During difficult times, being in community with a crew of people who lead with kindness and justice, rather than fear, is more important than ever. That’s why JUFJ was founded over a quarter of a century ago, and why we were so excited to build our local organizing work in Virginia this past year. In the spring of 2025, our Virginia Lead Organizer, Elianna Cooper, was having her first one-on-one conversations with community members, Jewish communal leaders, and local partners. Last July, we publicly launched our work in Virginia. And now, as we wrap up our first statewide legislative session, we are starting to see the fruits of that labor.
This was a historic year for legislation in Virginia, and we are so proud to have contributed, alongside our social justice movement partners. JUFJers showed up and took action in big ways and small, and we are proud of the tools we provided for Jews and allies to participate in powerful advocacy and organizing:
- We called legislators to demand the passage of the Trust Agenda, a set of bills to ensure that our immigrant friends and neighbors can live without fear.
- We joined We Are CASA, New Virginia Majority, and ACLU People Power Fairfax, amongst others, for an immigrant justice lobby day.
- We woke up at 6:00 AM to visit legislators’ offices in Richmond and share how our Jewish values demand justice for immigrants and all working people
- We wrote and delivered public comment during key bill hearings
I have lived in Virginia since 1981. Yet, it is only because of JUFJ that I went down to Richmond for my very first lobbying experience in 2026. I am smiling as I reflect on how we partnered with We Are Casa and Dreamers’ Mothers. Their stories were poignant, scary, and timely… We voiced, also, how we Jews know well from our history what it is like to be abruptly abducted from public places or arrested in our homes in the middle of the night.” – Bracha Laster, JUFJer since 2008
Our hard work paid off when nearly all of our priority bills passed out of the General Assembly by the end of session. Bills that would end 287(g) agreements between ICE and local law enforcement passed, as did protections for immigrants in sensitive locations like schools. We won collective bargaining rights for public sector employees, a minimum wage increase to $15 an hour by 2028, and the establishment of a paid family and medical leave program. All of the constitutional amendments JUFJ is working on — to enshrine reproductive rights, voting rights, and marriage equality — passed, were signed by the Governor, and will be on the ballot in November.
And our organizing goes far beyond legislative advocacy — even during the legislative session, we educate and mobilize people to build an activist Jewish community. We spoke at numerous congregations in recent months: Kol Ami about the importance of voting; Agudas Achim about connections between MLK’s legacy and action in Virginia; and Etz Hayim at Refugee Shabbat. We held a training at Temple Rodef Shalom on how to protect immigrant Virginians from being detained by ICE outside traffic court or juvenile court. We also ran our first Virginia cohort of our Tzedek Organizing Training, for community members who were eager to strengthen their organizing skills.
Working with JUFJ has been a way to do justice and love mercy, to walk humbly while recalling that we have a role in the liberation of others from the bondages and torment they face daily.” – George, JUFJer since 2015
During our first Virginia legislative session, we planted seeds to grow a bright, bold future alongside our partners. Together, we can nurture lasting change in Virginia and ensure all communities have what they need to thrive and live in dignity!
Will you join us? Get involved with our work at our next Virginia Action Team meeting on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00 PM:
