CALLS TO ACTION
RAC-PA Campaign to End Gun Violence
RAC-PA Campaign to End Gun Violence
RAC-PA is partnering with CeaseFirePA to get the PA General Assembly to pass life-saving gun violence prevention legislation by the end of 2024. As we prepare for End Gun Violence Advocacy Day at the State Capitol in Harrisburg on May 7, Beth David and Temple Beth Achim are teaming up to host a screening of Deadly By Design, a series of videos featuring Pennsylvanians impacted by gun violence.
As we watch and discuss their heart-wrenching stories, we’ll grapple with the ways in which easy access to guns drives gun violence in our society. A basic, life-saving gun safety system would close the gaps that allow firearms into fatal hands. That’s what this campaign is all about.
So, join us on April 16 to hear from Pennsylvanians about the losses they’ve suffered under current laws and policies. Then take action with us to bring about the changes needed to save lives. Sign up for the program at http://rac.org/dbd. Light refreshments will be served.
Join us May 7 for CeaseFirePA & RAC-PA’s End Gun Violence Advocacy Day
RAC-PA, the Pennsylvania arm of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, has launched the Campaign to End Gun Violence in partnership with CeaseFirePA. Our goal is to pass life-saving gun violence prevention legislation in the PA General Assembly by the end of 2024. Given Beth David’s long-standing commitment to ending gun violence we’re urging members to get involved in the campaign.
Our current focus is on securing passage of two bills: HB 714, which closes dangerous loopholes in PA’s background check system, and HB 1018, which authorizes courts to issue Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs). An ERPO allows an individual’s firearms to be removed from their home, so they can get the help they need before it is too late.
These bills were passed by the PA House with bipartisan support last May. Since then, they have been languishing in the Judiciary Committee of the PA Senate. It is up to people like us to apply enough pressure on the leaders of the PA Senate to force them to hold a committee hearing and take a vote to release the bill to the entire Senate.
For the past two months, Reform Jews and others people across PA have been writing letters and making phone calls to the three State Senators who decide whether these bills get a hearing and a vote in the Judiciary Committee. Now we’re taking the next step. CeaseFirePA, with RAC-PA ‘s support, has declared May 7th End Gun Violence Advocacy Day. 500+ gun violence prevention advocates, including scores of Reform Jews, will be convening at the State Capitol to demand action.
CeaseFirePA will be setting up meetings for attendees with their legislators. After the meetings, there will be an End Gun Violence Rally on the steps outside the State Capitol. CeaseFirePA has arranged bus transportation to/from Harrisburg from several locations in our area.
So join us on May 7 and make your voice heard. Sign up at for End Gun Violence Advocacy Day at http://rac.org/May7. For questions, contact Beth David member Sandy Portnoy at spsportnoy@gmail.com.
Have Your Say: Be Sure to Vote in the 2024 PA Primary on Tuesday, April 23
A year or two years ago, many of us were eagerly anticipating the 2024 PA Primary Election. For once, Pennsylvanians would have meaningful input into the selection of one, possibly two, of the candidates running for president. My, how things change.
Both 2020 presidential candidates, Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump, have essentially locked up the nomination of their respective parties. So, why bother to vote in the primary.?
To make the primary even less appealing, the date of the 2024 PA Primary, April 23, coincides with the first full day of Passover. As explained in a February 21, 2024 article iin the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, “…halachically observant Jews cannot go to the polls to vote that day. The situation also may impact Jewish institutions that serve as polling places [like Beth David] and Jewish poll workers.”
Why should you still vote, besides the fact that you should always vote? There are many offices beside President on the ballot this year, including all members of the U.S. House, one of our two U.S. Senators, the entire State House, and half of the State Senate. A number of these races involve competitive primaries. In addition, three statewide offices are up for grabs: Attorney General, Treasurer, and Auditor. Most of these offices involve competitive primaries. Don’t you want to have a say in who will represent your party in November?
As for voting on Passover, there is an easy solution: vote using a mail-in ballot. The key deadlines are shown in the image below, along with links to take action. Please note, the links in the image aren’t “live.” That is, you’ll need to type them into your web browser to access the pages.
Regarding synagogues serving as polling places and Jewish people serving as poll workers, these decisions are up to individual synagogues and individual voters. Beth David has decided it will serve as a polling place on April 23. And deciding to vote in person is a personal choice.
Lastly, if you are interested in being a poll worker on election day, there is still time to sign up. Visit the Committee of Seventy at seventy.org/become-a-poll-worker for more information.
(Please note: The links in the image below aren’t “live.” That is, you’ll need to type them into your web browser to access the pages.)
Beth David Electronics Recycling Initiative
In Partnership with PAR Recycle Works
Looking for a way to dispose of your old electronic devices in an environmentally safe way? Beth David has the solution.
We have embarked on a social action project in partnership with PAR Recycle Works. PAR, which stands for “People Advancing Reintegration,” is a nonprofit electronics recycler that helps protect the environment, while providing transitional employment, job skills training, and re-entry support to help formerly incarcerated men and women make a successful transition to life after prison. (Watch this video for more about PAR.)
One method PAR uses to accomplish this mission is to partner with local businesses and organizations, including synagogues and other houses of worship, to provide electronics recycling or e-cycling services. The partner collects eligible items at their location, and PAR collects and properly disposes of them. PAR accepts a wide variety of items as shown in the list below.
Beth David recently became a PAR Recycle Works partner. PAR has placed a collection bin in the lobby outside Beth David’s office. Synagogue members can simply “dump” their old electronics in the bin whenever the synagogue is open. PAR will come by on a regular basis, typically every 3 weeks, to collect the contents of the bin.
Items accepted for e-cycling are as follows:
· Computers & laptops (no monitor
· Phones & tablets
· Chargers & other power devices
· Speakers
· Cords & cables
· Motherboards
· Keyboards and mice
· Cable boxes/routers
· Printers
· AV equipment
· Gaming consoles and controllers
· Small appliances like food processors, toasters, blenders, dust busters, etc.
Note: PAR will destroy hard drives in computers. However, if you feel more comfortable, remove hard drives before dropping off your computers and laptops. In addition, standalone monitors are not accepted.
We hope Beth David members will take advantage of this convenient, responsible e-cycling service. By using PAR’s services not only will we be helping the environment, but we will also be helping provide formerly incarcerated men and women with a path to successful re-entry and second-chance employment. For questions or suggestions about this program, contact Jill Cooper or Bill Madway.
P.S. Members are also encouraged to see if the organization they work for would consider serving as a location for an e-cycling bin or hosting an e-cycling event.