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Non-profit

T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

Website:

truah.org
Location:

New York, NY
Tax ID:

45-0464545
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $2,579,620
Expenses: $2,704,820
Assets: $1,132,356
Type:

Human rights advocacy group
Formation:

2002
CEO:

Jill Jacobs

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights (T’ruah) is a religious nonprofit organization based in New York that seeks to train and mobilize rabbis, cantors, and their communities to advance left-of-center narratives about human rights issues in North America, Israel, and the disputed Palestinian territories. T’ruah considers Israel’s relationship with the Palestinians in the disputed territories to be “occupation” and calls for an end to what it considers Israeli control over Palestinians. 1

T’ruah supports a variety of left-of-center political positions, including increased access to abortion, and has been critical of both President Donald Trump’s and former President Joe Biden’s support for Israel, especially during the Israel-Hamas war. T’ruah has also been critical of the Israeli government’s prosecution of the Israel-Hamas war, calling Israel’s government “far-right” and “extremist.” T’ruah also opposes Trump administration immigration policies. 2 3 1 4

Background

T’ruah was founded in 2002 as Rabbis for Human Rights-North America (RHR-NA) and acted as Rabbis for Human Rights’ sister organization. In that capacity, RHR-NA partnered with RHR on human rights campaigns in Israel and raised millions of dollars to support RHR’s work. In January 2013, RHR-NA became an independent organization under its current name. 1 The organizations announced that the name change and financial separation were an attempt to distinguish the institutions and address confusion among supporters. 5

Since becoming an independent organization, T’ruah has expanded its advocacy efforts. The group opposed President Donald Trump‘s immigration policies during his first administration, including child separation for asylum seekers, and helped shut down the Homestead detention center in Florida. T’ruah has expanded its online work by hosting virtual training and educational settings to promote a left-of-center view on “immigration, working in a red state, (re)thinking Zionism(s), racial justice, and more.” 1

In 2022, T’ruah founded the Emor Institute for Bold Jewish Thought, a Jewish intellectual and political center dedicated to defending “racial justice, feminism, LGBTQ rights, and immigration.” 6

Initiatives

T’ruah has several initiatives and engages in various political activities. It operates a year-in-Israel program for rabbis and cantors attending “liberal Jewish seminaries.” 7 T’ruah also sponsors tours of the West Bank to present the pro-Palestinian perspective to its rabbis and advocates. 8 T’ruah hosts various other educational and training sessions, both in-person and virtually. 9

Issues

Some of T’ruah’s priority political issues are immigration, race, antisemitism, and mass incarceration. 10 11 12 T’ruah has penned open letters to the Trump campaign and administration accusing it of spreading violent rhetoric about immigrants and calling for an end to policies that enforce United States immigration and customs laws. 13 4 T’ruah has also expressed its support for Black Lives Matter and a race-first policy view based on critical race theory. 14

In 2022, T’ruah expressed its opposition to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision which returned abortion regulation to the states, overturning Roe v. Wade. T’ruah claimed abortion is a Jewish value. 2

Israel-Palestinian Conflict

Related to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, T’ruah claims to support Israel and the Palestinians, opposing Israel’s military operations in the disputed Palestinian territories and the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The group calls for an end to what it calls “the occupation” of Palestinian territory by Israel. Although T’ruah itself does not participate in the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, it affirms the right of other groups to support the anti-Israel movement. 15 16 17

Chaverim Network and Affiliated Groups

T’ruah maintains a network of over 2,300 Jewish rabbis and cantors whom it claims to train in human rights advocacy. This network travels throughout North America, Israel, and the disputed territories advancing T’ruah’s left-of-center, pro-Palestinian position. 18

T’ruah is also a member of the Evacuate Our Allies coalition, a network of organizations advocating for the relocation and resettlement of at-risk Afghans to the United States. 19

