2026-05-28 08:17:PM <br/> Tags: #organization #AmericanJewry #LeftwingJewry ![[image-286.png]] # Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) - The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) is a Chicago-based Jewish nonprofit founded in 1964 that, "for 61 years," has "organized the Jewish communities of Chicagoland to pursue racial and economic justice."[^1] - According to its [website](https://jcua.org/what-we-do/antiracism-and-equity/), "JCUA is committed to confronting white supremacy. We ground our work in antiracist values and strive to build practices, policies, and culture that promote racial justice."[^3] - The JCUA advocates for left wing social policy regarding immigration, housing, antiracism, economics, voting, etc. - Beyond left wing causes, the JCUA also considers combatting antisemitism a "central part of our mission."[^4] #### Background and General Activity - The JCUA was founded in 1964 by Chicago rabbi Robert J. Marx "out of a conviction for the Jewish call to pursue justice."[^2] - The JCUA was founded in the midst of the Civil Rights Era; Rabbi Marx himself being a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr. - In 2022, The JCUA joined an initiative led by Keshet and the [[Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)]] in a letter to the Senate in support of the Respect for Marriage Act.[^14] - The JCUA was among 100+ Jewish organizations that signed the letter including: [[ADL]], [[Avodah]], [[Aytzim]], [[American Jewish World Service]], [[Bend the Arc]], [[B'nai B'rith]], [[Central Conference of American Rabbis]], [[Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC)]], [[Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation]], [[Hadassah]], [[J Street]], various [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|Jewish Federations]], [[JCC Association of North America|JCC Asheville]], [[Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)]], [[Jewish Labor Committee (JLC)]], [[Jewish Women International]], [[Jews for a Secular Democracy]], [[National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)]], [[New Israel Fund]], [[Rabbinical Assembly]], [[The Workers Circle]]. - The Respect for Marriage Act codified the principles of: - *Loving v. Virginia* - 1967 - Federally legalized interracial marriage. *The plaintiffs, Mildred and Richard Loving, were represented by two Jewish lawyers from the [[ACLU]].*[^15][^16] - *United States v. Windsor* - 2013 - Altered the definition of marriage by ruling section three of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional. *Section three of the DOMA defined marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.* - *Obergefell v. Hodges* - 2015 - Legalized gay marriage federally, removing state sovereignty regarding marriage policy. #### Race and Antisemitism - The JCUA hosts an annual training and educational event called "Intersections of Antisemitism and White Supremacy."[^5] - A 2020 article in *Medium* written by Aaron Wolfson, a "member of JCUA's immigration and white persons' racial justice working group," describes the event. *The 2000+ word article capitalizes black and uses lowercase for white.* - The article cites [[ADL]] data on antisemitic incidents. - In the article, Wolfson describes himself and many of the Jewish attendees as "white-passing Ashkenazi Jews" who have "opted into the system of white supremacy." *Jews do not see themselves as white. It doesn't matter if you think they look white. They acutely understand how to leverage racial dynamics to benefit themselves. These non-white Jews who realize they appear white openly explain how their faux-whiteness allows them to fight white people from the inside i.e. subvert.* - The article claims antisemitism can be traced back to "early Christian Europe, and the myth that Jews were the killers of Jesus." *Ever present on the Jewish mind is an antipathy towards Europeans, Christians, and as a corollary, white people. Left wing Jews at JCUA and the ADL universally share this absolutely essential feeling with right wing Jews at Betar and the ZOA.* - The article claims "Black people and Jews have been set against each other multiple times by our own (old, white, Christian, male) government." - The article ends: "JCUA stands with all oppressed groups, in Chicago, America, and across the world. Our liberation and our safety are bound up together. Fighting white supremacy fights antisemitism. Fighting anti-Black racism fights antisemitism. Fighting economic inequality and poverty fights antisemitism. Fighting the oppression of immigrants fights antisemitism." *Directly saying not supporting mass immigration is antisemitic. Then Jews will double down and call you an antisemite for noting their role/support in the great replacement.* - The JCUA produces training materials to combat antisemitism adapted in part from the [[Jewish Social Justice Roundtable]].