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Sisterhood and Men’s Club Dinner Attendees Hear about Statewide Interfaith Voter Engagement Project 

01/13/2020 11:49:26 AM

Jan13

At the annual TBE Sisterhood and Men’s Club dinner on December 17, Rabbi Bonnie Margulis offered an inside look at how Wisconsin Council of Churches and Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice are working together to maximize the role of people of faith in the public square and to forge connections between faith communities in the common goal of civic engagement.

Rabbi Margulis began with a text study highlighting Jewish teachings that require us to stay positively engaged with the cities and nations that we live in. In a modern democratic society, this involvement takes the form of civic engagement, voting for leaders, and making sure they represent the values we consider most important.

Similar teachings are common to a number of faiths, and many congregations wonder what they can do to make their voices heard. For that reason, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) offered grants to five organizations nationwide to explore how faith-based organizations could make a greater contribution to democracy and civic life. The Wisconsin Council of Churches and Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice were honored to receive one of these five grants.

The Wisconsin project seeks to increase voter registration and turnout, particularly in underserved regions and populations, and to promote interfaith relationships among the participating organizations and congregations. They hope to organize several communities around the state where interfaith groups will work together toward these goals, in ways that seem appropriate for each particular location. Some locations will offer voter ambassador training for participants and voter registration drives, followed by get-out-the-vote activities in the fall.

A kickoff event will be held on February 13 in both Madison and Milwaukee, with education, entertainment, and community organizing. Discussion will include possible local activities and how to stay safely nonpartisan as a nonprofit organization. If you would like to attend this event, please contact
Marcia Vandercook.

This effort dovetails beautifully with the URJ Religious Action Center’s 2020 initiative, Civic Engagement: Every Congregation Counts, Every Vote Counts. This initiative seeks to empower all people to exercise their right to vote and ensure that Jewish voices and values are present in the public square. This campaign was previewed at the December Biennial in Chicago, where congregations were urged to get involved. Learn more here.

At TBE, the Social Action Committee is developing a plan for our own involvement, in conjunction with these statewide and national efforts. Stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, if you want training to assist with voter registrations, learn more here. 

April 23, 2024 15 Nisan 5784