During this election cycle, Kehilla Community Synagogue is focused on two things: our spiritual practice, and keeping our community connected to each other as events unfold.
We’re also connected, as many of you are, with networks of organizations and movements that are mobilizing to ensure that people get to vote, that all votes are counted, and that there is a peaceful and lawful implementation of the election’s results.
Below is information about trainings and actions, and serves as a resource bank to connect members to existing organizing and networks–especially ones we have relationships with. We have an ongoing commitment to follow the lead of BIPOC-led organizing. And we want to know what you’re up to and hearing about! Please share with us, and/or on Kehilla’s Facebook page.
We are following Bay Resistance‘s event leadership for actions. Please visit their page for more information.
Kehilla Events
Grown Up Drop-in Time During Kehilla School
Thursday, November 5th, 4:30pm-5:15pm
Facilitated by Rabbi Gray and Rabbi Dev, this space is for Kehilla School grown ups to bring whatever they’re feeling and be together. We’ll meet at the Kehilla School tefilla link (available on the Kehilla School launchpad—email Natalie if you don’t have the link) at 4:30pm, as soon as the students have gone to class. Questions? Email rabbigray@kehillasynagogue.org.
How To Prepare for an Attempted Coup, an Intergenerational Training
Thursday, October 29th
Watch the training recording with auto-generated captions and access the slide presentation. This training was facilitated by 1000 Grandmothers for Peace, Kehilla, Greenfaith and Jewish Youth for Community Action.
Community Connection
Wednesday, November 4th, 7pm
The night following the election, we made a space for the community to come together for song, prayer, and sharing in facilitated small groups.
Organizations, Trainings & Movements
Bay Resistance
As the election draws nearer, Bay Resistance and allies are offering a series of trainings to help us prepare to stop a potential coup. They are offering two more sessions of Organizing 101 – Building an Affinity Group. Learn how to support each other through uncertain times, communicate in a way that sparks empowerment instead of demoralization, have organizing conversations with people in our lives (including those that aren’t normally “activists”), and build a team of trusted friends that can mobilize quickly and take meaningful action. Register to join October 22nd at 5pm or October 25th at 5pm.
Bay Resistance is also offering a Non-Violent Direct Action training. The fights ahead will require creativity and sustained action.
Bend the Arc
Bend the Arc is a movement of tens of thousands of progressive Jews all across the country with a branch in the Bay Area. Visit their national website at www.bendthearc.us and their Bay Area website at: www.bay.bendthearc.us
Rising Together! Facing the threat of violence: weapons, co-regulation and care
This workshop is a hands-on practice space for joining mass nonviolent protest. While this is *not* a civil disobedience training, we will weave direct action strategies, self-defense skills and somatic awareness practices. We will explore contingencies around weapons including active shooters, cars, and paramilitary intimidation. Register below for either session:
- Option 1: Sunday, November 8 at 4pm PT / 5pm MT / 6pm CT / 7pm ET
- Option 2: Wednesday, November 11 at 11am PT / 12pm MT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET
From Fear to Focus: Exploring our Election 2020 Narratives of Action
Informed by nonviolent direct action and contemporary neuroscience, clinical social worker and trainer Abbie Shain MSW LGSW will lead us through individual and collective processing grounded in our values and our commitments when we are part of collective action.
- Tuesday, November 10 at 5pm PT / 6pm MT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET
Community Safety Scenario Planning Facilitation Guide
A facilitation tool for communities from the Kavod Community Safety Team in Boston, Massachusetts, to prepare for November 2020 and beyond. This is a living document that is regularly being updated and edited. Check it out on Google Docs here.
ChooseDemocracy.us
This organization is loading evidence-based resources that help guide us when we face something new in our history – for example, the possibility of a national coup attempt. Visit the website at www.choosedemocracy.us. Meanwhile, Choose Democracy has added new training dates for the workshop “How to Beat an Election-Related Power Grab” that you can register for on the trainings page.
T’ruah – the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Features action steps, webinar recordings, and links to partner organizations intended to help rabbis, cantors, and the wider Jewish community learn and take action to protect voting rights and the integrity of the democratic process. Visit the resources page here and visit the website at www.truah.org.
IfNotNow
Join IfNotNow and Never Again Action at an upcoming nonviolent action, How to Fight Fascism This November: A nonviolent action training for everyone, a training to get the tools and support to defeat fascism together. This is a practical introduction to non-violent action. The training will cover skills you might need on the front lines at a protest, like de-escalation. It will also cover the mental and emotional preparation that enables us to connect with people in our lives to take action together, and be ready to face what’s ahead with courage and clarity. Register here and visit the website at www.ifnotnowmovement.org
Indivisible
A grassroots movement of thousands of local Indivisible groups with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda. Visit the website at www.indivisible.org
Protect the Results Coalition
Building a coalition of voters ready to mobilize if Donald Trump refuses to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election. Visit the website at www.protecttheresults.com and see more specific resources below:
- Protect the Results Toolkit
- Protect the Results Event Map— make sure to register your event!
- Sign up for our 3-Part Host Training Series
- Supplemental materials
The National Lawyers Guild
A large network of progressive lawyers (many of whom are also activists) in every state working on election related issues. There is an informative webinar available here with regard to problems and responses around activism and movements. Visit the website at www.nlg.org.