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Rabbi Bonnie Margulis: Staying Strong in Dark Times

01/10/2022 02:53:41 PM

Jan10

Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice (WFVJ) is a nonprofit organization supporting congregations of many faiths across Wisconsin as we work together toward social justice. Temple Beth El is a member congregation, and our Social Action Committee benefits deeply from the knowledge and leadership provided by WFVJ. 

We recently asked Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, WFVJ executive director, how she manages to keep working for social justice without being discouraged by the many challenges we face. Here’s her reply:

We are indeed living in times that try all our souls. Democracy is under attack as never before. Inequality is greater now than almost any time in our history. And a global pandemic has sent us all into isolation at a time when we need each other’s help and support more than ever.

Sometimes the many pressing issues facing us can be overwhelming. People often ask me, as WFVJ executive director, where do I find hope in these dark times? I remind them of the importance of taking the long view. I think of Wisconsin State Senator Fred Risser, who represented the Madison area and is recognized as the longest-serving state legislator in American history. He ended every discussion with the reminder that the pendulum is always swinging, and you have to be patient, because sooner or later it will swing back to where we want to be.

So how do we get the pendulum to move? It doesn’t happen by magic, or through miracles, or usually through cataclysmic events. It happens through the collective efforts of dedicated people. As Margaret Mead famously said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” 

And so I take heart, and I take hope and strength, from the many volunteers and activists that lift up our work, like the members of Temple Beth El. This is some of the work we have been able to do this year because of all of you:

  • During the pandemic, WFVJ has stepped forward to help get people vaccinated, to educate low-wage and undocumented workers on their rights to a safe workplace, and to spread accurate information on COVID safety and the vaccine. We are organizing faith leaders across the state to address the intersection between systemic racism and health care disparities and inequities.
  • Through the Dane Sanctuary Coalition, we have raised the faith voice in the fight for immigrant rights and the pathway to citizenship. We have provided over 70 rides so far to undocumented immigrants to their ICE check-ins in Milwaukee or to immigration court in Chicago. We have arranged housing for asylum-seekers leaving detention with no place to go. We do this work through the dedication and hard work of many volunteers, including Temple Beth El’s own Dan Zimmerman, who co-leads the volunteer driver program. A small group of committed people, indeed!
  • We have partnered with Wisconsin Council of Churches to create the nonpartisan Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign. Through this statewide effort, we have fought against voter suppression and partisan gerrymandering, and promoted trust in our elections and our election officials. Our 400+ volunteers have phone banked, sent postcards, given people rides to the polls, and testified at hearings on the need for fair and nonpartisan maps. 
  • We also work with organizations to support the work of racial justice. Over 350 people so far have taken our pledge for racial equity and are organizing across the state to advocate for school curricula and policies that promote racial justice. Committed and thoughtful people, all!

I know all of you at Temple Beth El will be with us in 2022. I am excited to see what all of you thoughtful and committed people can do as we work together to change the world!
 

June 14, 2025 18 Sivan 5785