Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) is an American left-wingnon-profit grassroots Jewish organization based in New York City. JFREJ describes itself as a "movement to dismantle racism and economic exploitation". It operates both a 501(c)(3), also known as JFREJ Community and a 501(c)(4) known as JFREJ Action.[1][2]
History
JFREJ was founded in New York City in 1990. Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz served as the organization's first director.[3] While initially focused on local issues, JFREJ's first event was a Shabbat gathering honoring Nelson Mandela during his visit to New York City in June 1990. Mandela's visit drew mixed reactions from the local Jewish community, with organizations including the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, the American Jewish Congress, and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations requested him to clarify his stance on Israel following recent interactions with Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat and Libyan president Muammar Gaddafi.[4][5][6] Some members of New York City's Jewish community protested Mandela during his visit.[7] To counter to this response, JFREJ's first event, held on June 15, 1990, honored Mandela and raised $50,000 for the anti-apartheid movement.[8]
Between the early 2000s and 2010, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) participated in the campaign led by Domestic Workers United (DWU) to pass the Domestic Worker's Bill of Rights in New York State.[11][12] JFREJ began collaborating with DWU in 2002 and supported the passage of a New York City Council resolution for domestic workers' rights in 2003–2004. JFREJ worked with Jewish employers of domestic workers to improve employment practices and advocate alongside domestic workers to secure the legislation.[11] After the bill's successful passage, Ai-jen Poo of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and JFREJ members who had been organizing domestic employers established Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network.[13][14]
From its founding through the mid-2010s, JFREJ primarily consisted of white Jews and engaged with non-white communities through partnerships with non-Jewish organizations. In 2014, Leo Ferguson joined the organization to promote greater inclusion of the diversity within the Jewish community. By 2020, this effort resulted in increased diversity within JFREJ's membership, the establishment of a Jews of Color caucus led by Ferguson, and a staff composition that included a third of members from racially diverse Jewish backgrounds.[16]
Following the Monsey Hanukkah stabbing in 2019, Audrey Sasson, JFREJ executive director, opposed increased police presence as a response to antisemitism, expressing concerns that such measures could make Black Jews and other Jews of color feel unsafe.[21]
In June 2022, the Anti-Defamation League condemned JFREJ as "out of touch" with mainstream Jewish-American opinion. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt retweeted a Twitter thread describing JFREJ and the Jewish Vote as a "far-left scam." An ADL spokesperson later affirmed the organization's stance that JFREJ does not represent Jewish opinion or values. Sophie Ellman-Golan, JFREJ's communications director, responded by criticizing the ADL for questioning the Jewish identity of JFREJ members.[22]
The Jewish Vote played a significant role in Jamaal Bowman's successful 2020 primary campaign in New York's 16th Congressional District.[25] Before launching his campaign, Bowman met with JFREJ members to discuss Jewish history and antisemitism. During the campaign, 100 JFREJ members volunteered under the banner #JewsForJamaal to support his candidacy.[26]
Fair Pay for Home Care
As a member of the NY Caring Majority Coalition, JFREJ advocated for the passage of the Fair Pay for Home Care Act in New York State, which proposed increasing home care workers' wages to 150% of the minimum wage.[27] The wage increase did not reach the target of 150% in 2022, with the state budget including a $8 billion investment over four years to raise wages for home care workers.[28]
Fighting antisemitism and white nationalism
JFREJ has provided advice to the White House on combating antisemitism.[29]
In 2019, JFREJ launched NYC Against Hate, a coalition of community-based organizations focused on enhancing safety for minority communities in New York City. The initiative received over $1 million in funding from the New York City Council as part of the 2020 budget. This funding was eliminated in the 2021 budget.[32] Together with its coalition partners, JFREJ organizes community safety canvasses and bystander intervention training sessions in response to incidents of antisemitism.[33]
In 2016, JFREJ organized a month-long #JewsForBlackLives campaign, culminating in a march of 400 participants, which was the largest Jewish mobilization for Black Lives Matter at the time.[36]
In 2018, members of JFREJ's Jews of Color caucus organized a Juneteenth Seder, using traditions from the Passover Seder. The event highlighted demands for justice for Black New Yorkers killed by the NYPD and called for reparations.[37]
