2026-06-25 12:18:AM <br/> Tags: #AmericanJewry #LeftwingJewry #organization ![[image-296.png|407]] # Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) - Jews For Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) is a New York based Jewish membership organization that engages in progressive left wing activism as the self declared "home of New York's Jewish left."[^1] - JFREJ [describes](https://www.jfrej.org/about#:~:text=bubbes%20and%20habibis.-,We%20are,-Ashkenazi%2C%20Sephardi%2C%20and) themselves: "We are Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi, Black, Brown, white and Arab, Latino/a/x and Asian, immigrant and US-born. We are queer and straight, cis and trans. We are old and young, rich and poor; teachers and students; parents and children; righteous rabbis and secular socialists." - JFREJ operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization called JFREJ Community and a 501(c)(4) arm called JFREJ Action.[^2][^3] - In 2021 JFREJ Action was founded and the "JFREJ" 501(c)(3) was renamed to JFREJ Community.[^3] - JFREJ claims to have 6,000 members.[^1] ### Activity - JFREJ was founded in New York City in 1990 by Donna Nevel and Marilyn Kleinberg Neimark, two Jewish women.[^3] - JFREJ explains that the founders of the organization "knew then, as we do now, that our liberation as Jews is tied up with the liberation of all people around the world." - The organizations promotional materials claim "we come from a long tradition of Jewish resistors, and Jewish fighters."[^7] - JFREJ's first public event was a "shabbat service and celebration" held on June 15, 1990, to welcome black South African militant, and future president, Nelson Mandela to NYC.[^3] - JFREJ boasts of "raising $50,000 for the anti-apartheid struggle" at the event honoring Mandela. - JFREJ boasts that is was "among the first NYC-based organizations" to organize protests against Trump's 2017 'Muslim travel ban.'[^10] ![[image-298.png|583]] *JFREJ protesting against Trump's Muslim travel ban at New York's JFK airport in 2017.* - JFREJ's 2022 member handbook opens with a series of protester signs including:[^19] - "Protect trans kids" - "Defund the NYPD" - "For the sins which we've committed in displacing black & brown communities, cry for black lives" - "Cops have not kept us safe" - "Elders for black lives" - "Jews for abortion" *This one actually shows a Hebrew symbol roughly translated as "with God's help" and then "for abortion," but it is best conveyed as Jews for Abortion.* - JFREJ's "Jews of Color Caucus" is described as a "politically and culturally engaged affinity space for progressive Jews of Color."[^9] - The caucus is one of JFREJ's primary points of engagement for race issues, - In 2016, the caucus, in partnership with the 'Jews of Color National Convening,' launched a program called "Jews4BlackLives" in support of Black Lives Matter. - In 2018, the caucus hosted a Juneteenth Seder. *A Seder, or Passover Seder, is a Jewish ritual meal which takes place at the beginning of Passover.* - In 2019, the caucus "helped organize and attend the Jewish Women of Color Marching contingent of the Women's March." - In 2020, during mass black rioting and left wing activism following the death of George Floyd, JFREJ "fueled by the May 2020 uprisings," joined an initiative calling for at least a $1 billion cut to the NYPD budget.[^3] - JFREJ described the George Floyd rioting taking place in New York as "black New Yorkers’ rage" over the "racist, violent policing" they have endured for decades.[^4] - JFREJ laments the disproportionate number of "black and Latino children dumped into the school-to-prison pipeline" when the NYPD responds instead of counselors.[^4] --- - JFREJ's self-stated "core values and principles" include:[^6] - "We affirm that all the Jews... are Jewish!" - "We understand that antisemitism, racism, and other forms of oppression uphold one another, and that our safety lies in solidarity." *Jewish safety lies in multiculturalism.* - "We take care of ourselves and each other. Our community aspires to move at a collective pace and in the rhythms of our ancestors and traditions..." *Collective organization has always been the Jewish secret weapon.