December 2023
Pushing Back, Inching Forward
I think my message on the winter solstice should be to find the light. At the end of 2023, this message feels like a cliché. Even so, our only ways forward are to identify ways to push back and to honor those who are doing the work.
But I am finding it hard to write about “wins” this year about abortion access, an area of social justice NCJW supports. It’s hard to write about these victories when around the country abortion rights and women’s rights are under attack. We have lost so much ground since the fall of Roe in 2022 that it is impossible not to feel under siege.
Indeed, there have been wins. In November, Ohio voters refused to let their state legislators restrict access to abortion. Here in the Commonwealth, Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced the creation of a Reproductive Justice Unit to safeguard abortion access and guarantee maternal health care, especially for women of color and women with low incomes. There are also initiatives around the state to prosecute Crisis Pregnancy Centers when there is evidence they deceive pregnant people seeking reproductive and abortion care. For a roundup of good things happening in the State, take a look at MassLive’s post from October.
There are people and organizations continuing to work to make the country and the Commonwealth fairer and safer. NCJW is one of them. Many of our activists have honed in on municipal ordinances to regulate CPCs this year. Our state policy advocate Lara Crawford has worked with activists from Springfield to Boston to form coalitions to advocate for abortion rights. Many NCJW members also show up and stand out. We are making phone calls and sending emails to hold municipal, state, and national representatives accountable.
At year-end, many of us also consider fighting for women by making charitable contributions. The Jewish concept tzedakah which shares a linguistic root with tzedek, or justice, guides us to share the gleanings at the edges of our fields with those whose needs may be greater than our own. This is but one way to advocate for justice. It is nonetheless essential.
If you want to contribute to an organization whose activists are finding the energy and purpose to “do the work,” I’ve listed some websites below suggesting nonprofits moving the needle on abortion rights. It’s always a good idea to check a website such as GuideStar or Charity Navigator for a due diligence check. NCJW can’t vouch for any specific nonprofit’s reputability.
National Network of Abortion Funds
Reproductive Equity Now
Katie Couric Media
HeyJane
Abortion, Everyday
I am wishing each of you the strength and courage to pursue justice in 2024, whatever this next year may bring. Thank you for reading Deep Dive.