Our Mission
The Jewish Social Justice Roundtable is a network of 63 nonprofit organizations that strengthens and aligns the Jewish social justice field in order to make justice a core expression of Jewish life and help create an equitable world.
Our Vision
We envision a loving, caring, and equitable world in which power is shared and all are free from injustice. In this world, we live out our Jewish traditions of justice, embrace the beauty and multiplicity of Jewish identities, overcome past and present oppressions, and trust in ourselves, one another, and our partners to pursue justice together.
Our Definition of Social Justice
The Roundtable’s working definition of social justice is, “Building a better world by transforming systems and ideologies so that all people can thrive, be free, and live in dignity.”
Our Jewish Values
Relationships – חַבְרוּתָא – Chavruta We believe in “relationship before task” because relationships – both between individuals and organizations – are the fundamental building blocks for doing powerful work together in the world.
Trust, Care, and Hope – נֶאֱמָנוּת חֶסֶד וְתִקְוָה – Ne'emanut chesed v'tikvah We trust in and care for ourselves and each other, and both hope and believe that we can build a better world.
Embrace of Differences – שִׁבְעִים פָּנִים לַתּוֹרָה – Shivim panim la’torah We celebrate the diversity of our individual and organizational identities and draw upon those unique strengths to lift the whole.
Social Justice – צֶדֶק – Tzedek We strive for social justice, defined as building a better world by transforming systems and ideologies so that all people can thrive, be free, and live in dignity.
Communication and Generative Conflict – מַחְלֹקֶת לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם – Machloket le’shem shamayim We communicate directly and navigate conflict with honesty, skill, self-awareness, and discernment around power dynamics, recognizing that these are essential practices for living out our other values.
Our Theory of Change
If we…
Create conditions for affiliates to build relationships, support one another, and work together;
Build capacity of affiliates to engage with organizational issues that are central or trending in the Jewish social justice field and that the Roundtable is uniquely positioned to address; and
Catalyze and coordinate strategic interventions that demonstrate the centrality of social justice in Jewish life, advance foundational justice areas, and defend values and rights that are under attack;
…then we will help our network organizations thrive; make the Jewish social justice field more visible and powerful; and ensure that justice continues to be a core expression of Jewish life.