[^4] - The JCUA is a member of the [[Jewish Social Justice Roundtable]]. #### Immigration - The JCUA's 2026 policy platform, formed in partnership with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICURR), includes:[^7] - Increased funding for the Immigrant Service Line Item which provides direct funding to illegal aliens. - Force hospitals to treat uninsured illegal immigrants by removing the requirement to apply for Medicaid. - "Restrict collection of immigration status information and sharing of personal data." - The JCUA claims "we can further restrict access[to citizenship status of residents] by: requiring state agencies to remove from their data collection policies any requests for immigration information not otherwise required by law; amending our state Freedom of Information Act to limit the ability of ICE to use it to request police records and other information." *For activities like this the JCUA should be shut down by an aggressive federal government.* - The JCUA argues in favor of blocking ICE from deporting illegal immigrant criminals from prisons, stating this policy proposal verbatim: "Opening opportunities for post-conviction relief (HB 4367 – Rep. Justin Slaughter):  Our criminal legal system still channels immigrants into the deportation pipeline despite several existing laws intended to protect them from removal.  ICIRR worked with the Office of the Cook County Public Defender and the National Immigrant Justice Center to craft legislation to enable people with certain criminal convictions to ask to reopen their cases based on newly discovered evidence of innocence or lack of explanation of the immigration consequences of the conviction.  As ICE continues to ramp up deportations and focus on people with convictions, this legislation is becoming more urgent." - The JCUA's "legislative wins" page includes:[^8] - "Pushing back on ICE’s cruel targeting and intimidation of immigrants seeking protection and justice at county courts." - "Curtailing the ability for ICE to weaponize health care" by allowing illegals to exploit hospitals without threat of immigration enforcement. - "Ensuring safe learning environments at public universities and community colleges" by allowing illegals to exploit American public education without threat of immigration enforcement. - "Reassuring parents that their children will be safe at licensed day care centers. This bill [HB 1312] includes restrictions on disclosure of immigration status information and requirements for procedures to address immigration enforcement." - "Established a new state Child Tax Credit, allocating $50 million to support Illinois families by providing critical financial relief to households with children, regardless of immigration status." - "Allocated $182 million in funding dedicated to providing shelter, essential services, and support for newly arrived individuals and families from the southern border, ensuring they have access to critical resources upon arrival in Illinois." *JCUA assisting illegal activity openly.* - HB 3882 - Driver’s Licenses and State IDs for ALL. HB 3882, signed in June 2024, provides illegals with valid driver's licenses and state IDs. - "Medicaid coverage expansion to noncitizens aged 42 and up, regardless of immigration status." - Illinois Way Forward (SB 667): Banned cooperation between law enforcement and ICE; ended public and private immigration detention in Illinois. *JCUA describes the signing of SB 667 as a "Huge win!"* - "Safe Zones Act: Protected against ICE arrests at courthouses, schools, hospitals and other sensitive locations." #### JCUA Votes - The JCUA has a 501(c)(4) political foundation founded in 2022 called "JCUA Votes."[^10] - According to its website, "JCUA Votes mobilizes our Jewish community to _endorse_, _elect_, and _co-govern_ with progressive leaders in Chicago and Illinois." - JCUA Votes describes its mission as effectively combatting "economic injustice, white supremacy, and antisemitism." - Under the "[Judaism](https://jcuavotes.org/about/#:~:text=soulful%2C%20and%20connective.-,Judaism,-We%20are%20grounded)" section on JCUA Votes' about us page, they say they are "grounded in Jewish values" and that they "combat white supremacy, Christian hegemony, fascism, and antisemitism." - In 2023, JCUA Vote's helped elect black Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson with their "Jews for Johnson" initiative. - The 2023 election of mayor Johnson and the "most progressive city council in history" is JCUA Vote's signature victory.[^13] - JCUA Votes' leadership page, which lists 14 women and 6 men, includes:[^11] - Rabbi Suzanne Griffel - "has served as a rabbi in [[Hillel International|Hillel]] settings." - Greg Rothman - "his affiliations include [[J Street]], the [[ACLU]], [[American Jewish World Service]], [[Bend the Arc]], and more." - Sophie Mann - "volunteer with [[B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO)|BBYO]]." - Ethan Ramsay - Progressive activist who has been involved with #.EraseTheDatabase, an initiative to end the Chicago Police Department's massive database of almost 300,000 gang members, 95% being non-white.