The Jewish people have a rich tradition of striving for a better world, of contributing all we can to society, and of seeking justice wherever it is lacking. Both our religion/culture and our history obligate us to pursue a better, more just future for humankind, and at Brown RISD Hillel we take that obligation very seriously. The word “tzedek,” literally translated as “justice,” encompasses a world of different goals, actions, and mandates, each of which presents a unique challenge for the global Jewish community and for our local campus community.

It is the mission of the Tzedek Committee to reiterate and expand upon the efforts of past generations, both at Hillel and in the greater Jewish world, in the pursuit of tzedek in its various forms. We exist as a resource for Jewish students looking for social justice opportunities, both those of direct service (such as Judy's Kindness Kitchen) and those connected to realizing systemic changes in our society (such as our Hillel Initiative on Racial Awareness and Justice and our Justice Working Groups). Our work is played out through collaboration with other groups and organizations, within Hillel and also the greater campus and local and global communities. We hope to increase engagement within the Brown RISD Jewish community around major societal problems, from hunger to racism, and to mobilize action to confront these problems in constructive ways. If you have an idea for a project or want to get involved, please contact Tzedek co-chairs Caroline Cheng and Elyse Forman.

Past Tzedek Initiatives for 2017-2018:

• Mishloach Manot: This annual event fulfills two mitzvot, commandments, for Purim. One is mishloach manot, gifts to friends and family. The other is matanot la'eviyonim, gifts to the poor. The proceeds from the sale of the mishloach manot in 2018 went toward Riverwood Mental Health Services, which works locally at the intersection between mental health and poverty, and Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization fighting to end gun violence in the US.
• Judaism and Mental Health: A Discussion Group: Judaism gives us many ways to consider aspects of our lives, including our mental health. This is a group that will discuss connections between Judaism and mental health, and learn how Judaism can support us. 

Past Tzedek Initiatives for 2015-2016:

• We collaborated with Learning Chair Sam Hainbach this semester to manage a weekly newsletter called Below the Fold. The goal of the publication is to help Brown and RISD students stay educated about social justice issues in the world while connecting them with opportunities to act on those issues on campus. You can sign up to receive Below the Fold.
• We supported an initiative spearheaded by Brown RISD Hillel participant Solomon Goldstein-Rose to pass legislation that he wrote in favor of a cleaner and greener Rhode Island. Details about the legislation can be found here.
• We worked closely with Brown RISD Jew Q to fight for increased equality, rights, and inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual/aromantic, and otherwise non-heterosexual/non-cisgender (LGBTQIA+) people in society at large, as well as in Jewish religious spaces and communal institutions. 

If you have questions about social justice at Brown RISD Hillel or want to learn about direct service opportunities, please contact Vice President for Social Justice and the Arts Ione Heigham.

Other Hillel Tzedek-Related Initiatives:
Hillel Initiative on Racial Awareness and Justice
Challah for Hunger
HEAL (coming soon)

Past Projects:
Judy's Kindness Kitchen