Jewish Community Action (JCA) is a statewide religious organization in Minnesota that advocates for left-of-center policies and narratives on issues like racial equality, immigration, and schools. ¹ Its advocacy has resulted in municipal-level housing policy changes in several cities. ²

JCA often engages with state and national organizations to advocate for its legal and cultural initiatives. ^{3 4} In 2020, it directed resources to supporting protests following the death of George Floyd. ⁵

Background

Jewish Community Action was created in 1995 to build coalitions between various Jewish and non-Jewish organizations to effect left-of-center social change across Minnesota. ⁶ Its national partners are Bend the Arc Jewish Action and Jewish Social Justice Roundtable, and its state partners range from other religious groups to more traditionally left-of-center organizations like the abortion advocacy group ProChoice Minnesota and the immigration-liberalization advocacy group UnidosMN. ^{7 8}

JCA focuses on four main issue areas. Its decriminalization initiative helps those eligible for early release from prison apply for it, tries to stop local police from enforcing immigration policies against those who enter the country illegally, and helps wrongfully convicted individuals clear their records. ⁹  

JCA’s housing reform efforts are extensive, especially in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. Its initiatives led to housing law changes in several cities, including repealing an eviction law in St. Louis Park. ¹⁰  

The combating hate initiative largely consists of being part of a coalition that advocates for increased taxpayer-funded resources for reporting alleged hate crimes and provides community support after alleged hate crimes. ¹¹  

The democracy initiative focuses on opposing alleged white nationalism. ¹²

Initiatives

Most of Jewish Community Action’s work is done through coalition letters and similar efforts. For example, in 2024, it joined education groups to oppose proposed Minneapolis Public School budget cuts that the city said were needed due to declining enrollment, the end of COVID-era funding, and increased expenses. ¹³ It also joined other Minnesota groups to oppose a state bill that it said would negatively impact senior housing. ¹⁴

In 2023, JCA signed a coalition letter to U.S. Congress claiming that its members were endangering the public by using “white supremacist” and “anti-immigrant” rhetoric. ¹⁵

Another 2023 letter was written to oppose “Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate” after a Palestinian woman and her son were stabbed by their landlord following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. ^{16 17}

JCA co-hosted an event promoting climate alarmism in early 2024. ¹⁸

Racial Protests

Jewish Community Action’s most intense activism has come during its participation in, and support for protests after police killings of black men, particularly while protecting those hurt during protests. A 2020 Times of Israel article described the group as putting other work on hold to prioritize medical care for protesters, giving food to those whose grocery stores were ruined, and stopping arsonists from damaging “black-owned businesses” following the police-involved death of George Floyd. ¹⁹

The same article described JCA as more protest-oriented in 2015 after Minneapolis police shot a man who had assaulted his girlfriend and tried to take a police officer’s weapon during a subsequent scuffle. JCA participated directly in protests, stood between protesters and police, and participated in the occupation of a police precinct. ²⁰

Leadership

Beth Gendler is Jewish Community Action’s executive director. A longtime left-of-center activist on a variety of issues, she has held her role with JCA since 2022. ²¹

Liz Loeb is JCA’s board chair. ²² Her career spans roles with the ACLU, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and as of July 2024, the position of associate director of Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light. ²³

Financials

In 2022, Jewish Community Action’s revenue was $661,721. Its expenses totaled $856,198, and its assets totaled $810,216. ²⁴

1. Our Mission. Jewish Community Action. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.jewishcommunityaction.org/our-mission
2. Housing Justice. Jewish Community Action. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.jewishcommunityaction.org/housing-justice
3. Our Mission. Jewish Community Action. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.jewishcommunityaction.org/our-mission
4. Partners. We Choose Us. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.wechooseusmn.com/partners
5. Hanau, Shira. “Minneapolis Jewish activists shift to one issue: Support George Floyd protests.” Times of Israel. June 3, 2020. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.timesofisrael.com/minneapolis-jewish-activists-shift-to-one-issue-support-george-floyd-protests/
6. Our Mission. Jewish Community Action. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.jewishcommunityaction.org/our-mission
7. Partners. We Choose Us. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.wechooseusmn.com/partners
8. Our Mission. Jewish Community Action. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.jewishcommunityaction.org/our-mission
9. Decriminalizing Communities. Jewish Community Action. Accessed July 29, 2024. https://www.jewishcommunityaction.org/decriminalizing-communities
10. Housing Justice. Jewish Community Action. Accessed July 29, 2024. https://www.jewishcommunityaction.org/housing-justice
11. Combating Hate. Jewish Community Action. Accessed July 29, 2024. https://www.jewishcommunityaction.org/combating-hate
12. Multiracial Democracy. Jewish Community Action. Accessed July 29, 2024. https://www.jewishcommunityaction.org/multiracial-democracy
13. Leone, Beret. “Minneapolis Public School educators push back against proposed budget cuts: “We deserve so much more.” CBS News. April 2, 2024. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minneapolis-public-school-educators-budget-cuts/
14. “Indigenous Rights & Climate Justice: A Jewish Opportunity to Rise & Repair.” Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light. February 8, 2024. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.mnipl.org/2024/02/indigenous-rights-climate-justice-a-jewish-opportunity-to-rise-repair/
15. “El Paso Shooting Anniversary: NCJW and 160+ Other Organizations Urge Congress to Denounce White Supremacist, Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric.” National Council of Jewish Women. August 1, 2023. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.ncjw.org/news/el-paso-anniversary/
16. “Over 100 Jewish Groups Unequivocally Reject Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate.” Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. October 17, 2023. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://jewishphilly.org/over-100-jewish-groups-unequivocally-reject-islamophobia-and-anti-arab-hate/
17. Rodgers, Nate. “Court documents reveal new information about murder of 6-year-old Muslim boy.” Fox 32 Chicago. October 16, 2023. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/wadea-al-fayoume-court-documents-new-information-murder-muslim-boy
18. “Indigenous Rights & Climate Justice: A Jewish Opportunity to Rise & Repair.” Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light. February 8, 2024. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.mnipl.org/2024/02/indigenous-rights-climate-justice-a-jewish-opportunity-to-rise-repair/
19. Hanau, Shira. “Minneapolis Jewish activists shift to one issue: Support George Floyd protests.” The Times of Israel. June 3, 2020. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.timesofisrael.com/minneapolis-jewish-activists-shift-to-one-issue-support-george-floyd-protests/
20. McLaughlin, Elliott C., Sanchez, Ray. “Minneapolis police clear officers in fatal shooting of Jamar Clark.” CNN. October 21, 2016. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/21/us/jamar-clark-shooting/index.html
21. Our Team. Jewish Community Action. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.jewishcommunityaction.org/staff-and-board
22. Our Team. Jewish Community Action. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.jewishcommunityaction.org/staff-and-board
23. Liz Loeb. Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.mnipl.org/who-we-are/our-staff/liz-loeb/
24. Jewish Community Action. ProPublica. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/411830619