Hoping to Make a Difference

During these troubled times for our country, it’s important to stand up for your beliefs and values.  And I know I have to do more than agonize and complain.  So, last week, I participated in a state-wide Jewish Advocacy Day for the first time.  I traveled down to Richmond as part of a group from northern Virginia and met with state legislators to encourage them to take a stand on issues that affect our quality of life in Virginia.  The four main topics on our agenda were (1) preventing gun violence; (2) combating bias; (3) Medicaid expansion (extending coverage to nearly 400,000 uninsured Virginians); and (4) continuing to support the Virginia-Israel Advisory Board, which brings jobs to the commonwealth.

Once we arrived at the Pocahontas Building (hey, she’s a famous Virginian), we broke into small groups for meetings with individual members of the Virginia State Senate and House of Delegates.  To be honest, as someone who was so shy in high school that I did everything in my power to avoid speaking in public, I was a little nervous ahead of time.  On the bus down to Richmond, I studied the briefing sheets that the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington had prepared.  They were full of bill numbers, names, and pertinent facts.  I wanted to make the strongest case possible, and to present the key points with both clarity and passion.  Fortunately, when the moment arrived to speak at each of the sessions, I was able to overcome my nerves. 

After the meetings, a large group from across the commonwealth gathered at historic St. Paul’s Church and listened to Governor Ralph Northam, Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax, and Attorney General Mark Herring speak eloquently of their plans to improve the lives of all Virginians.  I’m fortunate that my own state senator, Chap Petersen, and state delegate, Eileen Filler-Corn, shared our goals. 

Governor Ralph Northam

With Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and fellow Hadassah members 

With members of Beth El Hebrew Congregation

With Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn (the tall woman in the center)

I returned from Richmond full of hope.  However, my optimism soon turned to disappointment when I read that the bill to restrict the sale of “bump stocks,” devices that increase the rate of fire of semi-automatic weapons, died in the State Senate committee.  It was disheartening to realize that seemingly common-sense measures will meet vigorous opposition, but it reminded me that I need to continue to speak out and take action. 

In the coming weeks, I’ll be working with my fellow Mantuans on the issue of gerrymandering.  We’re pushing for an amendment to the Virginia Constitution to make re-districting less partisan.  There is so much “cracking and packing” when lines are drawn that the makeup of the legislature does not necessarily reflect the political preferences of the voters statewide.  With so many issues that affect our daily lives decided on a state level, it’s critical that we address this problem.  I understand if you don’t share my political views, but at the very least, let’s not forget that we need to talk to each other.