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.  

Read CJJ's statement following the murder of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, two Israel Embassy staffers, in Washington, DC. 

We have some very exciting news to share! Click below to watch a short video message from Abby Lublin and Rabbi Sandra Lawson. 

Read the joint announcement from Carolina Jews for Justice and Reconstructing Judaism inside for more details.  

All that you touch You Change. All that you Change Changes you. The only lasting truth is Change. God is Change.

– Octavia Butler

Former CJJ Organizer Cole Parke-West painted these words in their house; a great reminder when we’d meet when I was a volunteer helping plan and launch the Antisemitism Listening Project, or debriefing from that week’s Fed Up hustle. 

For me, this month will mark significant change, as I transition out of my role as Executive Director of Carolina Jews for Justice. (Exciting announcement coming soon to your inbox; and yes, I’m teasing that news here!) 

If you feel like there’s a lot happening (and going wrong), you’re certainly not alone. Our national politics has a way of bringing folks down these days. But politics is, first and foremost, local. When we’re reminded of that, don’t we feel a sudden surge of empowerment?

It isn’t about the White House, it’s about your and your neighbor’s house. National politics is intimidating. Local politics is… accessible.

Sometimes, it’s takes a little jolt for us to remember this simple truism, to shift focus and change our perspective. A few weeks ago, Jay Carey, a retired combat veteran and Western North Carolina resident, gave us that jolt.

Executive Director, Abby Lublin, and Communications Director, Mark Bochkis, talked about the work and mission of Carolina Jews for Justice with the Tides Foundation. Check out an excerpt from the Tides blog.  

On March 8, Department of Homeland Security agents abducted Mahmoud Khalil, a U.S. permanent resident and student activist for Palestinian rights, from his New York apartment. Mahmoud was targeted for his political speech and activism in support of Palestinian freedom and for an end to Israel’s violence against Palestinians in Gaza. 

The Trump administration is attempting to carry out deportations like Mahmoud’s in the name of fighting antisemitism. The truth is that this has nothing to do with Jewish safety – and everything to do with crushing dissent by any means, including by violating our constitutional rights.

Dear Beloved CJJ Community:

I have made the bittersweet decision to step down as Executive Director of Carolina Jews for Justice (CJJ), with March 27 as my last day.  It’s hard to leave an amazing job, one that has brought much learning, meaning, and connection.  And yet, right decisions are often hard.  Serving in this role has been more than an honor; it has been an answer to many questions I have held.  

I began laboring for my second child’s birth on June 17, 2015, the day of the racist massacres at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC.  Breathing deeply, I prayed that this baby would arrive on a different date. She did, and through my tears I began to seek guidance on how to healthfully and joyfully raise Black and Jewish children in this country.  The answer came in deepening community connections and fighting together for olam haba - the better world we know is possible. I realized I was not, and we are never, powerless.

I am full of gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside all of you in building a more just and compassionate North Carolina.

CJJ is more than an organization—it is a community, a movement, and a sacred space where Jewish values guide us in the fight for equity, dignity, and collective liberation. Together, we have built bridges across differences, mobilized for justice, and stood resolutely against forces of oppression that seek to harm the most vulnerable among us. We work to make our state one that reflects the values of tikkun olam—repairing the world—and our shared vision of a more inclusive and equitable future.

Being part of this Jewish social justice ecosystem has been an anchor for my soul and a source of profound inspiration. Sitting shiva in the streets for people who died in detainment at the border to stop ICE collaboration in NC; lobbying legislators to fight an abortion ban that impinges on our religious freedom; bolstering Jewish business owners to support community safety alternatives to policing; challenging Christian nationalism and antisemitism alongside clergy of many faiths; engaging voters and providing safety at the polls; watching people join and grow in their leadership to effect change. I didn’t know I could be Jewish in this way! 

In this challenging political climate, our potential, experience, and relationships give me confidence that CJJ is well-positioned to rise to the moment. This organization is powered by a resilient and passionate community of leaders, volunteers, and partners who are deeply committed to our mission. With the strength of our staff, the guidance of our board, and the wisdom of our grassroots network, I know that CJJ will grow and thrive in the years ahead.

My transition does not mean a departure from this work. While I will no longer serve as Executive Director, I remain deeply committed to the fight for a better North Carolina and to the values that have guided our shared journey. 

Thank you for trusting, challenging, and standing alongside me in the fight for greater justice. I will continue to champion CJJ and participate in the vibrant, transformative work ahead. 

Peace/L’Shalom,
Abby Lublin

...and now a word from CJJ's Board Co-Chairs!

Rochelle Sparko and Cheryl Lester here. We are pleased to introduce ourselves to you as the new Co-Chairs of CJJ’s Board of Directors. Rochelle is a longtime CJJ Board Member and an attorney with an even longer record of public service, currently as Special Deputy Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division of the office of NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson. Cheryl is a recent CJJ Board Member and Jewish Durhamite, retired professor of literature and former Jayhawk, and devoted Bubbe. Cleverly dubbed RoCheryl by Abby, we have each created our Jewish lives through an eclectic array of experiences, values, and commitments, and these have happily led us both to CJJ. 

Abby has been far more than a good steward as Executive Director these past three-plus years. Thanks to her passion, charisma, foresight, and bridge-building strengths as a leader, CJJ has both the financial resources and the cultural capital to make an orderly transition to new leadership. Though a change in leadership brings different strengths and styles, we can count on what Abby has bequeathed to us: healthy finances and strong relationships across the state and nation to enable and guide us through this transition. 

With Abby’s help, we have a plan to recruit and hire a new Executive Director. We will post the job description and share with local and national partners this month. If you know someone you would like to see as the next ED of CJJ, please encourage them to apply! With our committed board members, dedicated staff, and motivated volunteers we look forward to continuing to build a vibrant Jewish justice organization in North Carolina.  

L'Tzedek,
Cheryl Lester and Rochelle Sparko
Co-Chairs of the Board of Directors