American Jews across the political spectrum have the power to choose to protect and strengthen our democracy in this moment, even in the face of feelings of abandonment, hopelessness, and anger.

Written by: Jeremy Bannett

A More Perfect Union, a Jewish organization working to protect and strengthen democracy in the U.S., today announced that it has granted over $112,000 in Ignition Grants to 77 Jewish organizations committed to ensuring free, fair, safe, and accessible elections and supporting American democracy in 2024.

With eight weeks to go until Election Day 2024, we find ourselves once again in an unprecedented political moment. The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and the emergence of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee have both turbocharged an already momentous election and contributed to our collective sense of political instability. While the headlines focus on the candidates during the home stretch of their campaigns, our attention must be simultaneously rooted in something more fundamental—the health of the underlying democratic institutions that make free and fair elections possible.

Written by: Aaron Dorfman

In a bid to promote civic engagement, Beth El Phoenix recently hosted two of the state’s highest officials to discuss democracy and honored poll workers during Shabbat.

A More Perfect Union’s Aaron Dorfman joins Kristen Cambell and Josh Rolnick in this opinion piece arguing for greater philanthropic investment in faith-based, pro-democracy work.

On December 31, 2023, the New York Times published Aaron Dorfman’s letter to the editor in response to a column by Bret Stephens (please note it is the fourth letter down on the webpage). Here is an excerpt:

For nearly two and a half centuries, even amid painful setbacks, the United States has offered one of the last, best places to be Jewish — not because it catered to Jews, but because its democratic pluralism, albeit aspirational and imperfect from the beginning, allowed minorities like ours an opportunity to live freely. When that democratic pluralism struggles, we shouldn’t prematurely mourn its loss. We should repair it instead.

American democracy – the rights it affords to its citizens and the protections it affords to minorities – has created a foundation upon which we have built an incredible network of sustaining institutions and vibrant communities. Through these groups, we speak, we assemble, we petition, we observe, all loudly and proudly in the public square. As we have seen since October 7, 2023, this is the foundation on which we assert and defend ourselves. This is the foundation we must ensure stays intact.

Written by: Sofi Hersher Andorsky

A More Perfect Union’s Executive Director, Aaron Dorfman, is one of nine entrepreneurial leaders recently welcomed to the UpStarter Network. Selected from a pool of more than 70 highly qualified applicants, these impact-driven leaders and ventures represent diverse initiatives and communities across the United States. With demonstrated track records of inclusivity, creativity, and vision, the 2024 UpSpring Cohort continues to reach up and inspire new experiences within the Jewish community.