Social Justice Action Roundup, June 2025
As usual, CBST is out in the community doing all kinds of work to repair our broken world, showing up in so many ways to live our values in public. Here’s a roundup of where we’ve been doing the work in June.
Protest/Rally/Demonstration Highlights:
On June 6, CBST celebrated Trans Pride Shabbat (kicking off Pride Month) with a service honoring the many trans and nonbinary teachers of Torah who have enriched CBST’s learning and praying over decades. From former Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Interns to composers to writers of new ritual and prayer, we’re so proud to be continually learning from this part of our community. And we loved sharing copies of books by Joy Ladin, S. Bear Bergman, and Kyle Lukoff, especially Kyle’s wonderful Little Golden Book about Pride, which was given to all service attendees!
In preparation for the No Kings protests on June 14, we hosted a sign-making space before Shabbat services for anyone who wanted to get their message ready for the march! Our community’s signs reflected our love for our immigrant friends, our trans and nonbinary family (especially trans kids!), our deep concerns about healthcare, and more. It was nearly impossible to count on Saturday, but we think at least 50 CBSTers joined the march together, even though we got separated early!
CBST’s Actions in June 2025
June 6: Trans Pride Shabbat at CBST, including readings and music and Torah from many trans and nonbinary teachers of Torah at CBST from the last few decades.
June 11: Thanks to our Ending Mass Incarceration Team’s connection with the New York Jewish Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform (NYJCCJR), where CBST member Jess Balk serves on the Steering Committee, Rabbi Werber was delighted to join the celebration of the publication of “The Very Narrow Bridge: A Rikers Island Siddur.” Congratulations to Jess and to everyone involved in making Jewish content and comfort more accessible to our incarcerated neighbors!
June 11: Our CBST, the Middle East & Me Team welcomed long-time friend (and photographer!) of CBST Gili Getz, who spoke about his most recent visit to Israel and his work with Combatants for Peace, and what Israeli-Palestinian groups are doing to work for an end to the war, the return of the hostages, aid for Gaza, and an end to attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank during these increasingly fraught times. Gili packed a lot into a very thoughtful presentation, and we are definitely planning to bring him back!
June 13: On Friday evening, we hosted a pre-Shabbat protest sign-making table in CBST’s lobby in preparation for the No Kings protest, with more than a dozen people making signs!
June 14: At least 50 CBSTers joined the No Kings protest together in New York City, many walking together to Bryant Park from Shabbat lunch after services, and others meeting up with the Beacon group, and others outside NYC joining parallel protests in cities across the US.
June 17: Rabbi James and others showed up at Foley Square on very short notice when NYC Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested while accompanying immigrants to court at Federal Plaza.
June 18: After the Supreme Court decision on Skrmetti is announced, a devastating blow for trans healthcare in the US, Rabbi James and several CBST members show up at Union Square for a vigil and protest for trans rights. Photos and details from Gay City News.
June 20: Ruth Messinger was CBST’s Family & Friends Shabbat guest speaker, focusing on the current administration’s attacks on immigration, and encouraging all of us to do more to tangibly support our immigrant friends and neighbors.
June 23: In honor of Pride, CBST led this week’s Multifaith Monday vigil at Columbus Circle, with Cantor Rosen leading Pride and justice-themed singing, and Rabbi Klein, Rabbi Werber, CRRI Alana Krivo-Kaufman, and CBST member Liz Edman speaking.
June 25: The Ark Immigration Clinic at CBST hosts a Pride Community Time gathering, with over 50 volunteers and immigrant friends sharing stories about the things that make us proud. And this month, we’re celebrating reaching 70 asylees who have won their cases through the Ark!
Our Rapid Response Signal group shares opportunities to show up on short notice for rallies, vigils, and more, focusing on issues that are most deeply connected to our community – threats to trans and nonbinary people, immigrants, and religious minorities, for example.
Interested? Join the Signal Group!
Not sure what Signal is or how to use it? Signal is a communications app like WhatsApp or iMessage that allows groups to easily and somewhat privately communicate with each other. Here’s a short video tutorial for how to get started using it.
Interested in being on the Rapid Response leadership team, and maybe being an admin for the Signal group? Email Rabbi James to express