Temple Habonim group defends voting rights

A group of congregants at Temple Habonim has taken their concerns for voting rights and channeled them into advocacy work at the local and national level.

According to W. Robert Kemp, he and Joseph Schechtman, both members of Temple Habonim, in Barrington, shared a concern about recent efforts by some states that appear to undermine voting rights. They met with the congregation’s Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman last August to discuss these concerns, and out of that meeting a committee was formed, with Kemp and Schechtman as co-chairs.

The Voting Rights Committee has 10 members. They aim to make the congregation aware of legislation or laws in some states that many people believe undermine the most basic of rights in our democracy, as well as to let the Rhode Island congressional delegation know the importance of prioritizing voting rights.

In September and October, the committee organized a meeting with the congressional delegation and produced a call to action for the general congregation. They worked on educating and being educated. In November they made a presentation to the congressional delegation.

And the group joined with the Religious Action Center, an arm of the Reform movement that is active in similar activities. In fact, the RAC was critically active, along with the NAACP, in helping to write the original Civil Rights Act of 1965.

Kemp, a retired attorney who has served in many capacities on the board of Temple Habonim, said the group was disappointed that Congress did not approve The Freedom to Vote Act and The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act. But they plan to regroup and monitor how states are treating voters – and do what they can locally.

“People need to get out and vote even if it means standing in line,” Kemp said.

He said that U.S. Rep. David Cicilline suggested that people interested in the cause look to nearby swing states, such as New Hampshire, to help get out the vote in upcoming elections.

Members of the group also participated in a "Town Hall", held by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse on Feb. 8, on continuing the fight to advance legislation to protect the right to vote.

In an email, Rabbi Voss-Altman said, “In accordance with the principles of Reform Judaism, and the political arm of our movement, the Religious Action Center, our Voting Rights committee stands in solidarity with every American citizen who wishes to participate in our democracy through the ballot box.

“Voting rights are the backbone of our democracy, and sadly, there are too many representatives in both Washington, D.C., and at the state level who wish to limit, or even deny, that fundamental right.

“We hope that significant voting rights legislation will be revived in Congress, and that our future elections will, once again, stand as a beacon of integrity and hope for our nation.”

The committee has also prepared a list of websites of nonpartisan organizations that are pursuing voting-rights legislation. You can find that list online at jewishrhody.org

“I think we can be most effective by following these organizations that are already doing this work. They have the infrastructure,” said Kemp.

FRAN OSTENDORF (fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org) is the editor of Jewish Rhode Island.