“Lo ta’amod al dam re’echa”—Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor. (Leviticus 19:16)

On Yom Kippur evening this year, as Jews across the country prepared for the holiest day of our calendar, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that his agency was severing ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). He called the organization—founded in 1913 to fight antisemitism and defend civil rights—”an extreme group functioning like a terrorist organization.”

The timing was cruel, calculated, and sadly, predictable.

Today, our state, our democracy, and our values are under threat. The North Carolina Senate has approved a new congressional map that redraws districts to guarantee partisan outcomes — a map drawn purely for political gain.

Does every voice count equally in our state, or will our elected officials decide whose voice matters and whose does not?

Statement on NC Legislature's Veto Overrides

On July 29, the North Carolina General Assembly overrode multiple vetoes from Governor Josh Stein—passing laws that force local sheriffs to detain immigrants for ICE, restrict transgender people's access to basic identity documents, allow concealed weapons in private schools, repeal environmental protections for Duke Energy, and expand government powers to interfere with public agencies. These overrides happened due to the actions of Republican legislators as well as Democratic lawmakers who chose to side with Republicans.

Charting a new vision forward.

“May God bless you and keep you.
May God shine light upon you and be gracious to you.
May God lift up God’s face to you and give you peace.”
—Numbers 6:24–26

This ancient blessing appears in this week’s Torah portion, Naso, and it feels like exactly what we need right now.

There is a lot of fear in the Jewish community. The recent shooting in DC. The targeted attacks in Boulder. The threats that seem to grow louder each week. Many of us are holding a quiet, constant anxiety—not always visible, but always present.

And yet, we return to these words.

New starts, big wins, community actions. Here’s what’s happening at CJJ.