Nancy K. Kaufman is the chief executive officer of the National Council of Jewish Women, a grassroots organization inspired by Jewish values that strives to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to safeguard individual rights and freedoms.
Dnipro, one of the largest cities in Ukraine, is surrounded by Russian fighting. As Putin’s invasion intensifies, the city is urging people to flee, and things are looking grim. But I know the resilience of this city firsthand: I watched as Jewish life was rebuilt after decades of suppression, and I know that they will…
Five years ago, the US government began implementation of President Obama’s 2012 executive order deferring deportation for US residents without papers who were brought here by their parents as children. The order came about after the proposed Dream Act, which would have given legal status to those same immigrant children, failed to pass Congress. In…
Mother’s Day is traditionally a day of flowers, gifts, breakfast in bed or dinner out. Or at least that is how it is in the popular imagination. While mothers everywhere no doubt appreciate the attention and gratitude, what they could really use is some help. Yet it’s a sad reality that the U.S. has the…
Every four years, our country produces a new administration, and every four years, women wonder what’s in it for us. We want government policies that will protect us against discrimination, help us earn a decent living, ensure that our children are well fed and educated and foster the overall well-being of our families. In an…
As Jews in the United States and worldwide usher in the New Year on October 3, 2016, the US Supreme Court will be starting its new year as well. The first Monday in October is the traditional start of the Supreme Court term. This year, in deference to Rosh Hashanah, the court will meet but…
The pursuit of justice is a fundamental Jewish value and a prerequisite to the world we strive to create. Last week, as a part of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)’s #DoYourJob campaign, I spoke out with other leaders of faith-based organizations about the need to give US Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland…
As Jews across the world gather to celebrate Passover, we are reminded of our ancient history of struggle to escape bondage in Egypt. Of the many forms of oppression involving forced labor that persist in our world, surely sex trafficking is among the most pernicious, and the spirit of Passover ought to prompt us to…
The attack on Planned Parenthood is only the latest in a campaign by anti-abortion activists and politicians to interfere with a woman’s personal decision-making, to challenge our religious freedom and to push affordable health care out of reach, including abortion. Past efforts to ban federal funds from Planned Parenthood have failed, so now abortion opponents…
