Take Action

Pursue stimulates deep thinking about values and how they compel and challenge us to act.
We encourage individuals to take action where their sense of justice meets their values.
And we support and organize collective action on critical issues that makes a difference.

What does it mean to act?
The Jewish tradition presents a dynamic framework that urges us to question injustice, take collective responsibility and act. For Pursue, taking action means:

• Building community and networks
• Learning about and wrestling with contemporary justice issues
• Organizing and mobilizing advocacy efforts
• Donating through meaningful service and intentional tzedakah
• …and everything in between.

Challenged by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s notion that “few are guilty, but all are responsible,” we believe that coming together as a community around shared values and diverse strategies has the potential to make real change.

Community Building: Community is an essential value of Judaism: Pirke Avot teaches us, “Do not separate yourself from the community.” Traditionally, public prayer is not even possible without convening at least ten people–and social change can’t happen on its own either. Click here to find ways you can tap into the existing Pursue community and find opportunities to shape it yourself.

Learning: The Talmud asks, “Which is greater, learning or action? Learning is greater because it leads to action.” Pursue believes that knowledge is a first step to taking responsible and effective action. Click here to explore resources for ongoing learning in the interconnected realms of Judaism and social justice.

Service: “You are not required to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” – Avot 2:21. Service is an important way to get directly engaged in social justice work in your community and beyond. Click here for tools to help you find meaningful service opportunities.

Tzedakah: Jewish law urges us to donate 10% of our income to those in need. Considering the who, what, where, why, and when of sharing your hard earned money amplifies your values and helps effectively power social justice efforts. Click here for resources on meaningful ways to donate and ethical ways to spend money.

Advocacy: The Jewish imperative to heal the world, tikkun olam, relies on our ability to raise our communal voice and make a collective impact on the broken political measures that keep injustice in place. Click here to connect with campaigns through which you can address root causes and systemic obstacles to achieving justice.