The Jewish Democratic Council of America ( JDCA ), also known as " Jewish Dems ", is an organization that defines itself as "the voice for Jewish Democrats and socially progressive , pro-Israel , and Jewish values". It was announced in August 2017, and officially launched in November 2017. JDCA was incorporated in Washington, D.C., in June 2017. JDCA has 13 chapters and affiliates across the United States.
147-460: The organization's official mission is to serve as the voice for Jewish Democrats. According to its website, it "promotes like-minded candidates and elected officials and embraces a platform that is grounded in fairness, integrity, the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam , and a strong U.S.–Israel relationship , energizes the Jewish electorate to engage in the electoral and legislative processes, and maintains
294-531: A new executive order that would have protected another four million illegal immigrants from deportation, but the order was blocked by the Supreme Court in a 4–4 tie vote that upheld a lower court's ruling. Despite executive actions to protect some individuals, deportations of illegal immigrants continued under Obama. A record high of 400,000 deportations occurred in 2012, though the number of deportations fell during Obama's second term. In continuation of
441-598: A second bailout of US automakers, possibly saving General Motors and Chrysler from bankruptcy at the cost of $ 9.3 billion. For homeowners in danger of defaulting on their mortgage due to the subprime mortgage crisis , Obama launched several programs, including HARP and HAMP . Obama re-appointed Ben Bernanke as Chair of the Federal Reserve Board in 2009, and appointed Janet Yellen to succeed Bernanke in 2013. Short-term interest rates remained near zero for much of Obama's presidency, and
588-541: A 5–4 majority upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, even though it made state Medicaid expansion voluntary. In King v. Burwell , a 6–3 majority allowed the use of tax credits in state-operated exchanges. The October 2013 launch of HealthCare.gov , a health insurance exchange website created under the provisions of the ACA, was widely criticized, even though many of the problems were fixed by
735-457: A Conservative rabbi, argues that discussions of tikkun olam in the Mishnah and Talmud point to the importance of creating systemic change through law. She concludes that contemporary tikkun olam should also focus on systemic and structural changes to society. While many non-Orthodox Jews have argued that tikkun olam requires socially liberal politics, some have argued for the validity of
882-635: A Senate filibuster in a 55–41 vote in favor of the bill. In 2013, the Senate passed an immigration bill with a path to citizenship, but the House did not vote on the bill. In 2012, Obama implemented the DACA policy, which protected roughly 700,000 illegal immigrants from deportation; the policy applies only to those who were brought to the United States before their 16th birthday. In 2014, Obama announced
1029-600: A ban on denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions . However, the House bill included a tax increase on families making more than $ 1 million per year and a public health insurance option , while the Senate plan included an excise tax on high-cost health plans . The 2010 Massachusetts Senate special election victory of Scott Brown seriously imperiled the prospects of a health care reform bill, as Democrats lost their 60-seat Senate super-majority . The White House and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi engaged in an extensive campaign to convince both centrists and liberals in
1176-620: A bipartisan basis by the National Governors Association , and the Council of Chief State School Officers . The criteria were not mandatory, they were incentives to improve opportunities to get a grant. Most states revised their laws accordingly, even though they realized it was unlikely they would when a highly competitive new grant. Race to the Top had strong bipartisan support, with centrist elements from both parties. It
1323-545: A budget. House Republicans passed a budget that would defund Obamacare , but Senate Democrats refused to pass any budget that defunded Obamacare. Meanwhile, the country faced another debt ceiling crisis . Ultimately the two sides agreed to a continuing resolution that re-opened the government and suspended the debt ceiling. Months after passing the continuing resolution, Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 and an omnibus spending bill to fund
1470-505: A call to universalism and justice for all mankind – sentiments which are common throughout Jewish liturgy. For example, in the American Conservative movement's prayer book, Siddur Sim Shalom , "A Prayer for Our Country" elaborates on this passage: "May citizens of all races and creeds forge a common bond in true harmony to banish all hatred and bigotry" and "uniting all people in peace and freedom and helping them to fulfill
1617-739: A combined community service/social action programming area. In addition, both divisions include "pledge principles," principles by which to guide them. For BBG girls the "menorah pledge principles" include citizenship, philanthropy, and community service. For AZA members, the "7 cardinal principles" include charity. Elon University professor Geoffrey Claussen has asserted that concepts of tikkun olam have inspired Jewish fundamentalists such as Meir Kahane and Yitzchak Ginsburgh . According to Claussen, "while visions of tikkun olam may reflect humility, thoughtfulness, and justice, they are often marked by arrogance, overzealousness, and injustice." Obama administration Barack Obama 's tenure as
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#17327987484011764-401: A commitment to positive change through information sharing, issue advocacy, rapid response, and research, messaging, briefings, and other activities to increase Jewish community engagement in policy and support elected-officials and candidates who share our values". JDCA says that it "serves as the voice for Jewish Democrats and the socially liberal, pro-Israel values that Jewish voters hold dear,
1911-538: A conservative political approach to tikkun olam. Michael Spiro, a Reconstructionist Jew, draws on a conservative tradition that emphasizes free markets precisely because they believed that was the path to the greatest public good. In addition, conservatives have always emphasized the importance of private efforts of gemilut chasadim (benevolence) and tzedakah (charity or philanthropy), and Spiro argues that tikkun olam should be carried out through such private efforts rather than through government. Tikkun olam
2058-612: A cut in military spending , a scaling back of tax deductions for mortgages and employer-provided health insurance, a raise of the Social Security retirement age, and reduced spending on Medicare, Medicaid, and federal employees. The proposal never received a vote in Congress, but it served as a template for future plans to reduce the national debt. After taking control of the House in the 2010 elections , Congressional Republicans demanded spending cuts in return for raising
2205-584: A fundamental component, as for example when he wrote, "Every judge who judges truth unto its [deepest] truth, even for one hour, it’s as if he fixed the whole world entirely / tikein et kol ha’olam kulo and caused the Shekhinah to rest upon Israel." Lurianic Kabbalah dwells on the role of prayer and ritual in tikkun of the upper worlds. According to this vision of the world, God contracted part of God's infinite light ( Ohr Ein Sof )—concealing Himself—to create
2352-487: A major bill addressing the issue, in part because many Republicans and some Democrats questioned whether global warming is occurring and whether human activity contributes to it. Following his inauguration, Obama asked that Congress pass a bill to put a cap on domestic carbon emissions. After the House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act in 2009, Obama sought to convince the Senate to pass
2499-613: A member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, stated the Democratic Party's objection to imposing "religious tests for who can come to America" but did not explicitly mention Trump's travel ban . Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer , who spoke at the event, called the group a "strategic asset" for Israel. Although Republicans accused Democrats of moving away from their traditionally pro-Israel positions, Dermer disagreed, saying support for Israel within