T’ruah lists several partner institutions that oppose anti-BDS legislation and policies, including J Street, Americans for Peace Now (APN), the Progressive Israel Network, the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy & Protection at Georgetown Law School, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Israel and Antisemitism. 17

Leadership

Jill Jacobs, a rabbi, is the CEO of T’ruah. She is the author of Where Justice Dwells: A Hands-On Guide to Doing Social Justice in Your Jewish Community and There Shall Be No Needy: Pursuing Social Justice through Jewish Law and Tradition. Jacobs has been named three times to The Forward’s list of 50 influential American Jews, to Newsweek’s list of the 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America, and to the Jerusalem Post’s 2013 list of “Women to Watch.” She holds rabbinic ordination and a master’s degree in Talmud from the Jewish Theological Seminary, a master’s degree in Urban Affairs from Hunter College, and a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University. She is a graduate of the Mandel Institute Jerusalem Fellows Program. 20 Jacobs publishes op-eds regularly in major American news outlets, often sharing criticism of President Donald Trump and his support for Israel. 21

William Plevani is co-chair of the board of directors at T’ruah. He is a visiting assistant professor of contemporary Jewish thought at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Plevani is the former president of Matan, an organization devoted to promoting special needs Jewish education. He received rabbinical ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in religion from Princeton. 22

Daniel G. Zemel is co-chair of the board of directors at T’ruah. He has been the senior rabbi at Temple Micah since 1983. Zemel is a graduate of Brown University and received his rabbinic ordination from the New York campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He is the founder of Micah House, a group home for formerly homeless women in recovery from addiction. 23

Finances

In 2022, T’ruah reported $3,349,239 in revenue, $3,154,567 in expenses, and $1,790,655 in total assets. 24

In October 2024, T’ruah received a $200,000 grant from the Ford Foundation. 25 In 2023, T’Ruah received a $139,320 grant from the New Israel Fund. 26 T’ruah has also received grants from the Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP), the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, and the Lodestar Foundation. 27 28 29 30

