Postcarding for Democracy: (Gel) Pens are Mightier than Swords

On June 25 at an event co-sponsored by Tzedek Isaiah and TI Sisterhood, enthusiastic members of Temple Isaiah met in our lounge to prepare postcards to send to infrequent voters, to encourage them to register to vote in their communities. TI members also prepared postcards to voters in Florida on a ballot initiative to protect reproductive freedom in the state constitution. Working in concert with the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (the RAC) and Women of Reform Judaism, as well as with the Center for Common Ground, we all channeled our inner artist with beautiful gel pens to produce multi-colored postcards, all the while sticking to a prescribed non-partisan script. We were fortified by healthy snacks and fun conversation as we enjoyed each other’s company.

We held another Postcard Party on Tuesday, July 23. At Rabbi Axler’s initiative, this cycle we have partnered with our friends and neighbors at First Baptist Church of Guilford, among the largest historic African American congregations in Howard County. Rabbi Axler and Cynthia Lifson met with their senior pastor, Rev. Dr. Tyrone P. Jones IV and have coordinated together with Rev. Dr. Barbara Morton to engage members of Temple Isaiah together with FBCoG in the vision of the Center for Common Ground, who are the organizing force behind the RAC’s Every Voice, Every Vote campaign. While engaging in the serious work of participating in democracy, everyone really enjoyed each other’s company and had a great time together. A much larger joint effort with the church is being planned for September, to be hosted at their church where Temple Isaiah members will be welcomed to come and postcard alongside church members. Keep your eye out for details about that effort.

If you missed these events and still want to be involved, please feel free to contact the RAC (The Reform Movement’s Every Voice, Every Vote Campaign: Sending Postcards to Voters | Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (rac.org)) for information on how you can order postcards to do at home.

Cynthia Lifson (with Sue Tafler)