By Adam Pagnucco.
CASA’s recent remarks about Israel have provoked statements of protest from many elected officials as well as Jewish organizations. But one Jewish group is scheduled to give CASA an award next weekend. That’s sure to attract comment from the rest of the Jewish community and beyond.
Jews United for Justice (JUFJ) is a nonprofit that often advocates alongside CASA for progressive priorities. On November 19, the organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary and recognizing winners of its 2023 Heschel Vision Awards. One of its announced awards winners is CASA as seen on its website below.
Under normal circumstances, this award would be perfectly understandable. JUFJ and CASA have been regular partners on many issues like social justice, equity and rent control. But with a deluge of elected officials and Jewish groups currently accusing CASA of “inflammatory and inaccurate” statements, “divisive and ill-informed comments,” using “antisemitic” language and issuing tweets that were “hurtful and full of falsehoods,” the timing of the award is interesting at the least.
I have reached out to JUFJ and I will post their response if I receive one.