2646-558: A model society among the Jewish people, which will in turn influence the rest of the world. By perfecting themselves, their local Jewish community or the state of Israel, the Jews set an example for the rest of the world. The theme is frequently repeated in sermons and writings across the Jewish spectrum: Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox. Also, the mitzvot often have practical worldly/social effects (in contrast to mystical effects as held by Lurianic Kabbalah). Tzedakah
2793-577: A one-year reduction in the FICA payroll tax , and other measures. Obama ultimately persuaded many wary Democrats to support the bill, though many liberals such as Bernie Sanders continued to oppose it. The $ 858 billion Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 passed with bipartisan majorities in both houses of Congress and was signed into law by Obama on December 17, 2010. Shortly after Obama's 2012 re-election, Congressional Republicans and Obama again faced off over
2940-451: A peak of 12.2 million in 2007. The nation's immigrant population hit a record 42.2 million in 2014. In November 2015, Obama announced a plan to resettle at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the United States. Energy production boomed during the Obama administration. An increase in oil production was driven largely by a fracking boom spurred by private investment on private land, and
3087-601: A portion of a bill to be unconstitutional, and he subsequently issued several signing statements. Obama also signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 , which added 2 million acres (8,100 km ) of land to the National Wilderness Preservation System , as well as a law raising the cigarette pack tax by 62 cents (equivalent to $ 0.88 in 2023). On February 17, 2009, Obama signed
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#17327987484013234-447: A relationship between people and God or strengthens beliefs and faith of the one who prays, and keeping kosher or wearing tzitzit serve as educational symbols of moral and religious values. Thus, the ultimate goal of mitzvot is for moral and religious values and deeds to permeate the Jewish people and ultimately the entire world, but the ritual mitzvot nevertheless play a vital role in this model of tikkun olam , strengthening what
3381-592: A speech during Pope John Paul II 's visit to the United States in September 1987. Classical Jewish texts teach that performing of ritual mitzvot (good deeds, commandments, connections, or religious obligations) is a means of tikkun olam , helping to perfect the world, and that the performance of more mitzvot will hasten the coming of the Messiah and the Messianic Age . This belief dates back at least to
3528-519: A statement saying he looks forward to working with the JDCA on "issues that are important to all Americans, including maintaining the strong U.S.-Israel relationship, curtailing Iran's malign activities, and combating anti-Semitism". JDCA's launch event was attended by many high-profile members of Congress, including Nancy Pelosi , Ben Cardin , Tim Kaine , Chris Murphy , Sherrod Brown , Steny Hoyer , and Debbie Wasserman Schultz . Senator Cardin (D-Md.),
3675-580: A strategy of letting Congress drive the process, with the House and Senate writing their own bills. In the Senate, a bipartisan group of senators on the Finance Committee known as the Gang of Six began meeting with the hope of creating a bipartisan healthcare reform bill, even though the Republican senators involved with the crafting of the bill ultimately came to oppose it. In November 2009,
3822-471: A strong US-Israel relationship". The organization's inaugural press release said that Trump's rhetoric and tolerance of neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and racists will "empower and embolden" such groups. It criticized the "deafening silence" from some members of Congress and Trump's cabinet and accused those who refuse to speak out of abdicating "their constitutional and moral obligation to our country and its citizens". U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) issued
3969-450: A transition away from coal as an energy source, but the falling price of wind, solar, and natural gas energy sources also contributed to coal's decline. Obama encouraged this successful transition away from coal in large part due to the fact that coal emits more carbon than other sources of power, including natural gas. Obama's campaign to fight global warming found more success at the international level than in Congress. Obama attended
4116-465: A trend that began with the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 , the percentage of foreign-born people living in the United States reached 13.7% in 2015, higher than at any point since the early 20th century. After having risen since 1990, the number of illegal immigrants living in the United States stabilized at around 11.5 million individuals during Obama's presidency, down from
4263-643: A universal accounting system for emissions, required each country to monitor its emissions, and required each country to create a plan to reduce its emissions. Several climate negotiators noted that the US-China climate deal and the EPA's emission limits helped make the deal possible. In 2016, the international community agreed to the Kigali accord, an amendment to the Montreal Protocol which sought to reduce
4410-583: Is a central theme in Judaism and serves as one of the 613 commandments. Tzedakah is used in common parlance as charitable giving. Tzedek , the root of tzedakah , means justice or righteousness. Acts of tzedakah are used to generate a more just world. Therefore, tzedakah is a means through which to perform tikkun olam . Philanthropy is an effective tool in performing tikkun olam as it supports organizations that perform direct service. There are many different philanthropic organizations devoted to repairing
4557-411: Is a model of communal social responsibility in the absence of a strong welfare state; it also connects to the burgeoning area of Micro Philanthropy, which pools large numbers of small donations resulting in more direct interaction between donors and recipients, or "givers" and "doers," higher resolution in the focus of giving and the creation of new networks of cooperation. By performing the mitzvot , it
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4704-408: Is accomplished by the ethical. Hirsch's Horeb is an especially important source, as his exposition of his philosophy of the mitzvot . He classifies the mitzvot into six categories: Aside from the fact that by perfecting themselves, the Jews set an example for the rest of the world, there is thus the additional distinction that mitzvot have practical, worldly effects—for example, charity benefits
4851-430: Is believed that the Jewish people will become a model society. This idea sometimes is attributed to Biblical verses that describe the Jews as "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" ( Exodus 19:5–6 ) and "a light of the nations" or "a light to the nations" ( Isaiah 42:6 and Isaiah 49:6 ). The philosophies of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch , Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook , and Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag are prominent in this field,
4998-456: Is expected that in the messianic era there will be no injustice or exploitation, a state comparable with tikkun olam . In Jewish thought, ethical mitzvot as well as ritual mitzvot are important to the process of tikkun olam . Maimonides writes that tikkun olam requires efforts in all three of the great "pillars" of Judaism: Torah study, acts of kindness, and the ritual commandments. Some Jews believe that performing mitzvot will create
5145-615: Is intertwined with Religious Zionism, especially in America), it is commonly believed that mitzvot have practical this-worldly sociological and educational effects on those who perform them, and in this manner, the mitzvot will perfect the Jews and the world. According to the rationalist philosophy of Hirsch and others, the social and ethical mitzvot have nearly self-explanatory purposes, while ritual mitzvot may serve functions such as educating people or developing relationships between people and God. As examples, prayer either inculcates
5292-467: Is particularly striking because Lurianic Kabbalah saw itself as repairing dimensions within the spiritual, the mystical worlds, rather than this world and its social relations. Author Lawrence Fine points to two features of Lurianic Kabbalah that have made it adaptable to ethical mitzvot and social action. First, he points out that a generation recovering from the tragedy of the Holocaust resonates with
