Jewish Families to ‘stand’ with Thousands for Children

Jewish families to `stand’ with thousands for children. Jewish families will join thousands of people from across the country this week in a “Stand For Children” at the Lincoln Memorial.

The gathering Saturday, spearheaded by the Children’s Defense Fund, is intended to bring together Americans from every race, region, income, age and faith to celebrate, strengthen and renew their commitment to children.

“As tough as times are and as hard as families are struggling for children, each and every one of us can do better,” Marian Wright Edelman, president of the CDF and the impetus behind the event, said in a statement.

“It is time to hold ourselves to a higher standard in our homes, in our communities and in our government at all levels.”

A number of major Jewish groups known for their support of social welfare issues have endorsed the event.

They have joined more than 3,500 organizations across the country, ranging from the Girl Scouts of the United States of America to the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

“We come here on behalf of our own children as well as on behalf of all children, which is what our community is all about,” said Diana Aviv, director of the Council of Jewish Federations’ Washington Action Office.

The timing of the event initially posed a problem for Jewish organizations, many of which normally refrain from participating in events occurring on Shabbat.

Event organizers, however, agreed to reschedule the event for Saturday afternoon to accommodate Jews attending morning Shabbat services.

In addition, Jewish organizers will hold special communal Shabbat services within walking distance of hotels and the Lincoln Memorial.

The day will feature an interfaith service, songs by a children’s choir, a march to the Lincoln Memorial and a variety of speakers who will call for greater personal, family and community commitment to improving the quality of children’s lives.

Although the event will steer clear of political speeches, partisan politics or advocating any specific policies, the event is clearly timed to have an impact on the national dialogue during an election year.

To the end, participating Jewish organizations have decided to take the opportunity to bring Jewish families to Capitol Hill prior to the event to take on legislative issues important to the community.

Speakers will brief the Jewish advocates on how proposed reforms to immigration and welfare will hurt children. They will then meet with members of Congress.

“At the very moment that government seems to be retreating from efforts to protect children and enhance opportunities for children, our children are in crisis,” said Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

“They don’t have PACs and they don’t have lobbies, except for the people of conscience who will speak for them and who are coming from across the country to do so on June 1.”

To a certain extent, Aviv said the event is also intended as an answer to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan’s marches – both last year’s Million Man March and the Million Family March he intends to hold later this year.

“This is intended to be an inclusive event and not an exclusive event,” Aviv said.

To date, participating Jewish organizations include the Council of Jewish Federations, the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, B’nai B’rith, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, the National Council of Jewish Women, the American Jewish Committee, Jewish Women International and the American Association of Jewish Family and Children Services.