* - JFREJ is opposed to military foreign aid to Israel and considers the post October 7th war in Gaza a genocide.[^16][^17] - JFREJ is opposed to Israeli settler activity in the West Bank. - JFREJ is a coalitional member of "Reject AIPAC," which calls on federal candidates to refuse [AIPAC](https://archive.americansovereigntyproject.com/THE+MATRIX/American+Jewry/Organizations/AIPAC)/Israel lobby support. - JFREJ opposes New York investment in State of [Israel Bonds](https://archive.americansovereigntyproject.com/THE+MATRIX/Israel/Israeli+Government/Israel+Bonds). - JFREJ joined a protest initiative called JewsForCeasefire during the 2023-2025 Gaza War. - JFREJ is not explicitly anti-Zionist but it claims it is "broadly and proudly anti-nationalist." - To this effect, JFREJ states: "Rather than orienting around Zionism, JFREJ is rooted in Diasporism, a term coined by JFREJ’s first Executive Director, Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz as an alternative to Zionism." - JFREJ takes no explicit position on BDS. - JFREJ's 2026 priorities include:[^5][^10] - "Tax the rich to win permanent funding for universal childcare..." - Corporate tax increase on corporations making over $2.5 million in annual profit. - "Build powerful and sustainable relationships with our immigrant neighbors to support New Yorkers targeted by ICE, and hold corporations accountable for collaborating with ICE." - "Strengthen New York’s sanctuary status, including direct services for immigrants." - JFREJ aims to pass a city budget that allocates $1.5 billion for illegal immigrants in New York, including legal services. - JFREJ also aims to "prohibit transfers and communication between ICE, NYPD, and DOC," and to "abolish the NYPD Gang Database." ![[image-297.png|736]] *JFREJ's kippah-wearing Jewish activists protest in favor of illegal immigration, [2026](https://www.jfrej.org/campaigns/migrant-housing-justice#:~:text=in%20the%20Streets-,2026,-%3A%20Melt%20ICE!%20%7C%20Photo).* - JFREJ strongly opposes deportations of illegal immigrants, federal immigration enforcement, and restriction to mass non-white immigration.[^10] - JFREJ's "Jews against ICE" has been "fighting ICE for as long as the agency has existed." - JFREJ claims, "ICE is deporting our neighbors, separating families, and putting children in cages, but we won't stay silent. Our families have been refugees, arriving on hostile shores; we know concentration camps when we see them; and when we say, "never again," we mean it." - JFREJ commonly refers to ICE and immigration enforcement detention centers as "concentration camps." - At the onset of Covid-19 in 2020, JFREJ started an initiative called "let my people go" that aimed to free detained migrants from "10 concentration camps" in the tristate area. - The let my people go campaign was operated in partnership with "20 synagogues and Jewish organizations."[^10] - JFREJ claimed "ICE detention can be even more of a death sentence for undocumented New Yorkers."[^10] - JFREJ is a member affiliate organization of the [[Jewish Social Justice Roundtable]].[^20] #### The Jewish Vote - JFREJ runs a program called The Jewish Vote which engages in electoral politics, on-the-ground organizing (phone banks, door knocking), candidate endorsements, etc. - The Jewish Vote describes its purpose: "We're using Jewish Left electoral power to send progressive champions, socialists, and reformers, to City Hall and Albany."[^8] - JFREJ represents a segment of New York's highly organized and efficient Democratic Socialists of America progressive left political machine. - The Jewish Vote endorses far left progressive Democrats including past endorsements of:[^8] - Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez - U.S. Congress, NY-14. - Aber Kawas - New York State Senate district 12. - Kawas is a self proclaimed "democratic socialist and daughter of Palestinian refugees."[^21] - Kawas' father was deported when she was young indicating she was either born to illegal immigrant parents or non-citizen resident parents, herself being an anchor baby.[^21] - Jabari Brisport - New York State Senate district 25. - Brisport is "the first openly gay person of color to be elected to the New York State Legislature."