...to pursue racial and economic justice in New York City by advancing systemic changes that result in concrete improvements in peoples daily lives. We engage individual Jews, key Jewish institutions, and key Jewish community leaders in the fight for racial and economic justice in partnership with people of color, low-income and immigrant communities.

JFREJ has a New Office!

After many years at our home on 29th Street, JFREJ has moved downtown. Come visit us at our new office!

666 Broadway, Suite 500
New York, NY 10012
p 212.647.8966
f 212.982.9272

OR, get in touch with us by email at info@jfrej.org

Website Relaunch coming soon!

Come visit the site in the coming weeks as we begin a long awaited redesign of JFREJ.org!

Our Current Campaigns

Housing Justice
in New York City

We address the housing crisis in NYC and the massive displacement of people. We use outreach, direct action, political education, and arts and cultural work to mobilize our members and raising up this issue to the powers that be. Through our participation in citywide coalitions as well as local organizing, we stop the loss of hundreds of thousands of affordable housing units from rent-regulated to market-prices, and require that new development projects do not pass without the creation of more affordable housing.
Who are our partners?

JFREJ is currently active in three different campaigns with allied groups in NYC. We are a general member of the Right To The City alliance (RTTC), an unprecedented coalition led by grassroots organizatoins, low income, and people of color with radical analysis convening in the fight against gentrification and displacement. Members include FIERCE, CAAAV, FUREE, GOLES, Picture the Homeless and the Urban Justice Center.

In what neighborhoods are we active?

JFREJ works both at the citywide and local level. Currently with the RTTC coalition, we are working to convert vacant luxury condo's into community land trusts/mutual housing associations throughout the city. CJFREJ has joined with GOLES (the Good Old Lower East Side) and SPARC (the Seward Park Area Renewal Coalition) to create new low and moderate income housing in Seward Park on the Lower East Side, the last tract of vacant city-owned un-developed land in Manhattan below 96th St. Check out this article in the New York Times about the barriers to development. JFREJ has worked with the Coalition to Preserve Communities on the campaign to fight the un-principled expansion of Columbia University into West Harlem (www.stopcolumbia.org).

How can I get involved?

Contact JFREJ at 212.647.8966 or via email.

Shalom Bayit:
Justice for Domestic Workers

Shalom Bayit: Justice for Domestic Workers is a JFREJ campaign to bring Jews and their allies into the struggle for dignity, respect and better working conditions for domestic workers (e.g. nannies, eldercare givers, housekeepers, etc). The campaign is committed to organizing communities of employers and those who grew up in homes with domestic workers as employees throughout the New York City area. In examining the Jewish obligation and value of fair employment, we are building an Employers for Justice network – employers of domestic workers who are dedicated to best practices, speak out and take action in support of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights and serve as role models within their communities.
Who are our partners?

The campaign started when JFREJ joined hands with Domestic Workers United (DWU). Founded in 2000 and consisting of Caribbean, Latina and African nannies, housekeepers, and elderly caregivers in New York, DWU is a city-wide, industry-wide alliance of domestic workers and domestic worker organizations that have come together to gain respect and recognition for domestic workers, and establish fair labor standards in an industry where abuse and exploitation are the norm.

What are your current legislative goals?

In 2009, the New York State Assembly passed bill A1470A to include domestic workers under existing labor laws. We are urging the Senate to go further by passing bill S2311-C that would guarantee domestic workers basic benefits, such as paid leave and notice, and protections that otherwise would be impossible for workers to obtain. In 2010, both bills must be reconciled into one bill for the governor to sign. For the next 45 days (April 23 - June 21), DWU and JFREJ are encouraging all New Yorkers to call their representatives, Governor, and the leadership of the Senate and Assembly. Tell them you want the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights to pass in 2010!

How can I get involved?

Contact JFREJ at 212.647.8966 or via email.