Dear Community, 

For months, we’ve been hearing from you about the need to organize a stronger response to those who seek to take power away from the people. That's one of the reasons CJJ staff, alongside many of our Collaborative for Jewish Organizing partners, attended a movement-wide organizing bootcamp in early October. We gathered just outside of federally occupied Washington, D.C., to learn and coalesce around a new organizing framework — one better suited to the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Your feedback is echoed and supported by the framework we brought back from DC.

For years, forces aligned with religious extremism and authoritarianism have been eroding the democratic foundation of our country. In North Carolina, we saw these forces embodied by the political campaigns of Mark Robinson, Michele Morrow and Judge Jefferson Griffin last year. North Carolinians came together to reject the vision of these Christian nationalists. However, the will of North Carolina voters is increasingly being challenged, undermined, and, sometimes, outright ignored.

Moreover, Robinson’s, Morrow’s, and Griffin’s counterparts have been far too successful in winning political power across the country. As a result, we are witnessing unprecedented challenges to the democratic rule of law in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and D.C.

Will Charlotte be next? 

In response to your calls for more decisive action, we’re enthused to share the details of CJJ’s strategic vision for the year ahead: a call to Sacred Resistance in 5786. This vision is based on an organizing framework built around mass non-cooperation — we must band together to make dismantling democracy too costly, too unpopular, and too disruptive for those who'd benefit from authoritarianism.

We offer this strategic vision. Only you can make it real.

Our movement must grow to be effective. Many of you have supported CJJ’s work throughout the years — as volunteers, as donors, as community organizers. The time has come to join CJJ as full-fledged members (see below).

In solidarity,
Mark Bochkis
Communications Director/Triad Community Organizer

As a community of progressive Jews in North Carolina, we participate in many local and statewide issue campaigns, advocacy efforts, and mutual aid and interfaith networks. This has always been our strength, going back to CJJ’s original calls to action and reason for formation — supporting the Moral Mondays movement more than a decade ago.

Times have changed, and the need to organize the progressive Jewish community in North Carolina is greater than ever. Today, our democratic way of life, our rights, and our freedoms are under assault in ways we didn’t think were possible when CJJ was formed. Worse, the Trump Administration and its allies are using antisemitism and Jewish safety as political cudgels to force increasingly authoritarian policies on the American people.

We must stand together to oppose the fascism growing in our midst. We must use our collective voice to say “not in our name.” That’s why we’re asking you to re-affirm your connection to CJJ and register to become a member today.

Please use the link below to complete your membership form — be sure to type “2025 CJJ Membership Campaign” in the last (optional) field.

Suggested annual dues are $18 (just $1.50/month), but please contribute what you can — whether it's $36, $180, $500, or more. Your membership sustains this movement and makes our shared vision possible.

CJJ Mourns the Passing of Rabbi Arthur Waskow

We are saddened by the death of celebrated social justice activist and author Rabbi Arthur Waskow on October 20. Rabbi Waskow was a guiding figure and mentor to many, framing progressive causes like civil rights, economic justice and environmentalism through the lens of Jewish text and tradition in his published works, which include dozens of books. 

He is recognized as one of the leading voices infusing the progressive movement with Jewish insight and wisdom. In 1969, Waskow held the first "Freedom Seder," which combined contemporary liberation struggles with the traditional Passover story. Waskow is survived by his wife and partner, Phyllis O. Berman; son, David Waskow; daughter, Shoshana Elkin Waskow; stepchildren Josh Sher and Morissa Wiser, their spouses and five grandchildren.

Rabbi Sandra at Moral Mondays in Raleigh   

On October 20, CJJ Executive Director, Rabbi Sandra Lawson, joined Rev. William Barber and other faith leaders from across North Carolina, at Sen. Ted Budd's office in Raleigh for an interfaith pray-in for healthcare, dignity, and democracy. 

Rabbi Sandra also joined a Moral Monday action in September. Watch the recorded livestream of the October 20 Moral Monday.

No Kings Protests Across NC 

On Saturday, October 18, thousands of people in North Carolina joined nearly 7 million participants across the country at more than 2,700 events, in one of the largest days of protest in US history on.

“Today, millions of Americans stood together to reject authoritarianism and remind the world that our democracy belongs to the people, not to one man’s ambition,” said Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg, Co-Founders, Indivisible. “Authoritarians want us to believe resistance is futile, but every person who turned out today proved the opposite. This movement isn’t about a single protest; it’s about a growing chorus of Americans who refuse to be ruled. Trump may want a crown, but in this country, there are no kings.”

Ceasefire in Gaza, Release of Hostages and Prisoners

On Monday, October 13, the last 20 living hostages held by Hamas were released to Israel along with the remains of some of the deceased, while more than 1700 Palestinians captured and held in Israel during the two-year war were returned to their families.

The exchange took place after Hamas and Israel agreed on a long-debated ceasefire deal on October 10. 

CJJ Antisemitism Workshop with UU Henderson County

On October 12, Lisa Forehand, CJJ-West Community Organizer spoke to a group from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Henderson County (UUFHC) about antisemitism. Lisa shared insights into Project Esther, the Trump Administration's playbook for weaponizing antisemitism against democratic norms and freedoms, and provided historical and present day context of how antisemitism exploits Jewish safety to attack broader protective movements, democratic institutions, and academic freedom.

CJJ welcomes opportunities to partner with others in the quest to understand all oppressions and fight back in solidarity. If you are interested in scheduling a CJJ-led antisemitism workshop, please contact us at [email protected].

CJJ-WEST 

• Nov 4 - WNC Book Study

Join members of the Jewish Secular Community of Asheville (JSCA) and CJJ-West for eight monthly chapter-based discussions, July through February, about the book Safety Through Solidarity by Shane Burley and Ben Lorber. 

• Nov 11 - Interfaith Resistance Event 

We will review ways to direct our efforts as people of faith to support collective pressure that compels key institutions to defect from Trumpism. 

• Nov 21 - CJJ-W Shabbat Potluck Gathering 

What better thing is there to do in difficult times than come together in community?! So, let's break bread, talk about how to stay sane, share ways to take action, and enjoy each other's company!  

CJJ-TRIAD

• Nov 1 - Chavurat Tzedek  

Join the group of progressive Triad Jews for a discussion of One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, by Omar El Akkad. 

CJJ-TRIANGLE

• Oct 26 - Schlep to the Polls in Durham 

Join CJJ members from all across the Triangle as we come together for our annual celebration of early voting! 

STATEWIDE

• Nov 13 - Phonebank for Free Speech w/Bend the Arc

Join us to call Bend the Arc members in states where there are active efforts to codify the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Together, we will let them know about the dangers of these bills and why it is important for them to speak out in opposition as Jews! 

Your support is the cornerstone of our work. 

It powers our commitment to justice across North Carolina. Your gift is more than a donation; it’s a declaration that justice, compassion, and liberation must guide our state’s future. 

Make your contribution today and stand with us in building that future.