On October 3 it was announced that Alan van Capelle – a well-established activist within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights movement – has been appointed president of the recently merged Progressive Jewish Alliance and Jewish Funds for Justice (JFSJ). According to an article posted by the Jewish Daily Forward, van Cappelle will assume the office in January 2012. He will be replacing Simon Greer, the current president and CEO of JFSJ. Since taking the helm in 2005, Greer has been a constant presence in the national media – perhaps most notably leading a 2010 campaign against conservative political Glenn Beck for his anti-Semitic comments, which culminated in Beck’s November 2010 characterization of investor and philanthropist George Soros as a Nazi collaborator. Although Fox News initially defended Beck, he resigned from the network this past June.
Although most would balk at the prospect of following Greer as the new president of JFSJ, van Capelle explained that he was excited to take office. “I’m not shy,” he said. Even at the relatively young age of 36, van Capelle has proved himself to be a capable activist. He is the former executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, and served as the deputy political director of Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ. Leading the Empire State Pride Agenda from 2003 to 2010, van Capelle championed LGBT civil rights in multiple arenas. Most notably, he worked closely with State Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to lay the foundation for marriage equality in 2011. Reaching out to both government officials and clergy members, van Capelle created an extraordinary support network for LGBT New Yorkers. In his letter announcing van Capelle’s succession, Greer praised his efforts at the New York Pride Agenda. “The recent vote by the New York State Senate to legalize gay marriage in New York was made possible in no small part by Alan’s leadership,” he wrote.
Although van Capelle has never led nor worked for a Jewish organization, his lobbying efforts with the Empire State Pride Agenda brought him in close contact with liberal groups like JFSJ. Before it merged with the Jewish Funds for Justice this year, the Progressive Jewish Alliance adopted a statement in support for marriage equality on May 12, 2004. Van Capelle also has several personal ties to JFSJ: he was a signatory on Greer’s ketubah, and former chief strategy officer Mik Moore co-officiated van Capelle’s commitment ceremony in 2007.
That van Capelle has the skills necessary for his new position is without question. He promises to bring his passion for social justice to the table as well. “I don’t think the work of the Progressive Jewish Alliance and Jewish Funds for Justice has ever been more important or necessary that it is right now,” he said. Pointing to the current economic recession – which has led to crippling unemployment rates, and a widening gap between the wealthy and the poor – he explained: “Our Jewish values demand of us that we help solve the problem of poverty.”
Steven Philp is a graduate student at the University of Chicago, studying for a Master of Divinity in Jewish Studies and a Master of Social Work. When not in the classroom he works for spiritual life, promoting dialogue and cooperation between different student-run faith-based organizations. Steven also volunteers with Mishkan, a progressive, spirited Jewish community in Chicago. His column, Klal Yisrael, appears here on alternating Sundays.
