32 | MARCH 24 • 2022
OUR COMMUNITY
D
etroit Jews for Justice
is looking forward to
reinvigorated post-
COVID activism under new
leadership.
The organization was start-
ed in 2014 by Congregation
T’
chiyah in Oak Park, which
hired Rabbi Alana Alpert to
work half-time as its spiritual
leader and half–time as the
director of Detroit Jews for
Justice.
Last year, Alpert announced
her intention to pull back from
Detroit Jews for Justice (DJJ) in
order to devote her attention to
the congregation, and the orga-
nization named Allie Zeff, who
had been working
as its community
organizer, as its
new executive
director.
A few months
later, DJJ
announced the
appointment of Elijah Silver as
its organizer for campaigns and
education.
Zeff and Silver
are excited about
reinvigorating the
organization after
COVID kept its
supporters from
doing much in
person during the
past two years.
They are preparing to under-
take a major campaign in sup-
port of reproductive rights in
Michigan.
If the U.S. Supreme Court
overturns the right to abortion
established by Roe vs. Wade
in 1973, Michigan’s 1931 law
banning abortion will become
effective once again — unless
the state legislature enacts new
legislation.
DJJ is working with 35 other
organizations, including ACLU
of Michigan, Michigan Voices
and Planned Parenthood
Advocates of Michigan, on a
ballot initiative that will protect
women’s reproductive freedom,
including the right to abortion.
They are currently circulating
petitions to get the measure on
the ballot. “I’m really excited
about it,
” Zeff said.
Both she and Silver followed
“unconventional paths to activ-
ism,
” Zeff said.
Zeff, 30, lives in Hamtramck
with her husband, Gabe
Slabosky, and newborn son,
Ori. She grew up in Skokie, Ill.,
and studied music education at
Western Michigan University.
While teaching music in
Detroit elementary schools, she
developed a heightened sense
of political activism because,
she said, she saw “systems of
oppression played out on chil-
dren” — problems like insuffi-
cient housing, clean water and
public transportation.
When she attended a DJJ
meeting, she felt she had found
her spiritual home. Community
activism seemed a good way to
address the powerlessness felt
by many Detroiters.
For several years she was a
DJJ volunteer and joined its
minuscule staff in 2018. She
started her current job Jan. 1.
Silver, 41, grew up in Santa
Rosa, Calif., earned a degree in
international studies and polit-
ical economy from Humboldt
State University, and started
working as a tutor and leader
of after-school science work-
shops, later earning a doctor of
naturopathy degree from the
National University of Natural
Medicine in Portland.
After moving to the Detroit
area with wife Emily Silver
eight years ago, Silver worked
with children with neurological
disorders but yearned to do
more in the area of social justice
— and also to do more in the
Jewish world. “DJJ checked all
the boxes,
” said Silver, who lives
in Ferndale and started the new
job in February.
Zeff said she’s proud that
Detroit Jews for Justice has
been able to build trusting
partnerships with other social
justice organizations in south-
eastern Michigan, including the
People’s Water Board Coalition,
the Coalition for Property Tax
Justice and groups working for
immigrant rights. By creating
a “Jewish seat at the table,
” DJJ
has developed “thoughtful
solidarity” with other organiza-
tions, she said.
DJJ will strive to present the
reproductive rights initiative
from a Jewish perspective, she
said.
Starting last year, DJJ coor-
dinated a 10-month workshop
series on racial justice with five
area congregations: Temple
Emanu-El, the Isaac Agree
Downtown Synagogue, Temple
Kol Ami, Temple Shir Tikvah
and Congregation T’
chiyah.
After the series ends in June,
participants will bring what
they learned to their congrega-
tions.
Zeff says DJJ has a dedicated
core of 200 volunteers but con-
nects informally with thousands
more. Hundreds attended its
March 20 Purim celebration,
held outdoors at Detroit’s
Marble Bar.
Anyone interested in volunteering or
learning more about Detroit Jews for
Justice is invited to contact Silver at
elijah@detroitjewsforjustice.org.
Detroit Jews for Justice renews
its activism.
Back in Action
Allie Zeff
Elijah Silver
BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
DJJ
DJJ has been working for
water justice in Detroit.
Join Us for the
Journey of a Lifetime!
March 12 – 21, 2023
It’s on! We’re going back to Israel as a community
for the fi
rst time in over a decade and want you to join us.
Here’s your chance to experience the heart and soul of Israel and the Detroit Jewish community
at the same time. With exciting adventures, unique historic visits, fi
rst-class accommodations
and VIP encounters, whether it’s your fi
rst time or next time to Israel, this time it’s going to be
an experience like no other!