[^22] - Yuh-Line Niou - New York State Senate district 27 - Niou is a Taiwanese-born immigrant with a "100% rating from Planned Parenthood for her support of abortion rights."[^23] - Diana Moreno - New York State Assembly district 36. - Moreno is a queer, female, Ecuadorian-born immigrant who succeeded Zohran Mamdani as New York State assemblymember for the 36th district.[^24] - David Orkin - New York State Assembly District 38. - Orkin is a Jewish anti-Zionist, democratic socialist, and immigrant rights attorney who has stated: "I have dedicated my life fighting for immigrants and workers."[^25] - Marcela Mitaynes - New York State Assembly district 51. - Mitaynes was born in Peru and immigrated to the United States as a child - Phara Souffrant Forrest - New York State Assembly district 57. - Forrest was born in New York to Haitian immigrants.[^26] - Forrest participated in a hunger strike in March and April 2021 in support of providing government covid relief money to illegal immigrants.[^26] *Look up a picture of this individual.* - In 2025, JFREJ strongly supported the mayoral candidacy of Zohran Mamdani.[^13] - After Mamdani's victory, JFREJ announced: "We organized for Zohran across generations and denominations with our whole hearts. Not despite our Jewish values, but because of them." - In June 2026, New York's far-left Democratic Socialists of America experienced another victorious election day; a result celebrated by JFREJ.[^14] #### Funding and Donors - In 2024, JFREJ Community, the 501(c)(c) arm of JFREJ, reported $1.8 million in revenue.[^11] - In that same year, JFREJ Action, the 501(c)(4) arm of JFREJ, reported $2 million in revenue.[^12] - JFREJ's revenue has consistently risen for many years, from just over $100,000 in 2010, to almost $2 million in 2024. - JFREJ donors include: - [[Open Society Foundations|Open Society]] Action Fund - $150,000 in 2024 to JFREJ Action for the stated purpose of "Supporting Policy Advocacy on Countering the Weaponization of Antisemitism."[^15] - [[Nathan Cummings Foundation]] - $450,000 from 2020-2023.[^18] - [[Jewish Communal Fund]] - $204,498 from 2017-2025. #### Notable Figures - Donna Nevel - Co-founder - Marilyn Kleinberg Neimark - Co-founder - Audrey Sasson - Executive director[^11] - Sasson is a Canadian socialist who formerly held roles at the [[American Jewish World Service]].[^18] #### References [^1]: Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), “About,” [https://www.jfrej.org/about](https://www.jfrej.org/about). [^2]: “Jews for Racial and Economic Justice,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews_for_Racial_and_Economic_Justice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews_for_Racial_and_Economic_Justice). [^3]: Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), “Our History,” [https://www.jfrej.org/our-history](https://www.jfrej.org/our-history). [^4]: Leo Ferguson and Anthonine Pierre, “The Necessity of New York City Budget Justice,” _Gotham Gazette_, June 12, 2020, [https://www.gothamgazette.com/130-opinion/9479-necessity-of-new-york-city-budget-justice-nypd-funding](https://www.gothamgazette.com/130-opinion/9479-necessity-of-new-york-city-budget-justice-nypd-funding). [^5]: Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), “The Caring Majority,” [https://www.jfrej.org/campaigns/caring-majority](https://www.jfrej.org/campaigns/caring-majority). [^6]: Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), “Principles,” [https://www.jfrej.org/principles](https://www.jfrej.org/principles). [^7]: “Who We Are,” _Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ)_, [https://www.jfrej.org/news/2023/11/who-we-are](https://www.jfrej.org/news/2023/11/who-we-are). [^8]: Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), “The Jewish Vote,” [https://www.jfrej.org/campaigns/jewishvote](https://www.jfrej.org/campaigns/jewishvote). [^9]: Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), “Jews of Color Caucus,” [https://www.jfrej.org/community/caucuses/joc](https://www.jfrej.org/community/caucuses/joc). [^10]: Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), “End