5439-498: Is the first African American president, the first multiracial president, the first non-white president, and the first president born in Hawaii. Obama was succeeded by Republican Donald Trump , who won the 2016 presidential election . Historians and political scientists rank him among the upper tier in historical rankings of American presidents . Obama's accomplishments during the first 100 days of his presidency included signing
5586-402: Is two-fold: the gathering of light and of souls, to be achieved by human beings through the contemplative performance of religious acts. The goal of such repair, which can only be effected by humans, is to separate what is holy from the created world, thus depriving the physical world of its very existence, destroying the material universe. This restores all things to a world before disaster within
5733-706: Is used to refer to Jewish obligations to engage in social action in the Reform and Conservative movements as well. For example, in USY , the Conservative youth movement, the position in charge of social action on chapter and regional boards is called the SA/TO (social action/tikkun olam) officer. Furthermore, USY has the Abraham Joshua Heschel Honor Society. A requirement of acceptance to
5880-664: The "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia , and it was formally launched in November 2017. Halie Soifer, JDCA's first executive director, explained the catalyst for JDCA's formation, stating that "at that moment, it was very clear, unlike even past Republican administrations, this administration had no qualms about affiliating itself and even sympathizing with anti-Semites". founding Chair Ron Klein has written that American Jews can not afford to be "complacent" in
6027-533: The 2008 Democratic National Convention , Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel , and Defense Secretary Robert Gates , whom Obama chose to retain from the previous administration. An early list of suggestions came from Michael Froman , then an executive at Citigroup . Obama described his Cabinet choices as a " team of rivals ", and Obama chose several prominent public officials for Cabinet positions, including defeated rival Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. Obama nominated several former Clinton administration officials to
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6174-522: The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference , which drafted the non-binding Copenhagen Accord as a successor to the Kyoto Protocol . The deal provided for the monitoring of carbon emissions among developing countries , but it did not include Obama's proposal to commit to cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050. In 2014, Obama reached an agreement with China in which China pledged to reach peak carbon emission levels by 2030, while
6321-404: The 44th president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 2009, and ended on January 20, 2017. Obama, a Democrat from Illinois , took office following his victory over Republican nominee John McCain in the 2008 presidential election . Four years later, in the 2012 presidential election , he defeated Republican nominee Mitt Romney , to win re-election. Obama
6468-474: The Aleinu prayer is actually not a valid source for the concept of tikkun olam , claiming that the original prayer used a homonym " l'takhen " (spelled differently, לתכן ) meaning "to establish" (rather than "to fix" or "to repair"); this wording is still used by Yemenite Jews . However, among European Jews, Aleinu has used the word "to fix" ( לתקן ) since at least the first recorded texts in
6615-509: The Aleinu prayer, specifically the expression le-taken olam be-malchut shaddai (typically translated as when the world shall be perfected under the reign of the almighty ), as a responsibility for Jewish people to work towards a better world. However, while Bardin was a significant popularizer of the term, one also finds it being used in similar manner in the late 1930s and early 1940s by Alexander Dushkin and Mordecai Kaplan . As left-leaning progressive Jewish organizations started entering
6762-536: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to address the Great Recession . The ARRA had been passed, after much debate, by both the House and Senate four days earlier. While it was originally intended to be a bipartisan bill, Congressional passage of the bill relied largely on Democratic votes, though three Republican senators voted for it. The lack of Republican support for the bill, and
6909-609: The COVID-19 pandemic . Among the event's speakers were U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer , U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , former U.S. Representative Steve Israel , and actors Ben Platt , Tovah Feldshuh , and Jon Lovett . Actor Mandy Patinkin participated in multiple JDCA events, and appeared in a JDCA ad to get out the vote. The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) sent an e-mail to its supporters, saying that JDCA
7056-495: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau , which was charged with protecting consumers against abusive financial practices. On signing the bill, Obama stated that the bill would "empower consumers and investors," "bring the shadowy deals that caused the crisis to the light of day," and "put a stop to taxpayer bailouts once and for all." Some liberals were disappointed that the law did not break up
7203-402: The D.C. Circuit to fill Scalia's seat. However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley , and other Senate Republicans argued that Supreme Court nominations should not be made during a presidential election year, and that the winner of the 2016 presidential election should instead appoint Scalia's replacement. Garland's nomination remained before
7350-765: The Great Recession . After a lengthy debate over the national debt limit , he signed the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 . In foreign policy, he increased US troop levels in Afghanistan , reduced nuclear weapons with the United States–Russia New START treaty, and ended military involvement in the Iraq War . He gained widespread praise for ordering Operation Neptune Spear ,
7497-895: The Guantanamo Bay detention camp , in Cuba , though it remains open. He lifted some travel and money restrictions to the island. Obama signed many landmark bills into law during his first two years in office. The main reforms include: the Affordable Care Act , sometimes referred to as "the ACA" or "Obamacare", the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act , and the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 . The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act served as economic stimuli amidst
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#17327987484017644-727: The Gulf of Mexico . Because the pipeline crossed international boundaries, its construction required the approval of the US federal government, and the US State Department engaged in a lengthy review process. President Obama vetoed a bill to construct the Keystone Pipeline in February 2015, arguing that the decision of approval should rest with the executive branch. It was the first major veto of his presidency, and Congress
7791-639: The House of Representatives and the Senate , and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid both remained in their posts. Republicans John Boehner and Mitch McConnell continued to serve as House Minority Leader and Senate Minority Leader, respectively. The presidential transition period began following Obama's victory in the 2008 U.S. presidential election , though Obama had chosen Chris Lu to begin planning for
7938-495: The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 relaxing the statute of limitations for equal-pay lawsuits; signing into law the expanded Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP); winning approval of a congressional budget resolution that put Congress on record as dedicated to dealing with major health care reform legislation in 2009; implementing new ethics guidelines designed to significantly curtail
8085-701: The New Deal . The act increased regulation and reporting requirements on derivatives (particularly credit default swaps ), and took steps to limit systemic risks to the US economy with policies such as higher capital requirements , the creation of the Orderly Liquidation Authority to help wind down large, failing financial institutions, and the creation of the Financial Stability Oversight Council to monitor systemic risks. Dodd-Frank also established
