — and by extension, our democracy — meet the urgency of this moment, while holding time and space for its complexities?

Situated at the intersection of democracy and American Jewish history, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History is dedicated to telling and teaching the stories of American Jews in service of advancing a diverse and pluralistic democracy. Through initiatives like 'Shine a Light!' and the "Citizen Power" documentary screenings, Weitzman hopes to foster a stronger sense of community, empowerment, and civic engagement in the Jewish community and among diverse populations.

The Jewish Summit on Civics, held March 11-13, 2024 in Washington, DC and online, was a first-of-its-kind effort to advance the role of civic learning in Jewish contexts.

Civic learning matters because as a society, we want the people who make choices about our future to have the information they need to make well-informed, well-reasoned judgments (voting and otherwise). We want people who run for office to be qualified and serious. We want people who serve on juries to be diligent and conscientious. We want people who consume news to confidently assess what is true and what is sensationalism, bias, or conspiracy.