Social Justice Action Roundup, March & April 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 March/April.
Protest/Rally/Demonstration Highlights:
Rabbi Klein at Columbia Protesting the Deportation of Mahmoud Khalil
Rabbi Jason Klein, a Columbia alumnus, joined the Columbia and Barnard chapters of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), JFREJ, and other Jewish community leaders, rabbis, immigrant rights advocates to speak out against the unprecedented and unconstitutional arrest of a permanent resident and Columbia graduate student in retaliation for his political activity.
You can watch Rabbi Klein’s remarks at the full press conference online here.
CBST members join Rabbi James and Rabbi Moskowitz Protesting a Visit by Israeli Far-Right Politician Itamar Ben Gvir
CBST joined Jewish groups from across the denominational and ideological spectrum to tell Itamar Ben Gvir that we see his long history of violent rhetoric and action and policy, we see his fascist desire to destroy Gaza and abandon the remaining hostages, and he is *not welcome* here. Speakers included Rabbi Jill Jacobs of T’ruah, Congressman Jerry Nadler, CBST Senior Rabbi Emerita Sharon Kleinbaum, and Rabbi Mike Moskowitz.
Read the statement that our friends at T’ruah have shared here.
Protesting Illegal Deportations at “Free Andry” Action with Rise and Resist and Act Up
More of CBST’s Action in March and April 2025
March 7 – CBST marks Repro Shabbat with guest speaker Elise Keppler, Executive Director of the Global Justice Center
March 10 – Rabbi Jason Klein speaks at Columbia protest (highlighted above)
March 13 – Rabbi Mike Moskowitz was a featured speaker at Multifaith Monday vigil, of which CBST is a co-host
March 17 – Rabbi Jason Klein a featured speaker at Multifaith Monday vigil
March 26 – Rabbi Marisa James testifies with NYCLU against proposed state mask ban on a call with state legislators
March 24-31 – CBST participates in Trans Week of Visibility & Equality, with social media posts about legal support, supporting trans authors, and defending trans youth.
March 25 – Rabbi Marisa James speaks at Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Memorial
March 28 – Victoria Foster from A4TE speaks at CBST for Trans Day of Visibility Shabbat
March 31 – CBST contingent at Trans Day of Visibility march at Union Square
April 4 – Pre-Shabbat protest sign-making for Saturday’s NYC Hands Off March
April 5 – Hands Off March in NYC – CBST contingent joins from Shabbat Shalem
April 11 – New resource for Passover from our Ark Immigration Clinic friends, used at CBST’s second seder and shared with over 12,000 members of the CBST and Ark Clinic communities
April 24 – Protest against extremist Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir with Rabbi Mike Moskowitz as a featured speaker
April 24 – Free Andry protest at the Permanent Mission of El Salvador
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