Deportations,” [https://www.jfrej.org/campaigns/migrant-housing-justice](https://www.jfrej.org/campaigns/migrant-housing-justice). [^11]: “Jews for Racial and Economic Justice Inc,” _Nonprofit Explorer_, ProPublica, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133694790](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133694790). [^12]: “# Jews For Racial And Economic Justice Action Inc,” _Nonprofit Explorer_, ProPublica, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/853906443](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/853906443). [^13]: “Jews for Racial and Economic Justice Celebrates Zohran Mamdani Election Win,” _Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ)_, November 4, 2025, [https://www.jfrej.org/news/2025/11/jews-for-racial-and-economic-justice-celebrates-zohran-mamdani-election-win](https://www.jfrej.org/news/2025/11/jews-for-racial-and-economic-justice-celebrates-zohran-mamdani-election-win). [^14]: “JFREJ Celebrates Sweeping Primary Victories,” June 24, 2026, _Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ)_, [https://www.jfrej.org/news/2026/06/jews-for-racial-economic-justice-celebrates-sweeping-primary-victories-brad-lander-eli-northrup](https://www.jfrej.org/news/2026/06/jews-for-racial-economic-justice-celebrates-sweeping-primary-victories-brad-lander-eli-northrup). [^15]: “Jews for Racial and Economic Justice Action,” _Cause IQ_, [https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/jews-for-racial-and-economic-justice-action,853906443/](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/jews-for-racial-and-economic-justice-action,853906443/). [^16]: “Common Dreams: Jewish Group Backs Lander Over Rep. Goldman, Citing Support for Bill to Block Bombs to Israel,” _Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ)_, February 10, 2026 [https://www.jfrej.org/news/2026/02/common-dreams-jewish-group-backs-lander-over-rep-goldman-citing-support-for-bill-to-block-bombs-to-israel](https://www.jfrej.org/news/2026/02/common-dreams-jewish-group-backs-lander-over-rep-goldman-citing-support-for-bill-to-block-bombs-to-israel). [^17]: Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), “Israel/Palestine as a Local Issue,” [https://www.jfrej.org/campaigns/israel-palestine-as-a-local-issue](https://www.jfrej.org/campaigns/israel-palestine-as-a-local-issue). [^18]: “Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ),” _InfluenceWatch_, [https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/jews-for-racial-economic-justice-jfrej/](https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/jews-for-racial-economic-justice-jfrej/). [^19]: _JFREJ Member Handbook_, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), October 2022, [https://jfrej-web-assets.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/2022/JFREJ-Member-Handbook_Oct2022.pdf](https://jfrej-web-assets.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/2022/JFREJ-Member-Handbook_Oct2022.pdf). [^20]: Affiliate List,” _Jewish Social Justice Roundtable_, [https://www.jewishsocialjustice.org/affiliate-list](https://www.jewishsocialjustice.org/affiliate-list). [^21]: Aber for Senate, “Aber for Senate,” [https://aberforsenate.com/](https://aberforsenate.com/). [^22]: “Jabari Brisport,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jabari_Brisport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jabari_Brisport). [^23]: “Yuh-Line Niou,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuh-Line_Niou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuh-Line_Niou). [^24]: “Diana Moreno,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Moreno](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Moreno). [^25]: Grace Gilson, “Jewish Anti-Zionist David Orkin Defeats Incumbent in N.Y. Assembly Primary,” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, June 24, 2026, [https://www.jta.org/2026/06/24/ny/jewish-anti-zionist-david-orkin-defeats-incumbent-in-ny-assembly-primary](https://www.jta.org/2026/06/24/ny/jewish-anti-zionist-david-orkin-defeats-incumbent-in-ny-assembly-primary). [^26]: “Marcela Mitaynes,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcela_Mitaynes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcela_Mitaynes).