8232-551: The Supreme Court of the United States during Obama's tenure, but Obama made only two successful appointments. During the 111th Congress , when Democrats held a majority in the Senate, Obama successfully nominated two Supreme Court Justices: Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016, during the 114th Congress , which had a Republican majority in the Senate. In March 2016, Obama nominated Chief Judge Merrick Garland of
8379-690: The United States debt ceiling , the statutory limit on the total amount of debt that the Treasury Department can issue. The 2011 debt-ceiling crisis developed as Obama and Congressional Democrats demanded a "clean" debt-ceiling increase that did not include spending cuts. Though some Democrats argued that Obama could unilaterally raise the debt ceiling under the terms of the Fourteenth Amendment , Obama chose to negotiate with Congressional Republicans. Obama and Speaker of
8526-407: The electricity grid , repair public housing, and weatherize modest-income homes. Obama also promoted the use of plug-in electric vehicles , and 400,000 electric cars had been sold by the end of 2015. According to a report by The American Lung Association, there was a "major improvement" in air quality under Obama. Upon entering office, Obama focused on handling the global financial crisis and
8673-464: The mitzvot , including those traditionally understood as ethical, was already a part of Kabbalah, but the contemporary emphasis serves the purpose of finding a mystical depth and spiritual energy in ethical mitzvot . The application of the Lurianic vision to improving the world can be seen in Jewish blogs, High Holiday sermons and on-line Jewish learning resource centers. The association between
8820-473: The 11th–12th centuries. Thus, Aleinu's influence on the concept of tikkun olam can date to at least this time. Over the course of Jewish intellectual history, tikkun olam has at times referred to eschatological concerns, as in Aleinu, and at times to practical concerns, as in the Mishnah, but in either context, it refers to some kind of social change or process that is for the betterment of Jews or Goyim or
8967-556: The 1975 New Union prayer book, used by the movement for Reform Judaism Gates of Prayer , which includes the text "You [Lord] have taught us to uphold the falling, to heal the sick, to free the captive, to comfort all who suffer pain". These aspects of Judaism already have a traditional name however, gemilut chasadim , and some have criticized the tendency to emphasize social action as a kind of disregard for other aspects of Judaism traditionally connected to tikkun olam , like learning, prayer, repentance, and ritual commandments. Perhaps
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#17327987484019114-809: The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill , which was the worst oil spill in US history. In December 2016, President Obama invoked the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to ban offshore oil and gas exploration in large parts of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. During Obama's tenure, the battle over the Keystone XL Pipeline became a major issue, with advocates arguing that it would contribute to economic growth and environmentalists arguing that its approval would contribute to global warming. The proposed 1,000-mile (1,600 km) pipeline would have connected Canada's oil sands with
9261-579: The 2011 withdrawal from Iraq, promoted discussions that led to the 2015 Paris Agreement on global climate change, drew down US troops in Afghanistan in 2016, initiated sanctions against Russia following its annexation of Crimea and again after interference in the 2016 US elections , brokered the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal with Iran, and normalized US relations with Cuba . Obama nominated three justices to
9408-605: The 2020 election, including Presidential Candidate Joe Biden and Congressional candidates such as Adam Schiff , Jamie Raskin , and Cory Booker . In the January 2021 Georgia run-off elections, JDCA endorsed and campaigned for Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff , helping Democrats to win the Senate majority. In the 2022 midterms, JDCA endorsed House, Senate, and Gubernatorial candidates in states nationwide. Notable endorsements include Josh Shapiro , John Fetterman , Cheri Beasley , and Mark Kelly . JDCA PAC spent $ 250,000 in
9555-1013: The 2024 elections, including President Joe Biden , Senate candidates Ruben Gallego in Arizona, Adam Schiff in California, Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in Florida, Rep. Elissa Slotkin in Michigan, and House candidates Wesley Bell in Missouri's District 1 and George Latimer in New York's District 16. In June 2021, JDCA held its first Week of Action, during which it ran 81 meetings with members of Congress, including Gary Peters , Tim Ryan , and Ted Deutch . JDCA held its second Week of Action in May 2022. Among others, they were joined by Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, Val Demings , and Jamie Raskin. In
9702-579: The Board of Directors elected Susie Stern, a New York-based Jewish community and Democratic leader, as its next Chair. Stern will assume the role on January 1, 2025. In June 2018, JDCA announced its first round of endorsements for the 2018 mid-term elections. The four candidates who received endorsements were Bill Nelson , Jacky Rosen , Sean Casten , and Dean Phillips . The JDCA followed that set of endorsements with six more: Claire McCaskill , Sherrod Brown , Conor Lamb , Josh Gottheimer , Mikie Sherrill , and Tom Malinowski . JDCA made 121 endorsements in
9849-629: The Cabinet and to other positions. On April 28, 2009, the Senate confirmed former Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services, completing Obama's initial Cabinet. During Obama's presidency, four Republicans served in Obama's Cabinet: Ray LaHood as Secretary of Transportation, Robert McDonald as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Gates and Chuck Hagel as Secretaries of Defense. Security and international affairs Economic affairs †Appointed by President Bush ‡Originally appointed by President Bush, reappointed by President Obama There were three vacancies on
9996-399: The Democratic Party was still strong. The JDCA is chaired by former Florida congressman Ron Klein . In June 2018, JDCA announced that it had hired its first executive director, Halie Soifer, a former national security advisor for U.S. Senator Kamala Harris and senior policy advisor in the Obama administration . In 2020, Halie Soifer was promoted to CEO. In March 2024, JDCA announced that
10143-491: The Democratic primary. Several other candidates, including Senator Joe Biden of Delaware and former senator John Edwards of North Carolina , also ran for the nomination, but these candidates dropped out after the initial primaries. In June, on the day of the final primaries, Obama clinched the nomination by winning a majority of the delegates, including both pledged delegates and superdelegates . Obama selected Biden as his running mate, and they were officially nominated as
10290-460: The Democratic ticket at the 2008 Democratic National Convention . With Republican president George W. Bush term-limited, the Republicans nominated Senator John McCain of Arizona for president and Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska for vice president. Obama won the presidential election with 365 of the total 538 electoral votes and 52.9% of the popular vote. In the concurrent congressional elections , Democrats added to their majorities in both
10437-441: The Federal Reserve did not raise interest rates during Obama's presidency until December 2015. There was a sustained increase of the US unemployment rate during the early months of the administration, as multi-year economic stimulus efforts continued. The unemployment rate reached a peak in October 2009 at 10.0%. However, the economy added non-farm jobs for a record 75 straight months between October 2010 and December 2016, and
10584-598: The Georgia Senate runoff in support of Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock . In the 2024 United States House of Representatives elections , JDCA made their first primary endorsements, supporting challengers to Democrat incumbents of The Squad , Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman , following their criticism of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present) . As of April 2024, JDCA has endorsed 83 candidates in
10731-481: The Godhead. According to Moshe Chaim Luzzatto , in his book Derech Hashem , the physical world is connected to spiritual realms above that influence the physical world, and furthermore, Jews have the ability, through physical deeds and free will, to direct and control these spiritual forces. God's desire in creation was that God's creations ultimately will recognize God's unity and overcome evil; this will constitute
