JUFJ's Justice & Jewish Thought discussion series began as a discussion group created by two JUFJ members, who reworked their program into a participant-led, multigenerational salon series that combines cutting-edge justice education with deep reflection on Jewish life and values.

Registration is now open for the Spring 2012 cohort, offered jointly with Sixth and I! Click here.

The Justice & Jewish Thought curriculum examines a range of contemporary social justice issues. In each cohort, diverse groups of individuals from across our city gather weekly for lively, salon-style discussions. The course presents a unique opportunity for participants to build community with a small group of committed people while sharpening their understanding of social justice issues. This program is participant-led, with no external experts or teachers. Participants take turns hosting in their homes and facilitating the group discussions, and can expect to:

• Stretch their minds by reading 30-45 minutes of articles and book chapters between meetings
• Engage various social issues such as race, class, gender, sexual identity, Zionism, diasporism, and anti-Semitism.
• Explore how these issues affect our Jewish identities, our Jewish practices, and our social justice work.
• Deepen connections and grow personally with other like-minded justice-seekers in DC!

The curriculum includes works by Judith Plaskow, Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, Audre Lorde, Paul Kivel, and many others. Click here to view the syllabus from summer 2008, when the class ran for the first time.

In the past, JUFJ has run many Justice & Jewish Thought series, and also partnered with Pursue, the Avodah-AJWS Alumni Partnership, to offer the twelve-week program. Read here about past cohorts.

In Spring 2012 JUFJ is partnering with Sixth and I, an amazing historic synagogue and center for Jewish life in DC, to offer a new Justice & Jewish Thought program. Registration is now open - sign up now! Want more information? Email Rebecca Ennen: rebecca@jufj.org.