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 July and August.
Protest/Rally/Demonstration Highlights:
On July 28, a group of about two dozen CBSTers joined T’ruah, New York Jewish Agenda, Partners for Progressive Israel, and several other organizations for a protest calling to get food aid to Gaza, end the war, bring back the hostages, and stop ethnic cleansing.
We are proud that CBST’s Senior Rabbi Jason Klein was among 8 New York rabbis arrested at the Israeli Consulate while blocking 5th Avenue in an act of civil disobedience, and Rabbi James was one of the marshals. Read more about the core values behind this protest here.
CBST’s Actions in July/August 2025
July 17: The Good Trouble Lives On National Day of Action in honor of John Lewis brought together thousands of New Yorkers, including dozens of CBST’ers, with Rabbi Werber joining the rally as one of the speakers calling to protect due process, civil rights, and our immigrant friends.
July 18: Rabbi Jill Jacobs is our Shabbat evening guest speaker, teaching about antisemitism in the context of Israel-Palestine discourse and activism, the first of a series of three speakers teaching about antisemitism at CBST this summer/fall. Watch her talk here.
July 19: Annual TransLatinx March with Make the Road in Queens
July 25: Wear a Hat to Shul Shabbat in honor of Bella Abzug’s 105th birthday.
July 26: ADA 35 – The Future is Disabled Rally & March for Disability Justice
July 28: CBST joins several other Jewish organizations for a protest calling to get food aid to Gaza, end the war, bring back the hostages, and stop ethnic cleansing. Rabbi Jason Klein was among the rabbis arrested in an act of civil disobedience, and Rabbi James was one of the marshals.
August 4: Rabbi Jason Klein is one of the speakers at the “Jews Say No More” mass mobilization for Gaza in front of Trump Hotel at Columbus Circle, calling to end the starvation and stop ethnic cleansing.
August 22: Avodah Justice Fellows join Aleinu Oneg ice cream shmooze to talk about how Avodah’s Justice Fellowship organizes and trains young Jewish social justice leaders in New York City.
August 18: Free Them All – White Coats & Scrubs Action at Federal Plaza, demanding medical access and release for detained individuals.
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