Jewish values and history propel Bend the Arc: Pittsburgh’s efforts to ally with marginalized communities across geographical, racial, ethnic, and socio-economic lines. We have been on the receiving end of injustices and believe that our collective experience commands us to pursue justice to maintain an ethical society (Deuteronomy 16:18). 

Bend the Arc: Pittsburgh has put these values into practice, engaging with Casa San Jose, LCLAA, B-PEP, CAIR, the JCC Center for Loving Kindness, and the ACLU because we have a common enemy in injustice in whatever form. Whether it is voting rights, the fight for fair immigration policy, solidarity with workers, or the basic right to safely live in Pittsburgh without the fear of harassment or violence, we stand with these organizations and others to ensure everyone has a chance at their ideal American experience. 

Programs have included:

• A havdalah vigil for immigrants and refugees as a response to the Muslim ban
• An exploration of the intersection of voting rights and race
• Bystander intervention training
• Engaging in a sit-in in the rotunda of the Russel Senate Office Building
• Phone banking to ensure everyone has the right to affordable and effective healthcare

As Jews, it is our moral, ethical, and historical imperative to remain vigilant and ready to act when we see imbalances in power.