This month, RHR-NA is pleased to recognize Rabbi Susan Talve, founding rabbi of Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis, MO, as our Human Rights Rabbi of the Month.
Rabbi Susan Talve is the founding rabbi of Central Reform Congregation (CRC), the only Jewish congregation in the City of St. Louis. She and her congregation have been some of the most outspoken religious advocates for universal health care in Missouri. She is among the founders and now serves as the Board President of Missouri Health Care for All, a statewide, nonpartisan, faith- and community-led grassroots movement for quality, affordable health care for all Missourians.
Since being founded at CRC in 2007, Missouri Health Care for All (MHCFA) has grown to include 131 member organizations and nearly 8,000 member individuals. Both organizations and individuals sign on by endorsing a shared set of principles adopted early on by the organization. Rabbi Talve’s vision and leadership have helped the group reach and engage dozens of organizations that would not otherwise be engaged in the movement for health reform, including other faith congregations, faith leaders, and community groups. The organization has mobilized the grassroots and community and faith leaders in dozens of actions and activities, ranging from educational forums about the Affordable Care Act to a “Rally for a Compassionate Budget” to protest proposed cuts to mental health and social services. The rally attracted more than 500 individuals and 50 faith leaders in April 2009. This past Sunday, CRC and MHCFA partnered with 14 other organizations to hold a public meeting with legislators to discuss the Affordable Care Act; nine state legislators and nearly 200 Missourians attended.
In addition to her work with MHCFA, Rabbi Talve is the Vice President of the Board of Dollar-Help, Inc., and is also on the Board of CHIPS, Community-Health-In-Partnership, a free health clinic for the uninsured. She has fostered relationships with African-American and Muslim congregations, and has been active in protecting civil liberties for the LGBT community. Rabbi Talve served as the Vice Chair of Missourians for Freedom and Justice, an organization that supported the LGBT community. She is active in a number of local organizations, including Faith Aloud (formerly the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice) and the St. Louis Interfaith Dialogue Group.
Read more about her courageous work on universal health care and watch Rabbi Talve speak at a rally to preserve Medicare/Medicaid.
Kol hakavod to Rabbi Talve for her leadership in Missouri and beyond.
The Rebbe is terrif.
Instead of “Healthcare” for all which we already have in the United States, I would prefer disease prevention and health education at one hundredth the cost.
Why does the government need to take over another large piece of the economy? Answer: just another power grab.
If what’s his name really wanted to do it right he would create government health centers for the people who had no “health coverage.”
They would be diagnosed, told to come back in sixty days or after losing their twenty, thirty, forty, fifty or sixty pounds. If they refuse to stop eating the food that keeps the “Greatest medical system in the world” in greens fees and country club memberships, then they are removed from any further coverage.
The pharmaceutical industry is just as bad and getting worse as they run out of victims and patent protected poisons to sell to the idiotic populace.
Education about health, disease prevention (most are preventable) and personal responsibility should be the priority.
All the best,
Rafi