Why Jews must stand up for
LIBERALISM
Our Mission is to support liberal principles of free thought and expression, advance viewpoint diversity, counter the imposition of the Critical Social Justice (CSJ) ideology in the Jewish community, and highlight and oppose novel forms of antisemitism emerging from this ideology.
Dear Friend,
Welcome to the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values (JILV)! We are a new organization that supports the free expression of ideas and helps Jewish organizations that care about true social justice prevent the encroachment of the Critical Social Justice (CSJ) approach in the Jewish world.
The latest ideological trends and litmus tests prevent us from having important conversations and openly expressing ourselves. The proponents of these ideologies insist that people must agree with their view about social disparities on complicated topics such as race and gender. We don’t discount the view that there is bias and bigotry embedded in society’s structures. We just don’t think that’s the only set of views that should be aired, and we want Jews who have other ideas to be free to speak and be heard.
We believe that the capacity to discuss ideas and consider a wide range of views is critical for any thriving liberal society. Unfortunately, Jewish organizations have not been spared from efforts to silence dissent, and as a result, that capacity is being diminished in the Jewish world. If we cannot speak freely about challenging topics and difficult problems, people will only talk to people who agree with them. Without “argument for the sake of heaven” (machloket l’shem shamayim) we will be unable to solve problems together.
So what should we do about it?
The founders of the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values launched “A Letter to our Fellow Jews on equality and liberal values,” patterned after the Harper’s Letter of the Summer of 2021. We asked prominent members of the Jewish community to sign it to express their support for liberal values. We published the letter on May 5th, 2021, and opened it up for interested members of the Jewish community to consider and sign.
We simultaneously launched JILV in order to have a meaningful impact on Jewish civic discourse.
JILV is a resource on Critical Social Justice and liberalism for Jewish organizations. We facilitate discussions on sensitive topics; produce educational materials, articles, and videos; conduct advocacy campaigns to raise awareness and effect change; and organize key stakeholders, such as Rabbis, to advance Jewish and liberal values. In short, we aim to enrich the conversation within the Jewish world and empower Jews to protect liberalism, free expression, and democratic ideals.
If you feel as strongly as we do that liberalism is worth protecting, we invite you to join us in this critical work.
Sincerely,
David Bernstein
Founder/CEO
Pamela Paresky
Chair
Freedom to think as you will and to speak as you think are means indispensable to the discovery and spread of political truth; that without free speech and assembly discussion would be futile; … that the greatest menace to freedom is an inert people.
The Challenge to Liberalism in the
JEWISH COMMUNITY
Americans have work to do in curtailing racism and inequality. We must undertake this work, however, in a spirit of intellectual honesty and integrity. Critical Social Justice—the idea that there are hidden systems of oppression in America and that only marginalized people have the standing to define them—is a rising phenomenon in the organized Jewish community. It tends to stifle alternative views and prevents due consideration of such issues as racial justice and gender identity. Absent a balanced discussion, CSJ can corrupt the core values of many institutions and lead to cultures that restrict free thought. Such absolutist sentiment is a threat to the country and the Jewish community and fans the flames of antisemitism.
To learn more about CSJ and antisemitism, click here.
Defend
Liberal principles
Preserve
Jewish civic life in the democratic tradition
Oppose
Suppression of Dissent
Challenge
collective moral guilt
Highlight
Rising Ideological Antisemitism
How we Influence
THE DISCUSSION
Currently, the response to Critical Social Justice has been mixed in the Jewish world. There are Jewish groups that firmly oppose or ignore CSJ. There are groups that enthusiastically endorse it. And there are many mainstream Jewish organizations—national and local—that have yet to develop a clearly defined position. The Jewish Institute for Liberal Values (JILV) will help Jewish organizations and individuals hold constructive conversations about CSJ and ensure a balanced approach.
Role
JILV aims to reinforce Jewish values, such as discourse and debate, that are especially important for challenging topics. We don’t have to agree with one another—about politics or even religion—to come together and stand up for democratic liberal values.
EDUCATOR: Provide Jewish community learning opportunities on CSJ and liberalism and the connection of this ideology to antisemitism
FACILITATOR: Issue discussion guides and lead discussions of complicated issues on social justice with Jewish organizations
PRODUCER: Generate educational materials, blog posts, virtual meetings, videos and podcasts
MOBILIZER: Conduct advocacy campaigns to raise awareness and advance change
COLLABORATOR: Create meaningful connections with the broader movement for liberalism in American society
ORGANIZER: Assemble constituencies (e.g. rabbis, scholars, Jewish professionals, lay leaders, etc.) within the Jewish community
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News & Blog
RECENT POSTS
We post regularly about Liberal Values in the Jewish community. We invite JILV followers to contribute articles to our blog on relevant topics. Contact david@jilv.org if you are interested in contributing.
Who decides who is privileged? | Unpacked
Who decides who is privileged? | Video Produced with UnpackedUNPACKED teamed up with JILV about the occurrences of left-wing activists promoting antisemitic tropes and stereotypes in the name of social justice.
Download Policy Brief – ‘Liberated’ Ethnic Studies
POLICY BRIEFHow Jewish Organizations Should Respond to the Spread of “Liberated” Ethnic Studies
Can a social justice movement go too far – a Canadian case study
Wednesday, December 14th at 2:00 PM EST LIVESTREAM A panel discussion on how social justice movements have manifested for our neighbors to the north, exploring how Canadians are managing the ideological influences and their unique impact on the Jewish community....
Contact info
info@jilv.org
Phone
(301) 452-8136