10878-549: The House John Boehner attempted to negotiate a "grand bargain" to cut the deficit, reform entitlement programs , and re-write the tax code, but the negotiations eventually collapsed due to ideological differences between the Democratic and Republican leaders. Congress instead passed the Budget Control Act of 2011 , which raised the debt ceiling, provided for domestic and military spending cuts, and established
11025-581: The House passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act on a 220–215 vote, with only one Republican voting for the bill. In December 2009, the Senate passed its own health care reform bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA or ACA), on a party-line, 60–39 vote. Both bills expanded Medicaid and provided health care subsidies; they also established an individual mandate , health insurance exchanges , and
11172-585: The House to pass the Senate's health care bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In March 2010, after Obama announced an executive order reinforcing the current law against spending federal funds for elective abortion services, the House passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The bill, which had passed the Senate in December 2009, did not receive a single Republican vote in either house. On March 23, 2010, Obama signed
11319-538: The Lurianic conception of tikkun and ethical action assigns an ultimate significance to even small acts of kindness and small improvements of social policy. However, if this is done in a manner that separates the concept of tikkun olam from its other meanings as found in rabbinic literature and the Aleinu prayer, there is a risk of privileging actions that have no real religious significance and represent personal agendas more than Judaism itself. The application of Lurianic Kabbalah to ethical mitzvot and social action
11466-559: The Middle Ages Maimonides saw tikkun olam as fully inclusive of all these dimensions when he wrote "Through wisdom, which is [represented by] Torah, and the elevation of character, which is [represented by] acts of kindness, and observing the Torah’s commandments, which are [represented by] the sacrifices, one continuously brings tikkun olam improvement of the world, and the ordering of reality." Yet he also saw justice as
11613-404: The Obama administration highlighted as a major problem. The federal minimum wage increased during Obama's presidency to $ 7.25 per hour; in his second term, Obama advocated for another increase to $ 12 per hour. GDP growth returned in the third quarter of 2009, expanding at a 1.6% pace, followed by a 5.0% increase in the fourth quarter. Growth continued in 2010, posting an increase of 3.7% in
11760-408: The Obama administration played only a small role in this development. The Obama administration promoted the growth of renewable energy , and solar power generation tripled during Obama's presidency. Obama also issued numerous energy efficiency standards, contributing to a flattening of growth of the total US energy demand. In May 2010, Obama extended a moratorium on offshore drilling permits after
11907-537: The PPACA into law. The New York Times described the PPACA as "the most expansive social legislation enacted in decades," while the Washington Post noted that it was the biggest expansion of health insurance coverage since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. Both houses of Congress also passed a reconciliation measure to make significant changes and corrections to the PPACA; this second bill
12054-626: The Senate for longer than any other Supreme Court nomination in history, and the nomination expired with the end of the 114th Congress. President Donald Trump later nominated Neil Gorsuch to Scalia's former seat on the Supreme Court, and Gorsuch was confirmed by the Senate in April 2017. Obama's presidency saw the continuation of battles between both parties over the confirmation of judicial nominees. Democrats continually accused Republicans of stalling nominees throughout Obama's tenure. After several nomination battles, Senate Democrats in 2013 reformed
12201-647: The Supreme Court : Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan were confirmed as justices, while Merrick Garland was denied hearings or a vote from the Republican-majority Senate . Economic policy actions Other domestic policy actions Foreign policy actions Supreme Court nominations Barack Obama announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 presidential election on February 10, 2007. Obama faced senator and former first lady Hillary Clinton in
12348-578: The Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges . The Obama Administration filed an amicus brief in support of gay marriage and Obama personally congratulated the plaintiff. Obama also issued dozens of executive orders intended to help LGBT Americans, including a 2010 order that extended full benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. A 2014 order prohibited discrimination against employees of federal contractors on
12495-524: The US pledged to cut its emissions by 26–28 percent compared to its 2005 levels. The deal provided momentum for a potential multilateral global warming agreement among the world's largest carbon emitters. Many Republicans criticized Obama's climate goals as a potential drain on the economy. At the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference , nearly every country in the world agreed to a landmark climate deal in which each nation committed lowering their greenhouse gas emissions. The Paris Agreement created
12642-897: The White House, and rescinded the Mexico City Policy , which banned federal grants to international groups that provide abortion services or counseling. On January 29, Obama signed a bill for the first time in his presidency; the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 revised the statute of limitations for filing pay discrimination lawsuits. On February 3, he signed the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIP), expanding CHIP's health care coverage from 7 million children to 11 million children. On March 9, 2009, Obama lifted restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research . Obama stated that, like Bush, he would employ signing statements if he deems
12789-479: The basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In 2015, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter ended the ban on women in combat roles, and in 2016, he ended the ban on transgender individuals openly serving in the military. On the international stage, Obama advocated for gay rights, particularly in Africa. The Great Recession of 2008–09 caused a sharp decline in tax revenues in all cities and states. The response
12936-482: The beginning of his presidency, Obama supported comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for many immigrants illegally residing in the United States. However, Congress did not pass a comprehensive immigration bill during Obama's tenure, and Obama turned to executive actions. In the 2010 lame-duck session, Obama supported passage of the DREAM Act , which passed the House but failed to overcome
13083-685: The bill as well. The legislation would have required the US to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020 and by 83 percent by the middle of the 21st century. However, the bill was strongly opposed by Republicans and neither it nor a separate proposed bipartisan compromise ever came up for a vote in the Senate. In 2013, Obama announced that he would bypass Congress by ordering the EPA to implement new carbon emissions limits. The Clean Power Plan , unveiled in 2015, seeks to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent by 2025. Obama also imposed regulations on soot, sulfur, and mercury that encouraged
13230-474: The bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to propose further spending cuts. As the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction failed to reach an agreement on further cuts, domestic and military spending cuts known as the "sequester" took effect starting in 2013. In October 2013, the government shut down for two weeks as Republicans and Democrats were unable to agree on
13377-575: The country's largest banks or reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act , while many conservatives criticized the bill as a government overreach that could make the country less competitive. Under the bill, the Federal Reserve and other regulatory agencies were required to propose and implement several new regulatory rules , and battles over these rules continued throughout Obama's presidency. Obama called for further Wall Street reform after
