iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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National Immigrant Justice Center @immigrantjustice.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

ICE abducted thousands in Chicago—community members w/ families, jobs & roots are trapped and disappeared into unlawful detention. We're holding the govt accountable. More by @nbcnews.com: www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/c…

nbcchicago.com

Could ICE have 'lost' 3,000 immigrant arrestees in Chicago?

At least 3,000 jailed immigrants have vanished from federal records, according to human rights attorneys and organizations.

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Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Gov. JB Pritzker: “I am ringing the alarm.” @wttw.bsky.social

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Jewish Council on Urban Affairs @jcua.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Yesterday, JCUA members joined our ICIRR coalition partners, labor groups, and allies for a press conference to reject ICE's escalating enforcement tactics across the country.

JCUA members pose at ICIRR press conference to defend immigrant communities.

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Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

BREAKING: The Chicago City Council voted 30-18 to create a city-owned nonprofit housing developer — approving the centerpiece of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s effort to reduce Chicago’s massive affordable housing shortfall after weeks of intense debate. @wttw.bsky.social

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Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg @theradr.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

Another rabbis' letter--this from over 100 Chicago-area rabbis, proud to be one--protesting the horrors being carried out these days in the name of "combating antisemitism." Published in the Trib today. Full list of signatories in the second skeet. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/22/l...

Using Jewish fear
We write on behalf of more than 100 rabbis and clergy from across Chicagoland. The congregations we serve and communities we support are politically, racially and economically diverse, and they represent multiple denominations of Jewish practice. We stand against the attacks on civil liberties and democratic norms being carried out in the name of combating antisemitism.

In recent weeks, students and others, many with legal status, have been detained or had their visas revoked without explanation or due process, including at the University of Illinois, University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Federal funds for higher education have been frozen or withdrawn, including $790 million at Northwestern. The administration has also announced plans to surveil immigrants’ social media.

Many of these actions have been presented as a defense of the Jewish community. Yet in truth, Jewish fear is being used as a fig leaf for an anti-democratic agenda of mass deportations, civil rights rollbacks and attacks on higher education.

We know that many Jews, including Jewish students on campuses, have felt unsafe in recent months and years. We take those concerns seriously. And we know that throughout history, Jews have been safest in multiracial democracies where the rights of all people, regardless of race, religion, national origin or political opinion, are protected.

Education is a core Jewish value, and the institutions that uphold civil liberties and democratic norms have long been essential to Jewish safety and flourishing. As Jewish leaders, we reject the exploitation of our fears and experiences of antisemitism to justify the dismantling of those institutions. Such actions do not protect our community — they use us, and they put us in danger.

We just celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover. Each year, we recall the oppression of our ancestors in Egypt and pray for redemption from all forms of violence. We are commanded to retell our stories of persecution and deliverance “in every generation,” reminding us that our story remains relevant at all times.

In the Passover story, it is an erev rav — a mixed multitude — who journeyed together out of Egypt. We are obligated not only to seek justice for ourselves, but also to protect the rights and freedoms afforded to all people. We must speak out against deportations without due process, suppression of free speech, attacks on higher education and the dismantling of democratic norms. Doing so is an expression of our Jewish and American values.

— Rabbi Scott Gellman, Rabbi Daniel Kirzane, Rabbi Andrea London and Rabbi Rachel Weiss

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Jewish Council on Urban Affairs @jcua.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

In a letter published today, 100+ Jewish clergy from across Chicagoland speak out against attacks on democracy being carried out in the name of Jewish safety. Read the full letter: bit.ly/rabbisfordemocracy

100+ Chicagoland Jewish clergy speak out against attacks on democracy being carried out in the name of Jewish safety

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

NEW: @nytimes.com reports that the Trump admin is moving to strip hundreds of thousands of immigrants of Social Security Numbers they got when they were granted work authorization, repurposing a "death master file" to try to erase their previous legal presence in the United States.

Pressuring Migrants to ‘Self-Deport,’ Trump Moves to Cancel Social Security Numbers
By placing migrants in Social Security’s “death master file,” the Trump administration is seeking to cut off their access to credit cards, bank accounts and other financial services.

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Jewish Council on Urban Affairs @jcua.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

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Jewish Council on Urban Affairs @jcua.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

JCUA congratulates Cydney Wallace, our Board Vice President, on her appointment to the Chicago Board of Education!

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Jonah Newman @jonahshai.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

A former city budget analyst finds the Chicago Police Department's budget is almost twice the $2.1 billion the mayor has budgeted for next year, once you include pension payments, overtime, excess legal expenses, and other costs hidden in other city budget lines: www.wbez.org/criminal-jus...

wbez.org

The real cost of Chicago policing could be nearly double next year’s $2.1 billion budget, former city analyst finds

Including pensions, benefits, budget-busting overtime and other hidden expenses, the analyst reports that city costs for CPD in 2025 could reach $3.8 billion.

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Bend the Arc: Jewish Action @bendthearc.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Last week, 52+ Democratic Congress members voted to support HR9495, a bill that would grant Trump unprecedented powers to shut down any nonprofit he wants. Today, just 15 Dems voted yes. What changed? Jewish groups came together across political differences. 🧵

A More Perfect Union
Ameinu
American Conference of Cantors
American Jewish World Service (AJWS)
Americans for Peace Now
Avodah
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Bronx Jews for Climate Action
Carolina Jews for Justice
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Congregation Rodeph Shalom (Philadelphia, PA)
Conservative Synagogue of the Hamptons
Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action
Gesher Bridge Shul
Habonim Dror Camp Galil
Habonim Dror North America
Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America
HIAS
Ikar
Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation
J Street
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action
Jewish Climate Action Network NYC
Jewish Community Action
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass
Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Liberation Fund

Jewish Women International
Jews for a Secular Democracy
Keshet
Kirva
Lab/Shul
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Men of Reform Judaism
Mitsui Collective
National Council of Jewish Women
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
New York Jewish Agenda (NYJA)
Nexus Leadership Project
Path With Heart Community
Rabbinical Assembly
Reconstructing Judaism
Sixth & I
Society for Humanistic Judaism
Ta'amod
Temple Shaaray Tefila, New York, NY
The Mordecai Kaplan Center for Jewish Peoplehood
The Workers Circle
Tivnu: Building Justice
T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Union for Reform Judaism
USCJ
Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS)
Women of Reform Judaism
YAFFED

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Working Families Party 🐺 @workingfamilies.org · 21/11/2024

219 House members just voted a bill that would give Donald Trump brand new powers to crush his political enemies.

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Jim Daley @jimdaleywrites.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

I‘ve begun putting together a starter pack of Chicago’s alternative, independent and community media. We have one of the richest media ecosystems anywhere around! go.bsky.app/Rn9XDbg

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Ezra Levin ❌👑 @ezralevin.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Update: the calls are working! We're now officially flipping House members over to our side to vote against this "non-profit killer" bill coming up for a vote tomorrow. Keep calling! indivisible.org/resource/tel...

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Bend the Arc: Jewish Action @bendthearc.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Last week, we helped blocked the dangerous bill that would give Trump unilateral power to effectively shut down ANY tax-exempt organization with no explanation. But this week, it's back — and now the House only needs a simple majority to pass it. Call your reps.: www.bendthearc.us/call_protect...

bendthearc.us

Calls urgently needed: protect our right to dissent

Tell your Representative to vote NO on H.R. 9495

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Jewish Council on Urban Affairs @jcua.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Is it traditional to say the shehecheyanu for your first post?

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Jewish Council on Urban Affairs @jcua.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Is it traditional to say the shehecheyanu for your first post?

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