Following in my father’s footsteps, I became a criminal defense attorney. First as a public defender and now as a private criminal defense attorney. Combining my professional life and advocacy for the platform of criminal justice at Temple Jeremiah came easily to me.
One of the High Holy Day themes of Tzedakah — righteousness and justice — fits perfectly with the advocacy for criminal justice reform. Creating a colorblind and equal criminal justice system will not only help individuals but will better our community. The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution enumerate rights for individuals who encounter the criminal justice system. It is the practice of these written rights that often can be affected by race, wealth, sexual orientation, and gender. Advocating for equal and just treatment for all is certainly the definition of Tzedakah. Illinois is about to embark on a cashless bail system on September 18th, 2023. This law was recently found constitutional by the Illinois Supreme Court and is one that Temple Jeremiah supported. The platform of Criminal Justice reform is everchanging and Temple Jeremiah’s advocacy in this area is dedicated to helping others.
The Jewish tenet of repairing the world in my life sometimes comes down to individual cases. When a constitutional violation occurs, such as an unlawful search, it may help the one individual I am representing, but in reality, it helps all of us when guaranteed rights are followed in the court system. The pursuit of justice is a foundation of Judaism therefore it coincides perfectly with the platform of advocating for all who encounter the criminal justice system.