13524-581: The deal, the bill passed the Republican House in large part due to the fact that the failure to pass any bill would have resulted in the total expiration of the Bush tax cuts. US government debt grew substantially during the Great Recession , as government revenues fell. Obama largely rejected the austerity policies followed by many European countries. US government debt grew from 52% of GDP when Obama took office in 2009 to 74% in 2014, with most of
13671-470: The early Talmudic period. According to Rabbi Yochanan, quoting Rabbi Shim'on ben Yochai , the Jewish people will be redeemed when every Jew observes Shabbat twice in all its details. Some explain that this will occur because Shabbat rest (which is considered a foretaste of the Messianic Age ) energizes Jews to work harder to bring the Messianic Age nearer during the six working days of the week. It
13818-453: The end of the year. The number of uninsured Americans dropped from 20.2% of the population in 2010 to 13.3% of the population in 2015, though Republicans continued to oppose Obamacare as an unwelcome expansion of government. Many liberals continued to push for a single-payer healthcare system or a public option, and Obama endorsed the latter proposal, as well as an expansion of health insurance tax credits, in 2016. Risky practices among
13965-502: The end of time. The Aleinu beseeches God: In other words, when all the people of the world abandon false gods and recognize God, the world will have been perfected. Among modern liberal Jewish movements, a common but more modern understanding of this phrase is that we share a partnership with God, and are instructed to take the steps towards improving the state of the world and helping others, which simultaneously brings more honor to God's sovereignty. Some scholars have argued that
14112-432: The final fate of the Bush tax cuts. Republicans sought to make all tax cuts permanent, while Obama sought to extend the tax cuts only for those making under $ 250,000. Obama and Congressional Republicans came to an agreement on the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 , which made permanent the tax cuts for individuals making less than $ 400,000 a year (or less than $ 450,000 for couples). For earnings greater than that amount,
14259-465: The first Jewish thinker to use the phrase "tikkun olam" in the modern sense of "fixing the world" by building a just society was Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (1865–1935). According to Jewish scholar Lawrence Fine , the first use of the phrase tikkun olam in modern Jewish history in the United States was by Brandeis-Bardin Camp Institute founder Shlomo Bardin in the 1950s. Bardin interpreted
14406-730: The first actions of Obama's presidency focused on reversing measures taken by the Bush administration following the September 11 attacks . In his first week in office, Obama signed Executive Order 13492 suspending all ongoing proceedings of the Guantanamo military commissions and ordering the Guantanamo detention facility to be shut down within the year. Another order, Executive Order 13491 , banned torture and other coercive techniques, such as waterboarding . Obama also issued an executive order placing tighter restrictions on lobbying in
14553-427: The first quarter, with lesser gains throughout the rest of the year. The country's real GDP grew by about 2% in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, peaking at 2.9% in 2015. In the aftermath of the recession, median household income (adjusted for inflation) declined during Obama's first term, before recovering to a new record high in his final year. The poverty rate peaked at 15.1% in 2010 but declined to 12.7% in 2016, which
14700-614: The former rationally and in terms of a kehilla (community) of Jews in galut (the diaspora ) influencing their non-Jewish neighbors, and the latter mystically and in Zionist terms of a Jewish state influencing the other nations of the world. Some other Orthodox rabbis, many but not all of them Modern Orthodox , follow a philosophy similar to Hirsch's, including Joseph H. Hertz , Isidore Epstein , and Eliezer Berkovits . The philosophy of Religious Zionism follows Kook in his philosophy. In Modern Orthodox philosophy (which often
14847-582: The government through 2014. In 2015, after John Boehner announced that he would resign as Speaker of the House, Congress passed a bill that set government spending targets and suspended the debt limit until after Obama left office. During his presidency, Obama, Congress, and the Supreme Court all contributed to a major expansion of LGBT rights. In 2009, Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act , which expanded hate crime laws to cover crimes committed because of
14994-470: The growth in debt coming between 2009 and 2012. In 2010, Obama ordered the creation of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (also known as the "Simpson-Bowles Commission") in order to find ways to reduce the country's debt. The commission ultimately released a report that called for a mix of spending cuts and tax increases. Notable recommendations of the report include
15141-676: The honor society is to perform one act of community service a month. In NFTY , the American branch of Netzer Olami , the Reform youth movement, the position in charge of social action on chapter and regional boards is called the social action vice president (SAVP). In addition, other youth organizations have also grown to include tikkun olam has part of its foundation. BBYO has community service/social action commitments in both of its divisions, AZA and BBG . BBG includes two different programming areas specific to tikkun olam —one for community service, and another for social action. AZA includes
15288-464: The imagery of shattered vessels. Second, both Lurianic Kabbalah and ethical understandings of tikkun olam emphasize the role of human responsibility and action. The original context of the Aleinu prayer, in the Rosh Hashanah liturgy, is accompanied by the hope that "all [people/creatures] will form a single union to do Your will with a whole heart". In many contexts this is interpreted to be
15435-591: The inability of Democrats to win that support, foreshadowed the gridlock and partisanship that continued throughout Obama's presidency. The $ 787 billion bill combined tax breaks with spending on infrastructure projects, extension of welfare benefits, and education. Following his inauguration, Obama and the Senate worked to confirm his nominees to the United States Cabinet . Three Cabinet-level officers did not require confirmation: Vice President Joe Biden , whom Obama had chosen as his running mate at
15582-451: The income tax increased from 35% to 39.6%, which was the top rate before the passage of the Bush tax cuts. The deal also permanently indexed the alternative minimum tax for inflation, limited deductions for individuals making more than $ 250,000 ($ 300,000 for couples), permanently set the estate tax exemption at $ 5.12 million (indexed to inflation), and increased the top estate tax rate from 35% to 40%. Though many Republicans did not like
15729-448: The influence of lobbyists on the executive branch; breaking from the Bush administration on a number of policy fronts, except for Iraq, in which he followed through on Bush's Iraq withdrawal of US troops; supporting the UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity ; and lifting the 7½-year ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research . Obama also ordered the closure of
15876-405: The law, including a $ 116 billion income tax cut, temporarily reduced taxes for 98% of taxpayers, bringing tax rates to their lowest levels in 60 years. The Obama administration would later argue that the stimulus saved the United States from a "double-dip" recession. Obama asked for a second major stimulus package in December 2009, but no major second stimulus bill passed. Obama also launched
16023-502: The lead-up to the 2020 election, JDCA led many efforts in grass-roots voter mobilization across the U.S. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , JDCA's election events were held virtually. Events included a state chapter, young voters' phone banks, and a speaker series. In 2020, a JDCA "Take Back America: Jewish Votes Will Make the Difference", included the announcement of the "Virtual Schlep for 2020", to mobilize Jewish voters in Florida during
16170-607: The leading voice for Jewish Democrats and socially progressive, pro-Israel and Jewish values". The organization lists policies on numerous topics; among them are defending democracy , reproductive rights , health care , taxes , climate change , Israel , fighting antisemitism , immigration , gun violence prevention, criminal justice reform , and racial justice . JDCA was announced in August 2017, following President Donald Trump 's failure to condemn white nationalist and neo-Nazi demonstrators for violence which took place during
