For an overview of our events, also see our calendar.  Detailed information on events can often be found on our Facebook page or by contacting us at info@jvp.org or (312) 583-7088.

Recent Events

March 7 - 8, 2024

JVP-Chicago, Tzedek Chicago, USPCN, IfNotNow, AMP and CORE (forgive me if I missed anyone), participated in reading from the names of the 30,000+ killed as a result of Israel’s genocide/ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Gaza. In the 24 hour event we simply ran out of time to read all the names, but that does not mean they are forgotten. This was done at the Federal Plaza in Chicago in recognition of the complicity and sponsorship of the US government in aiding Israel in carrying this massacre. For more, you can also read the Chicago Tribune’s coverage of this event.

December 7, 2023

JVP Chicago and Tzedek Chicago recognized the first night of Channukah in a communal candle-lighting ceremony in Federal Plaza. At the doorstep of our senators, Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, we rededicated ourselves to fighting for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to genocide, occupation, and apartheid in Palestine. We mourned the thousands of lives lost and devastated by ongoing Israeli military action in Palestine and remembered how the ever-presence of light, against all odds, inspired and led our ancestors in their fight against oppression and violence. We, as Jews, as Chicagoans, and as people of conscience continue to demand a #CeasefireNow

November 13, 2023

JVP Chicago was a participant is this Midwest Jews Demand Cease Fire with Not Now and Not in My Name. Several Members of each group were arrested

October 1, 2023

JVP Chicago was invited to participate in the 3rd Annual Palestine Fest. We had many curious, supportive visitors to our booth and Myra was invited to give a presentation of what JVP is and how we support justice for Palestinians.

June 14, 2023

Some 75-100 people gathered at North Avenue Beach tonight to tell the JUF that we don’t appreciate their drone show celebration of Israel at 75. First we marched across the pedestrian bridge & pinned up banners on either side. Then we went down to the beach where we chanted, sat, & marched, not letting the Israel-supporting crowd enjoy the show at all. (And the drone show was pretty lame anyway.)

May 11, 2023

On May 11, 6 members of JVP-Chciago went to Springfield to speak to representatives of the Illinois House to oppose HR 19 - a bill that "Recognizes and applauds the historic significance of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the sovereign and independent State of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people. Reaffirms bonds of friendship and cooperation between the United States, Illinois, and Israel and commits to strengthening these bonds..." The bill makes no mention of anything other than Jews nor the suffering the State imposed and imposes upon Palestinians.

Three of our members: Rebekah Levin, Janet Settle and Caren Van Slyke Levy had an audience with Speaker of the House Emanuel Chris Welch and Representative Abdelnasser Rashid, with whom we coordinated this visit. Also attending were Marty Levine, Lynn Pollack and Mike Okrent. Aside, the bill has not advanced.

April 27, 2023

Jennifer Bing of AFSC and Rabbi Brant Rosen of Tzedek Chicago hosting Haggai Matar, Executive Editor of +972 Magazine. Also co-sponsored by JVP Chicago. Haggai gave an excellent presentation of the current political unrest over judicial "reform" in Israel and how for many, if not most, it is a another representation of the underlying assumption of the acceptability of an apartheid state.

If you want to support the work of Haggai, you can sign up for the +972 Magazine weekly newsletter (https://www.972mag.com/newsletter/) and if you feel capable, make a donation -https://www.972mag.com/members/.

Aside: the food was excellent

January 20, 2023

On Saturday January 21 Southsiders for Peace hosted a presentation titled "Racism, Settler Colonialism and Apartheid in Palestine Today." The principal presenter was Simon Piller discussing his trip with Eyewitness Palestine this last summer and his broader observations of the status of Palestine. Joining him were Tarek Khalil of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) contributing a deeper context for the situation and Lynn Pollack of Jewish Voice for Peace sharing her background on the issue and information on Jewish Voice for Peace. It was a very informative evening for all.

December 20, 2022

While there were not a lot of us at the Hanukah party, we had a good time and there was lots of food.

July 13, 2022

A few of us showed up at the beach front in Evanston to renew bonds and reenergize ourselves for the upcoming year. More photos and about us can also be found on Facebook

October 14, 2022

A joint Tzedek-Chicago and JVP-Chicago Shabbat-Sukkot event. It was a good turnout for a chilly night