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social activism

Three new books draw on Jewish examples in providing advice for would-be protesters. (Crown; Wicked Son; Mariner Books; illustration design by Grace Yagel/ JTA)
May 5, 2026, 1:23 am
Jewish authors borrow from the past in new ‘mini-genre’ of ‘how-to’ activism literature
Arriving at a moment of protest fatigue and political polarization, three books for would-be dissidents draw on a long tradition of making good trouble
By Andrew Silow-Carroll
Illustrative: Young Americans burn their draft cards during an anti-war demonstration, on November 7, 1965, in Union Square in New York, to protest against war in Vietnam. (AFP)
April 30, 2025, 3:45 pm
50 years after the end of the Vietnam War, meet an iconic but unknown Jewish activist
A visit to the New York-based American Jewish Historical Society provides a look at the unsung legacy of Robert Allen Simon through a treasure trove of artifacts
By Cathryn J. Prince
One Mitzvah A Day founder Mandana Dayani. (Jojo Korsh)
January 16, 2025, 1:34 am
New project urges US Jews and allies to spur change via one ‘good deed’ text per day
Jewish American activist Mandana Dayani says bipartisan One Mitzvah A Day can help mobilize pro-Israel activists, fight antisemitism, and show gratitude to supporters
By Jordana Horn
Moshe Oyahon. (Courtesy of the family)
November 1, 2023, 5:24 pm
Moshe Ohayon, 52: Social activist, CEO of 929 Torah project
Described by 929 founder Rabbi Benny Lau as ‘the essence of good,’ Ohayon, was murdered with his eldest son Eliad; also chaired board of Shaharit Institute
By ToI Staff
Birthday cakes for displaced children is just one idea approved for funding by the Daybreak project. (Oleksandr Sytnyk, iStock at Getty Images)
November 1, 2023, 8:32 am
Non-profits join forces to award microgrants for small-scale acts of kindness
Project offers grants from NIS 5,000 to NIS 20,000 for programs helping Israelis deal with war in little ways, like sending birthday cakes to displaced children
By Sue Surkes
Einstein Admony, Adeena Sussman, Ben Siman Tov, Lior Sercarz, Jake Cohen and Eden Grinshpan, at a fundraising effort for Asif, the Jewish Food and Culinary Institute of Israel in Tel Aviv, which is providing meals and food for displaced families and hospital workers in Israel. (Courtesy: Jake Cohen)
October 26, 2023, 1:10 am
Israeli and Jewish-owned restaurants in the US are raising money for Hamas victims
From food drives to military gear and pledge drives to auctions, the causes and means of fundraising for them are as varied as the establishments taking part in grassroots efforts
By Cathryn J. Prince
Volunteers clean Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) in Brussels, Belgium, during a Yom Hashoah Stolpersteine cleaning event co-organized with the European Jewish Association, April 27, 2022. (Courtesy of Make Their Memory Shine)
April 18, 2023, 6:44 am
In grassroots effort, young Europeans clean ‘stumbling stones’ to gleam like beacons
Make Their Memory Shine organization brings together people of all backgrounds to commemorate Holocaust, identify common values and respect differences
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Dana Fisher is a professor of sociology and the director of the Program for Society and the Environment at the University of Maryland. (Courtesy of Fisher/JTA)
April 22, 2022, 9:44 am
From a Jewish sociologist, harsh truths on the efficacy of climate change protests
Prof. Dana Fisher examines how — and whether — ordinary people can make an impact on the global problem through activism
By Asaf Shalev
'Dreamworld' cape designed for volunteers with 'Stewardesses of Peace' on the Poland-Ukraine border. Joint project of RISK Made in Warsaw and artist-activist Jana Szostak. (Courtesy of RISK Made in Warsaw)
March 13, 2022, 7:50 am
These heroes wear capes: Warsaw label decks out volunteers aiding Ukrainian refugees
To make helpers easily identifiable on the border, RISK Made in Warsaw’s Antonina Samecka and Klara Kowtun team up with artist-activist to design meaningful uniforms
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Mark and Felice Feldstein with their family, on their wedding day in 1955 and later in life. (Courtesy Mark Feldstein; collage by Mollie Suss)
February 18, 2022, 4:27 am
Marrying at Nazis’ old resort, Alan Feldstein’s life was a ‘middle finger’ to Hitler
Feldstein and Felice Jacobs held defiant nuptials at the Eagle’s Nest a decade after WWII, but that symbolic act was just the beginning of a lifelong fight against bigotry
By PHILISSA CRAMER
Belarusian activists cast shadows as they carry an old Belarusian flag on a rally in support of Belarus' opposition in the Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
August 3, 2021, 12:51 pm
Missing Belarusian activist found hanged in Ukraine; police open murder probe
Vitaly Shishov, 26, was head of Belarusian House in Ukraine, an organization that helps his compatriots flee repression in Belarus; group accuses Lukashenko regime of murder
By Ania TSOUKANOVA
File: General Moshe Dayan, chief of staff of the Israeli Army, is pictured with his wife, Ruth in London, Jan. 13, 1958 (AP Photo)
February 5, 2021, 1:13 pm
Ruth Dayan, storied social activist and 1st wife of Moshe Dayan, dead at 103
Dayan was the founder of iconic fashion brand Maskit, employing immigrants to create unique clothing, and led numerous social and coexistence causes over decades
By ToI Staff
Liz Garbus speaks at the premiere of the Netflix film "Lost Girls" in Park City, Utah, Jan. 28, 2020 (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Netflix via JTA)
September 19, 2020, 10:56 pm
Director of film on vote suppression: Activism a Jewish tradition
‘All In: The Fight for Democracy’ explores Stacey Abrams’ run for governor in Georgia in 2018; filmmaker Liz Garbus is the daughter of famed civil rights lawyer Martin Garbus
By Curt Schleier
Hannah Alper with the 10th grade class at an all-girls secondary school in Kenya during a service trip with the organization Me to We, June 2016. (Courtesy)
July 17, 2020, 9:51 pm
Meet Canada’s 17-year-old Jewish ‘Greta Thunberg’ who says activism is a mitzvah
Where many see the world going down the tubes, Hannah Alper sees opportunity to improve — and wields considerable clout after starting her blogging career at the ripe old age of 9
By Robert Sarner
Rabbi Sergio Bergman at a Buenos Aires rally. (courtesy)
June 10, 2020, 4:12 pm
Activist, politician, rabbi: Sergio Bergman takes the helm of Progressive Jewry
Social justice champion and former Argentine environment minister is ready to take on Israel’s Orthodox status quo and fight for recognition of 1.8 million Jews he now represents
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
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