Uri L'Tzedek is an Orthodox social justice organization guided by Torah values and dedicated to combating suffering and oppression. Through community based education, leadership development and action, Uri L'Tzedek creates discourse, inspires leaders, and empowers the Jewish community towards creating a more just world.
The Three Pillars of Uri L'Tzedek
We utilize a three pronged strategy in our mission to create a more just world. It consists of Education, Leadership Development, and Action.
One: Education
Uri L'Tzedek Batei Midrash consist of Jewish education about social justice issues from Torah and contemporary perspectives. We bring together leading rabbis and educators, such as Rabbi Saul Berman, Rabbi Yosef Blau (Yeshiva University Mashgiach Ruchani, pictured right at a beit midrash on Tenants' Rights), Mrs. Devorah Zlotchower, Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, Rabbi Mark Dratch, Elana Stein-Hain, Rabbi Ysoscher Katz, Rabbi Chaim S
eidler-Feller, Rabbi Nati Helfgot, Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy, and leading activists such as former political prisoners, health care experts, and lobbyists to address specific social justice causes. These events happen at synagogues, college campuses, and day schools, such as: Kehillat Jeshurun, the Jewish Center, Young Israel of Stamford, the Great Neck Synagogue, Kingsway Jewish Center, Ramaz, Young Israel of Long Beach, SAR, Camp Yavneh, Harvard University, Stern College, Yeshiva College, the University of Chicago, and the University of Oregon. We have addressed the following topics (among many others):
- Immigration
- Ethical Kashrut
- Domestic Workers
- Domestic Violence
- Healthcare
- Mental Health
- Social Justice and Leadership
- Race Relations
- Human Trafficking
- Free Tibet
- Conflict-Free Diamonds
- Negotiating with Terrorists/ Laws of War in the US
- Gun Control
- Consumption
- Relating to Enemies
- Prison Reform
- Government Accountability
- Spirituality and Activism
- TAV in Israel and TAV in the US
- Tenant Rights
- Global Health
- Negotiating with Terrorists
- Fighting Poverty
- Torture
- Business Ethics
- Microfinance
- Prison Reform
- Financial Accountability
- Poetry as Protest
- Consumer Ethics
- Environmental Justice
- Jobs and Unemployment
Two: Leadership Development
We provide training to passionate leaders in the Jewish community in how to implement the Torah's demand for tzedek through activism and organizing. Training sessions have included young professionals as well as college and high school students.
Three: Action
Whether through our clothing drive, advocating for the Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights, traveling to Washington DC to push for a more humane immigration policy, letter-writing campaigns, or mobilizing thousands of kosher consumers across the country to press for reforms at Agriprocessors, we are committed to being a force to bring the changes so desperately needed in our world.
