Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA)

Background

The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action is a membership-based group established in 2001. It has filed amicus briefs in court cases, worked with lawmakers on legislative proposals, and hosted briefings and trainings on national and state issues. ⁴

The group was part of a coalition of over 100 Jewish organizations expressing opposition to the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28/ S. 9), arguing that “banning transgender women and girls from participating in school sports teams consistent with their gender identity” would be harmful. ⁵

JALSA partners with the left-of-center Jewish group Bend the Arc, ⁶ as well as ICE Out of Massachusetts, the Jewish Abortion Access Coalition, and the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. ⁷ It has received funding from the Tides Center and Tides Foundation, ^{8 9} the Arabella Advisors-managed New Venture Fund, ¹⁰ and the Proteus Fund. ¹¹

Financials

In 2023, The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action reported revenues of $1,313,418 and expenses of $972,739. ¹²

JALSA received $12,000 from the Tides Center in 2022 ⁸ and $10,000 from the Tides Foundation in 2020. ⁹ The group also received $10,000 from the Proteus Fund in 2023 ¹³ and $15,000 in 2022. ¹⁴

In 2019, JALSA received $15,000 from the Arabella Advisors-managed New Venture Fund. ¹⁵

Jews United for Justice gave JALSA a $37,700 “for Jewish organizing subgrant” in 2021, ¹⁶ and JALSA received $7,500 from the New Israel Fund in 2022. ¹⁷

Initiatives

The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action’s legislative priorities cover a wide range of issues, including “economic justice,” “immigrant justice,” and individual privacy. ³

Economic Policy

JALSA supported legislation to raise the minimum wage in Massachusetts to $20 per hour. ³

Immigration

JALSA supported Massachusetts legislation that would allow unlawfully present Massachusetts residents to get state identification cards.The group also supported legislation to prevent local and state law enforcement from being “deputized as ICE agents” and to prevent sheriffs from renting “bed space for immigration detention.” ³

Privacy

JALSA supported state legislation to ban the sale of mobile phone geolocation data. The group argued that the data “can be used to track visits to sensitive locations like abortion clinics.” ³

Leadership

Cindy Rowe was the CEO and president of Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action as of June 2025. She has advocated for a $15 minimum wage in Massachusetts and government-guaranteed paid medical and family leave. ¹⁸

Larry Bailis was president of the board, and Mike Gildesgame and Mary Ellen Grossman were vice presidents in 2023. ¹⁹

JALSA director of policy and advocacy David Albright has consulted and worked as campaign manager for many state- and municipal-level candidates in Massachusetts. He is on the Bay State Stonewall Democrats board and is a “member of the Democratic State Committee.” ¹⁸

Organizer Hank Greenberg worked for Montgomery County Democrats in Pennsylvania. During the 2024 election season, he created a volunteer network of over 800 people in West Philadelphia to knock on doors for then-Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. ¹⁸