References

  1.  “About.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/about/
  2. “Rabbis Condemn Reversal of Constitutional Right to Abortion; Court Ruling Violates Jews’ First Amendment Right.” T’ruah. June 24, 2022. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/press/rabbis-condemn-reversal-of-constitutional-right-to-abortion-court-ruling-violates-jews-first-amendment-right/
  3. “Tell President Biden and Secretary Blinken: Stop West Bank Violence!” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/actions/tell-president-biden-and-secretary-blinken-stop-west-bank-violence/
  4. “Tell President Trump: Don’t Send Migrants to Guantánamo!” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/actions/tell-trump-dont-send-migrants-to-guantanamo/
  5. “Rabbis For Human Rights-North America Rebrands, Ends Formal Affiliation with Israeli Sister Organization.” E Jewish Philanthropy. January 16, 2013. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/rabbis-for-human-rights-north-america-rebrands-ends-formal-affiliation-with-israeli-sister-organization/
  6. “Home.” Emor Institute. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://emorinstitute.org/
  7.   “Year-In-Israel-Program.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/program/year-in-israel-program/
  8. “West Bank Tours.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/west-bank-tours/
  9. “Events.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/events/
  10. “Issue – Immigration Justice.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/issue/immigration-justice/
  11. “Issue – Racial Justice.” T’ruah. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://truah.org/issue/racial-justice/
  12. “Issue – Mass Incarceration.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/issue/mass-incarceration/
  13. “An Open Letter from American Rabbis and Cantors to Trump and Vance: Stop Peddling Dangerous Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/actions/an-open-letter-from-american-jewish-rabbis-to-trump-and-vance-stop-pedaling-dangerous-anti-immigrant-rhetoric/
  14.  “T’ruah’s Commitment to Racial Justice.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/truahs-commitment-to-racial-justice/
  15. “Issue – Ending the Occupation.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/issue/ending-the-occupation/
  16. “A Letter from North American Jews to the Israeli Government.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/actions/an-open-letter-from-north-american-jews-to-the-israeli-government-make-a-deal-now-to-bring-the-hostages-home-end-the-war/
  17. “Free Speech and The Right to Boycott.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/issue/free-speech-boycott-rights/
  18.  “Become a Member of the Chaverim Network of Rabbis and Cantors.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/join-our-chaverim-network-of-rabbis-and-cantors/
  19.  “Home.” Evacuate Our Allies. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://www.evacuateourallies.org/home
  20. “Our People – Staff – Rabbi Jill Jacobs.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/about/our-people/staff/
  21. Jacobs, Jill. “Trump still appears to believe all Jews are really Israelis.” The Washington Post. December 12, 2019. Accessed March 2, 2025.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/12/12/trump-still-appears-believe-all-jews-are-really-israelis/
  22. “Our People – Board of Directors – Rabbi William Plevani.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/about/our-people/board/
  23. “Our People – Board of Directors – Rabbi Daniel G. Zemel.” T’ruah. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://truah.org/about/our-people/board/
  24. “T Ruah – 2022 Federal Form 990.” ProPublica. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/450464545/202402289349300130/full
  25. “Grantee – T’ruah.” Ford Foundation. October 2024. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/truah-151503/
  26. “New Israel Fund – 2023 Federal Form 990, Schedule I.” ProPublica. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/942607722/202443209349323044/IRS990ScheduleI
  27. “Our Grantees.” Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP). Accessed March 2, 2025. https://fmep.org/our-grantees/
  28. “T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights.” Walter & Elise Haas Fund. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://haassr.org/grant/truah-the-rabbinic-call-for-human-rights/
  29. “T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights.” Walter & Elise Haas Fund. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://haassr.org/grant/truah-the-rabbinic-call-for-human-rights-4/
  30. “Two NYC Jewish Organizations Collaborate to Promote Human Rights and Social Justice.” Lodestar Foundation. 2022. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://www.lodestarfoundation.org/site/grants/two-nyc-jewish-organizations-collaborate-to-promote-human-rights-and-social-justice/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: September - August
  • Tax Exemption Received: May 1, 2002

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Sep Form 990 $2,579,620 $2,704,820 $1,132,356 $141,880 N $2,572,335 $23,924 $268 $194,920
    2021 Sep Form 990 $2,567,813 $1,848,617 $1,426,817 $311,141 N $2,525,706 $28,066 $123 $176,065 PDF
    2020 Sep Form 990 $1,825,520 $1,617,764 $770,105 $375,061 N $1,760,730 $50,341 $0 $170,225
    2019 Sep Form 990 $1,627,844 $1,528,865 $458,360 $271,072 N $1,608,807 $49,946 $0 $164,367 PDF
    2018 Sep Form 990 $1,358,852 $1,471,046 $263,321 $175,012 Y $1,341,382 $31,203 $47 $158,795 PDF
    2017 Sep Form 990 $1,403,274 $1,363,614 $330,323 $129,820 N $1,339,506 $69,580 $35 $153,278 PDF
    2016 Sep Form 990 $1,095,030 $1,015,404 $282,448 $121,605 N $1,085,961 $11,940 $25 $145,472 PDF
    2015 Sep Form 990 $972,472 $953,567 $171,744 $90,527 N $951,324 $18,178 $5,300 $129,434 PDF
    2014 Sep Form 990 $748,650 $850,416 $79,694 $72,392 N $733,908 $4,612 $4 $77,621 PDF
    2013 Sep Form 990 $814,306 $961,499 $127,315 $11,232 N $814,299 $0 $0 $238,918 PDF
    2012 Sep Form 990 $946,667 $942,212 $275,765 $12,489 N $946,659 $0 $8 $242,651 PDF
    2011 Sep Form 990 $587,672 $568,849 $274,960 $16,139 N $587,656 $0 $16 $129,010 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

    266 W. 37th Street Suite 803
    New York, NY 10018-6669