Jews for a Fair Wisconsin

Jews for a Fair Wisconsin is a collective group of Jewish clergy and lay people in the Jewish Community working around the state to fight the ban.  From the forums sponsored by Jewish leaders to the daily work of Jewish volunteers against the ban, Jews for a Fair Wisconsin is an effective gathering of the Jewish community committed to justice. 

All documents on this page are downloadable pdf files you are welcome to copy and distribute. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it here for free.

Jews for a Fair Wisconsin

Challenge: 350 Shifts by Election Day

On November 7, Wisconsin voters will decide whether or not to amend our state constitution to include a permanent ban on civil unions and marriage for gay couples.

The Jewish community has spoken out loudly against the ban, and we are committed to defeating it. Organizations such as the Wisconsin Jewish Conference, the Madison Jewish Community Council, the Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations, and the Milwaukee chapter of the American Jewish Committee have joined numerous individual rabbis, lay leaders, and congregations in voicing their opposition to this unjust measure.

And yet, our work is far from finished.

Fair Wisconsin has identified tens of thousands of “no” voters. We know that we can defeat the ban, but in order to do so we need to get all these “no” voters to the polls. This is a huge task which will take thousands of volunteers statewide. With Election Day less than two weeks away, we need your help more than ever!

In just one "Get out the Vote" volunteer shift, you will single-handedly add 60 "no" votes to the tally.

That's why we are challenging Wisconsin’s Jewish community to sign up for a total of 350 "Get out the Vote" shifts on November 4-7.

Families can volunteer together and get credit per family member. One shift is four hours. You can recruit friends, colleagues, and neighbors to help the Wisconsin Jewish community meet this goal.

Sign up today to get out the vote.

And then send an email to jews@fairwisconsin.comwith your name, city, and how many shifts you are volunteering for. (But please register via www.fairwisconsin.com/gotv.)

In Dane County alone, Fair Wisconsin needs to recruit 6,466 volunteer shifts on Election Day. Milwaukee needs 1,756, the Fox Valley needs 988, Kenosha needs 556, Eau Claire needs 472, and we need hundreds more in other parts of the state.

As members of the Wisconsin’s Jewish community, we can do our part by reaching our 350 shift goal.

And don’t forget: In some counties, you must flip over your ballot to vote “No” on the ban!

Jewish resources

Talking Points on the Ban - General and Jewish messages to use with the media, in sermons and newsletters, and whenever talking about the ban.

What Does Jewish Tradition Say? Theological work identifying key themes and ideals and Scriptural passages used by both supporters and opponents of the ban.

List of Major Faith Groups Against the Ban - Download the pdf or visit this page for the current list of the faith groups that have signed the Fair Wisconsin endorsement form, made public statements, or passed formal resolutions against the ban.

How the Ban Will Hurt Wisconsin - Reasons the ban will hurt families, faith communities, business, higher education, the elderly, domestic violence victims, labor, and every Wisconsinite.

What Jewish Communities Can Do - Several ways to inform Jewish communities about the civil unions and marriage ban including organizing committees, adult education sessions, and writing letters to the editor.

Organizing Events about the Ban - Tips on how to introduce the ban by way of forums, panels, adult education workshops, and trainings.

Temple Beth El Statement against the Ban – Temple Beth El, of Madison, is a member in good standing with the Union for Reform Judaism and offered a ringing declaration against the ban.

General materials

Endorsement Form - For faith leaders to fill out and send to Fair Wisconsin if they would like to publicly oppose the ban.

Pledge Form- Take this to events, meetings, and house parties for people to "pledge to vote No" on the ban. This form helps us identify "No" voters and get them to the polls in November.

Far-Reaching Consequences of the Ban - A list of what has happened to couples in other states as a result of the passage of a civil unions and marriage ban.

100 Rights that Come with Marriage - A list of 100 of the nearly 200 rights, benefits, and responsibilities that come with marriage in the state of Wisconsin.

Stories of LGBT people in Wisconsin - A collection of stories from couples around the state about how they are hurt by the denial of marriage.

Terminology - The difference between marriage, civil unions, and domestic partner benefits, as well as describing the campaign and our opposition.