“Protecting Our Democracy” is the topic for this year’s Social Action Shabbat on March 31. Our speaker will be Dan Lenz, staff counsel at Law Forward in Madison. Dan will talk about what is and is not working in our democracy today, threats that he sees on the horizon, things we can look forward to, and what we can do to strengthen democracy and our political institutions in Wisconsin. Dan came to Law Forward in 2021 with over a decade of litigation experience. He has worked on cases involving ballot access, administrative law, and responding to sham election investigations.
Dan grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, attending Oak Park Temple B’nai Abraham Zion and Habonim Dror Camp Tavor. He moved to Madison in 2003 and now calls it home, living on the East Side with his wife Lisa. In his free time, Dan volunteers for various festivals, is on the board of the SASY Neighborhood Association, bikes around town, and sees as much live music as he can.
Since opening their doors in 2020, Law Forward has engaged in crucial fights for ballot access, led the fight for fair redistricting, protected separation of powers, advocated for the judiciary’s constitutional role, and convened broad coalitions to resist election subversion and ensure fair, free elections.
Prior to services, the Social Action Committee is delighted to invite TBE members of all ages to a very special Shabbat dinner starting at 6:00 pm. The dinner will be catered by Awa Sibi, the owner of Les Delices de Awa https://www.lesdelicesdeawa.com/. The menu will be Awa’s signature grilled chicken, jollof rice with mixed vegetables, a tomato-based vegetable stew, and couscous. Water, sparkling water, and red and white wine will also be served. Dessert will be offered during the oneg following services, including items from Just Bakery https://justdane.org/just-bakery/. Cost is $25 for adults (13+) and $10 for kids ages 12 and under.
Awa emigrated from the Ivory Coast and launched her catering business in 2018. Her menus feature items from her native Côte d’Ivoire, as well as Senegal, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, and the Mediterranean. She developed her passion for cooking spending time in her family kitchen with her mother, making flavorful meals that brought joy to the table. Awa’s business was one of the first recipients of a grant from the Urban League’s Together We Build Wealth Fund for Black entrepreneurs. Read more about Awa in this article from the Wisconsin State Journal.
Please register by March 16 to join us for dinner.
Sponsor: TBE