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!

