Progressive Jewish Alliance

Los Angeles, the second largest Jewish community in the country, has been called a patchwork of suburbs in search of a downtown. It provides the perfect home base for the Progressive Jewish Alliance (PJA), which plays a critical role in engaging many of LA’s Jews in the social, political and economic life of the city. In the past year alone, PJA has touched thousands of lives, as more than 2,000 activist-members have participated in ongoing economic justice campaigns, Muslim-Jewish dialogues, action alert projects and community events. One participant attests, “PJA tackles the tough issues of our time and doesn’t step back from controversy.” 

As an example, this year PJA is working to prevent the passage of an anti-gay marriage initiative on California’s November ballot. PJA’s Marriage Equality Campaign aims to educate the Jewish community about this critical issue by bringing to light the stories of recently married gay and lesbian couples. In addition, its Bringing the Orange Under the Huppah campaign encourages heterosexual couples to highlight the plight of same-gender couples during their wedding ceremonies. 

Founding Executive Director Daniel Sokatch left PJA this summer to become CEO of the San Francisco Jewish Community Federation. Despite this, as PJA embarks on a national executive director search, the organization looks strong, thanks to the completion of a strategic plan and a growing resource base. With a “great staff” and “an active and diverse volunteer board” that includes next generation leadership, this mezzanine organization possesses the skills and the people to help guide it through its next phase of growth.