16317-407: The mainstream in the 1970s and 1980s, the phrase tikkun olam began to gain more traction. The phrase has since been adopted by a variety of Jewish organizations, to mean anything from direct service to general philanthropy. It was presented to a wide international audience—itself an indication of how widely tikkun olam had now permeated American Jewish life—when Mordecai Waxman used the phrase in
16464-400: The major financial institutions on Wall Street were widely seen as contributing to the subprime mortgage crisis , the financial crisis of 2007–08 , and the subsequent Great Recession , so Obama made Wall Street reform a priority in his first term. On July 21, 2010, Obama signed the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act , the largest financial regulatory overhaul since
16611-409: The modern era, particularly among the post- Haskalah movements, tikkun olam has come to refer to the pursuit of social justice or "the establishment of Godly qualities throughout the world" based on the idea that "Jews bear responsibility not only for their own moral, spiritual, and material welfare, but also for the welfare of society at large". The earliest use of the term tikkun olam comes in
16758-646: The move, as the plan raised national emission standards but provided the single national efficiency standard that auto industry officials group had long desired. In 2012, Obama set even higher standards, mandating an average fuel efficiency of 54.5 miles per US gallon (4.32 L/100 km). Obama also signed the "cash-for-clunkers" bill, which provided incentives to consumers to trade in older, less fuel-efficient cars for more efficient cars. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided $ 54 billion in funds to encourage domestic renewable energy production, make federal buildings more energy-efficient, improve
16905-479: The passage of Dodd-Frank, saying that banks should have a smaller role in the economy and less incentive to make risky trades. Obama also signed the Credit CARD Act of 2009 , which created new rules for credit card companies. During his presidency, Obama described global warming as the greatest long-term threat facing the world. Obama took several steps to combat global warming, but was unable to pass
17052-491: The perfection ( tikkun ) of creation. While the Jews have the Torah now and are aware of God's unity, some believe that when all of humanity recognizes this fact, the rectification will be complete. In recent years Jewish thinkers and activists have used Lurianic Kabbalah to elevate the full range of ethical and ritual mitzvot into acts of tikkun olam . The belief that not only does prayer lift up divine sparks, but so do all of
17199-469: The permanent extension of most of the Bush tax cuts , which had been enacted between 2001 and 2003. Those tax cuts were set to expire during Obama's presidency since they were originally passed using a Congressional maneuver known as reconciliation , and had to fulfill the long-term deficit requirements of the "Byrd rule". During the lame duck session of the 111th Congress , Obama and Republicans wrangled over
17346-537: The phrase mip'nei tikkun ha-olam , "for the sake of repairing the world", which appears in the Mishnah ( Gittin 4:2–9) with the meaning of amending the law in order to keep society well-functioning. A number of legal enactments appear in this passage with mip'nei tikkun ha-olam given as justification: More generally, tikkun can mean improvement, establishment, repair, prepare, and more. In this Mishnaic context it generally refers to practical legal measures taken in
17493-562: The poor materially, constituting tikkun olam by its improvement of the world physically or socially, in contrast to the mystical effects of mitzvot as held by Lurianic Kabbalah. For some Jews, the phrase tikkun olam means that Jews are not only responsible for creating a model society among themselves but also are responsible for the welfare of the society at large. This responsibility may be understood in religious, social or political terms and there are many different opinions about how religion, society, and politics interact. Jane Kanarek,
17640-571: The present to ameliorate social conditions. In the legal language of the Talmud, however, the verb took on a much more legalistic role, in that a " Takkana " – literally, "Affixation" – was a category of legal enactment made by the Sages. A conception of tikkun olam is also found in the Aleinu , a concluding part of most Jewish congregational prayer , which in contrast to the Mishnah's usage, focuses on
17787-750: The presidency at 12:00 pm, EST , and completed the oath of office at 12:05 pm, EST. He delivered his inaugural address immediately following his oath. Obama's transition team was highly complimentary of the Bush administration's outgoing transition team, particularly with regards to national security, and some elements of the Bush-Obama transition were later codified into law. [REDACTED] The full text of Barack Obama's First Inaugural Address at Wikisource. Within minutes of Obama's taking office, his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel , issued an order suspending last-minute regulations and executive orders signed by his predecessor George W. Bush . Some of
17934-532: The proposals of advanced educational reformers. In the competition points were awarded for allowing charter schools to multiply, for compensating teachers on a merit basis including student test scores, and for adopting higher educational standards. There were incentives for states to establish college and career-ready standards, which in practice meant adopting the Common Core State Standards Initiative that had been developed on
18081-612: The raid that killed Osama bin Laden , who was responsible for the September 11 attacks . In 2011, Obama ordered the drone-strike killing in Yemen of al-Qaeda operative Anwar al-Awlaki , who was an American citizen. He ordered military involvement in Libya in order to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1973 , contributing to the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi . After winning re-election by defeating Republican opponent Mitt Romney, Obama
18228-427: The role of private banks in lending out federally insured student loans , created a new income-based loan repayment plan known as Pay as You Earn , and increased the amount of Pell Grant awards given each year. He also instituted new regulations on for-profit colleges , including a "gainful employment" rule that restricted federal funding from colleges that failed to adequately prepare graduates for careers. From
18375-551: The similar but more comprehensive Equality Act . Neither bill passed Congress. In May 2012, Obama became the first sitting president to support same-sex marriage , shortly after Vice President Joe Biden had also expressed support for the institution. The following year, Obama appointed Todd M. Hughes to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit , making Hughes the first openly gay federal judge in US history. In 2015,
18522-453: The stimulus bill was enacted in February 2009, health care reform became Obama's top domestic priority, and the 111th Congress passed a major bill that eventually became widely known as " Obamacare ". Health care reform had long been a top priority of the Democratic Party, and Democrats were eager to implement a new plan that would lower costs and increase coverage. In contrast to Bill Clinton 's 1993 plan to reform health care, Obama adopted
18669-480: The subsequent Great Recession that had begun before his election, which was generally regarded as the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression . On February 17, 2009, Obama signed into law a $ 787 billion economic stimulus bill that included spending for health care, infrastructure, education, various tax breaks and incentives , and direct assistance to individuals. The tax provisions of
18816-523: The transition in May 2008. John Podesta , Valerie Jarrett , and Pete Rouse co-chaired the Obama-Biden Transition Project. During the transition period, Obama announced nominations for his cabinet and administration . In November 2008, Congressman Rahm Emanuel accepted Obama's offer to serve as White House Chief of Staff . Obama was inaugurated on January 20, 2009, succeeding George W. Bush . Obama officially assumed
