I Won't Be There

I won't be there and wouldn't even if I was in New York.

NOV 23: Jews Uniting to End the War & Heal America: Organizing for Action

On Sunday, November 23, at Central Synagogue in New York City, The Shalom Center, Jewish Currents, and Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring invite YOU to take part in a one-day action gathering: Jews Uniting to End the War & Heal America: Organizing for Action.

Why are we doing this? Because no President, no Congress can make change happen and heal America without a vigorous grass-roots movement organizing for change, to counter entrenched top-down interests. Because Jewish values and wisdom teach us to pursue peace, justice, and healing of the earth. And because if there is serious Jewish involvement, the grass-roots movement for change in America will be considerably stronger.

Our goals are (a) to put ending the Iraq war and turning to domestic needs high on the agenda of major Jewish organizations, not only on paper but in their commitment to mobilize vigorous action by their members, and (b) to involve grass-roots Jews of all sorts, in or out of the organizational Jewish world.

ORGANIZING FOR ACTION: Sunday, November 23, 2008 at Central Synagogue, East 55th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues, NYC

Schedule for the Day:

8:00-10:00AM Coffee and bagels available
8:30AM Registration opens for the day (closes 4:30pm)
9:30AM-9:40AM Welcoming/framing of the day (10 min)• Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, The Shalom Center and Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives• Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, poet and scholar
9:40-10:45AM Opening plenary: Why the Jewish community must take vigorous action to end the war and heal America • Honorable Elizabeth Holtzman, former Congresswoman, author, attorney • Rabbi David Saperstein, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism• Ann Toback, Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ringx2028;• Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center
11:00AM-12:15PM 5 Concurrent morning sessions on the implications of the peace effort
A. Impacts of Iraq war and peace on the broader Middle East (from Iran to Egypt, and everything in between);• Moderator: JJ Goldberg, former Editor in Chief, The Forward;• Diane Balser, Brit Tzedek V'Shalom• Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street;• Lilly Rivlin, Meretz USA;• MJ Rosenberg, Israel Policy Forum
B. Impacts of the Iraq war on human rights and civil liberties in the US• Moderator: Rabbi Simkha Weintraub, Rabbis for Human Rights / North America; • Honorable Elizabeth Holtzman, former Congresswoman, author and attorney;• Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, Rabbis for Human Rights / North America; • Michael Ratner, Center for Constitutional Rights
C. Domestic economic consequences of the war and peace;• Moderator: Bill Hartung, New America Foundation;• Liza Featherstone, journalist and contributing editor to The Nation;• Brad Lander, Pratt Center for Community Development;• Greg Speeter, National Priorities Project
D. Oil, war and climate crisis; • Moderator: Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin, Baltimore Jewish Environmental Network;• Emmaia Gelman, Center for Working Families;• Steve Kretzmann, Oil Change International;• Charles Komanoff, Carbon Tax Center
E. Healing veterans, their families and the families of the war dead;• Moderator: Myriam Miedzian, author "Boys Will Be Boys: Breaking the Link Between Masculinity and Violence";• Jan Barry, Veterans for Peace, Vietnam Veterans Against the War;• Penny Coleman, author "Flashback: Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Suicide and the Costs of War";• Sue Niederer, Goldstar Families for Peace

12:15-12:45PM Lunch break-conversations

12:25-12:35 Optional screening "Soldiers of Conscience"

12:40-12:45PM Musical performance;• Adrienne Cooper, Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring;• Cantor Jonathan Gordon, Woodlands Community Temple

12:45PM-1:05PM Afternoon keynote remarks/An insider's view from the Hill: Introduction: Marty Schwartz, Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring;• Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

1:05-1:30PM Views to the Hill and beyond: ;• Introduction: Rokhl Kafrissen, Jewish Currents ;• Leslie Cagan, United for Peace and Justice;• Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street

1:30-2:45PM Afternoon plenary: Confronting the war in the Jewish community at this historic moment of opportunity: Where we've come from, where we're headed, how to capitalize on the change in Administration in Washington • Moderator: Larry Bush, Jewish Currents;• Rabbi Marla Feldman, Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism;• Rabbi Peter Knobel, Central Conference of American Rabbis;• Sammie Moshenberg, National Council of Jewish Women;• Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center

3:00-4:15PM 3 Concurrent afternoon sessions (1 hour 15 min);

A. Jewish values, texts, and organizing with rabbis and synagogues;• Moderator: Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, The Shalom Center and Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives;• Rabbi Rebecca Alpert, Temple University;• Rabbi Or Rose, Hebrew College; Rabbi David Shneyer, Am Kolel

B. Building a Jewish anti-war activist network;• Moderator: Marty Schwartz, Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring;• Jeffrey Dekro, The Shalom Center and founder of The Shefa Fund;• Mark Johnson, Fellowship of Reconciliation/Olive Branch Interfaith Partners for Peace;• April Rosenblum, author "The Past Didn't Go Anywhere" and contributor to "Righteous Indignation";• Rabbi Michael Rothbaum, Hillels of Westchester;• Tammy Shapiro, Union of Progressive Zionists;• Dara Silverman, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice

C. The Media & Changing Jewish Public Opinion;• Moderator: Esther Kaplan, The Nation Institute;• Jeff Cohen, Park Center for Independent Media;• Dan Sieradski, Jewish Telegraphic Agency

4:30-5:15PM Closing keynote remarks and close of the day (45 min);• Introduction: Gary Ferdman, The Shalom Center &

Common Cause

• Keynote: Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!;

• Robert Kaplan, Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring;• TBD, The Shalom Center

5:15-6:00PM Musical performance;• Basya Schecter and Pharaoh's Daughter

6:00PM Close of the day