[^12] - Isaac Young - "Midwestern gamer" who spent his high school years as doing "youth advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and for LGBTQ+ youth’s rights in schools." - Young is involved in LGBTQ advocacy with [[Keshet]]. #### Funding and Donors - The JCUA reports about $1-2 million in annual revenue. - In 2024, the JCUA reported $1.61 million in revenue, 77% of which came from donor contributions. - [[Crown Family Philanthropies]] - $250,000+ for JCUA's Community Ventures Program[^9] - CFP also contributes annually to JCUA. - [[Seth Klarman]]'s foundation - Under $1,000. *The Klarman Foundation has given the JCUA very small amounts during the 2020s making it seem like an unintentional part of some other contribution. Either way, the Klarman Foundation has given to the JCUA so it deserves to be listed.* #### Notable Figures *As of writing this page, the JCUA's board is comprised entirely of black women and Jews.* - Rabbi Robert J. Marx - Founder[^2] - Jane Ramsey - Executive director from 1979-2012 - Jackie Rassner - Board secretary[^6] - According to her JCUA bio, Rassner is involved with the PJ Library, a program of the [[Harold Grinspoon Foundation]]. - Rabbi Andrea London - Board member[^6] - London is the recipient of an [[NAACP]] award for her social action. - Benetta Mansfield - Board member[^6] - Mansfield is a former chair [[Avodah]]'s board of directors. - Rabbi Steven Philp[^6] - Philp was ordained by the [[Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)]]. - Philp is a [[Wexner Foundation]] fellow. - Sam Schoenburg - Board member[^6] - Schoenburg is a pro-bono civil rights attorney in Chicago. - Schoenburg is a homosexual Jew. - Schoenburg was elected as a district council member in 2023 with the help of JCUA Votes (JCUA Votes is covered above). - Dan Weyl - Board member[^6] - Weyl is a "human rights professional" dedicated to "advancing social justice both in the United States and globally." - Weyl was a member of the [[Avodah]] service corps. - Weyl is a homosexual Jew. #### References [^1]: Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, “About Us,” [https://jcua.org/who-we-are/about-us/](https://jcua.org/who-we-are/about-us/). [^2]: JCUA, “Rabbi Robert J. Marx, Visionary Jewish Leader Who Spoke Up for Justice, Dies at 93,” March 29, 2021, [https://jcua.org/blog/rabbi-robert-j-marx-visionary-jewish-leader-who-spoke-up-for-justice-dies-at-93/](https://jcua.org/blog/rabbi-robert-j-marx-visionary-jewish-leader-who-spoke-up-for-justice-dies-at-93/). [^3]: Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, “Antiracism & Equity,” [https://jcua.org/what-we-do/antiracism-and-equity/](https://jcua.org/what-we-do/antiracism-and-equity/). [^4]: Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, “Combating Antisemitism,” [https://jcua.org/what-we-do/combatting-antisemitism/](https://jcua.org/what-we-do/combatting-antisemitism/). [^5]: Aaron Wolfson, “Intersections of Antisemitism and White Supremacy: Reflections on a JCUA Training,” _Jewish Council on Urban Affairs_ (Medium), May 27, 2020, [https://medium.com/jewish-council-on-urban-affairs/intersections-of-antisemitism-and-white-supremacy-7cb29c5a8553](https://medium.com/jewish-council-on-urban-affairs/intersections-of-antisemitism-and-white-supremacy-7cb29c5a8553). [^6]: Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, “Board of Directors,” [https://jcua.org/who-we-are/board-of-directors/](https://jcua.org/who-we-are/board-of-directors/). [^7]: JCUA and Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, “ICIRR 2026 Policy Platform,” [https://jcua.org/what-we-do/community-organizing/immigration-justice/icirir-2025-policy-platform/](https://jcua.org/what-we-do/community-organizing/immigration-justice/icirir-2025-policy-platform/). [^8]: Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, “Past Campaigns,” [https://jcua.org/what-we-do/community-organizing/immigration-justice/past-campaigns/](https://jcua.org/what-we-do/community-organizing/immigration-justice/past-campaigns/). [^9]: Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, _Community Ventures Program (CVP) 2024 Annual Report_, [https://jcua.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CVP-Investor-Report-2024-1.pdf](https://jcua.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CVP-Investor-Report-2024-1.pdf). [^10]: JCUA Votes, “JCUA Votes,” [https://jcuavotes.org/](https://jcuavotes.org/). [^11]: JCUA Votes, “Leadership,” [https://jcuavotes.org/leadership/](https://jcuavotes.org/leadership/). [^12]: Erase the Gang Database, “Erase the Gang Database,” [http://erasethedatabase.com/](http://erasethedatabase.com/). [^13]: JCUA Votes, “JCUA Votes Blog,” [https://jcuavotes.org/jcua-votes-blog/](https://jcuavotes.org/jcua-votes-blog/). [^14]: Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, “U.S. Jewish Organizations’ Letter to Senate Supporting Respect for Marriage Act,” _RAC.org_, September 6, 2022, [https://rac.org/press-room/us-jewish-organizations-letter-senate-supporting-respect-marriage-act](https://rac.org/press-room/us-jewish-organizations-letter-senate-supporting-respect-marriage-act). [^15]: “Philip Hirschkop,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Hirschkop#Loving_v._Virginia,_1967](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Hirschkop#Loving_v._Virginia,_1967). [^16]: “Bernard S. Cohen,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_S._Cohen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_S._Cohen).