18963-516: The ultimate fate of the cuts. Obama wanted to extend the tax cuts for taxpayers making less than $ 250,000 a year, while Congressional Republicans wanted a total extension of the tax cuts, and refused to support any bill that did not extend tax cuts for top earners. Obama and the Republican Congressional leadership reached a deal that included a two-year extension of all the tax cuts, a 13-month extension of unemployment insurance ,
19110-480: The unemployment rate fell to 4.7% in December 2016. The recovery from the Great Recession was marked by a lower labor force participation rate, some economists attributing the lower participation rate partially to an aging population and people staying in school longer, as well as long-term structural demographic changes. The recovery also laid bare the growing income inequality in the United States , which
19257-523: The use of HFCs , organic compounds that contribute to global warming. From the beginning of his presidency, Obama took several actions to raise vehicle fuel efficiency in the United States. In 2009, Obama announced a plan to increase the Corporate Average Fuel Economy to 35 miles per US gallon (6.7 L/100 km)], a 40 percent increase from 2009 levels. Both environmentalists and auto industry officials largely welcomed
19404-592: The use of the filibuster so that it could no longer be used on executive or judicial nominations (excluding the Supreme Court). Republicans took over the Senate after the 2014 elections , giving them the power to block any judicial nominee, and the 114th Congress confirmed just 20 judicial nominees, the lowest number of confirmations since the 82nd Congress . Obama's judicial nominees were significantly more diverse than those of previous administrations, with more appointments going to women and minorities. Once
19551-515: The victim's sexual orientation. In December 2010, Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 , which ended the military's policy of disallowing openly gay and lesbian people from openly serving in the United States Armed Forces . Obama also supported the passage of ENDA , which would ban discrimination against employees on the basis of gender or sexual identity for all companies with 15 or more employees, and
19698-403: The vision of your prophet: 'Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they experience war anymore. ' " Both lines express wholeheartedly the idea of universal equality, freedom, and peace for all. In the liberal movements of Judaism, most especially in the United States, this sentiment is especially embedded in the idea of acting compassionately for all people, as for example in
19845-416: The wake of Donald Trump's election, and must be "on the front-lines of fighting for justice and equality". In his fund-raising appeal for the JDCA, he wrote that "President Trump must be held accountable". In its launch statement, JDCA said that it would "actively promote to Democratic officeholders and candidates national and local legislative policies consistent with the Jewish community's values, as well as
19992-502: The world') is a concept in Judaism , which refers to various forms of action intended to repair and improve the world. In classical rabbinic literature, the phrase referred to legal enactments intended to preserve the social order. In the Aleinu prayer, it refers to the eradication of idolatry. In Lurianic Kabbalah , the "repair" is mystical: to return the sparks of Divine light to their source by means of ritual performance. In
20139-668: The world. The Jewish Federations of North America , one of the top ten charities in the world, counts tikkun olam as one of the three main principles under which it operates. Similarly, the American Jewish World Service supports grassroots organizations creating change in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The intersection between tzedakah , philanthropy, and tikkun olam is captured by Yehudah Mirsky in his article "Tikkun Olam: Basic Questions and Policy Directions". Mirsky writes: The rich tradition of tzedakah
20286-456: The world. The vessels ( kelim ) of the first universe— Olam HaTohu , i.e., the "world of chaos"—shattered ( Shevirat HaKelim ) and their shards became sparks of light ( neẓuẓot) trapped within the next universe— Olam HaTikun , i.e., "the world of rectification." Prayer, especially contemplation of various aspects of the divinity ( sephirot ), releases these sparks of God's light and allows them to reunite with God's essence. The “rectification”
20433-421: The world. Whether that happens primarily within Jewish society or primarily in relation to the nations of the world, whether that happens primarily through acts of justice and kindness, or equally through ritual observance, whether primarily through internal work of an individual or through external deeds, is something that changes from one source to the next. For example, Talmudic scholar and eminent philosopher of
20580-665: Was legalized nationwide in 2015 after the Court ruled so in Obergefell . He advocated for gun control in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting , indicating support for a ban on assault weapons , and issued wide-ranging executive actions concerning global warming and immigration. In foreign policy, he ordered military interventions in Iraq and Syria in response to gains made by ISIL after
20727-555: Was sworn in for a second term on January 20, 2013. During this term, he condemned the 2013 Snowden leaks as unpatriotic, but called for more restrictions on the National Security Agency (NSA) to address privacy issues. Obama also promoted inclusion for LGBT Americans . His administration filed briefs that urged the Supreme Court to strike down same-sex marriage bans as unconstitutional ( United States v. Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges ); same-sex marriage
20874-556: Was founded to revitalize two "failed liberal Jewish political groups". The RJC also said that establishing a new organization would not reverse "the continued erosion of support for Israel within the Democrat Party ". The JDCA responded by calling the letter "pitiful". Tikkun olam Tikkun olam ( / t i ˈ k uː n ʌ ˈ l ɑː m / ; Hebrew : תיקון עולם \ תִּקּוּן עוֹלָם , romanized : tiqqūn ʻōlām / tikún olám , lit. 'repairing of
21021-772: Was opposed by the left wing of the Democratic Party, and by the right wing of the Republican Party, and criticized for centralizing too much power in Washington. Complaints also came from middle-class families, who were annoyed at the increasing emphasis on teaching to the test, rather than encouraging teachers to show creativity and stimulating students' imagination. Obama also advocated for universal pre-kindergarten programs, and two free years of community college for everyone. Through her Let's Move program and advocacy of healthier school lunches, First Lady Michelle Obama focused attention on childhood obesity , which
21168-443: Was signed into law on March 30, 2010. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act became widely known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or "Obamacare". The Affordable Care Act faced considerable challenges and opposition after its passage, and Republicans continually attempted to repeal the law. The law also survived two major challenges that went to the Supreme Court. In National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius ,
21315-408: Was still higher than the 12.5% pre-recession figure of 2007. The relatively small GDP growth rates in the United States and other developed countries following the Great Recession left economists and others wondering whether US growth rates would ever return to the levels seen in the second half of the twentieth century. Obama's presidency saw an extended battle over taxes that ultimately led to
21462-675: Was three times higher in 2008 than it had been in 1974. In December 2015, Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act , a bipartisan bill that reauthorized federally mandated testing but shrank the federal government's role in education, especially with regard to troubled schools. The law also ended the use of waivers by the Education Secretary. In post-secondary education, Obama signed the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 , which ended
21609-489: Was to cut education budgets. Obama's $ 800 billion stimulus package included $ 100 billion for public schools, which every state used to protect its educational budget. However, in terms of sponsoring innovation, Obama and his Education Secretary Arne Duncan pursued K-12 education reform through the Race to the Top grant program. With over $ 15 billion of grants at stake, 34 states quickly revised their education laws according to
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