Michigan Jewish Conference

The Michigan Jewish Conference (MJC) was established to serve the political and community relations needs of the statewide Jewish community. Though three quarters of the State’s Jewish population resides in the metropolitan Detroit area, active Jewish communities exist throughout the State. Michigan’s Jewish community is diverse and represents all socioeconomic groups and political parties, but the community shares certain philosophical beliefs and values that are deeply rooted in Jewish religion, tradition and culture.

The Jewish dedication to caring for the needy originates in our religion’s most ancient text. Jewish law, "Tikkun Olam" (repair of the world), requires Jews to work for the welfare of all people. Furthermore, Judaism embodies a sense of ethical responsibility: to ensure that both Jews and non-Jews have their basic needs met. To fulfill this responsibility, the larger Jewish communities provide a vast array of services accessible to the entire community. These services include:

In addition to raising the millions of dollars per year that is necessary to fund these services, the Jewish community also contributes thousands of volunteer hours. Whenever possible, the Jewish community combines these charitable dollars and volunteer efforts with state and federal programs.

The Jewish community is committed to meeting its obligation to the greater community and almost never turns away an individual in need of assistance. Consequently, the Jewish community often serves as a safety net for those individuals who do not meet the eligibility criteria of other programs. In recent times of economic difficulty and diminishing resources, this becomes increasingly more difficult to do. Thus, the Jewish community welcomes and encourages new and innovative partnerships with the State to ensure the continuation of services and to enhance the overall effectiveness and efficiency of those services.

While there is tremendous diversity amongst the Jewish population, the statewide Jewish community has the same position on many public policy issues. These are: (1) issues affecting the health and welfare of the community, (2) issues that blur the separation of religion and state and (3) issues that interfere with or impede one’s ability to practice Judaism. Additionally, as a non-profit organization that also represents other Jewish non-profit organizations, the MJC is also concerned with the public policy that affects non-profit organizations.

According to Rabbi Issi ben Yehuda, we are obligated to honor those who are old, regardless of their income or level of education. (Kiddushin 32b-33b)

As the number of elderly in our communities increases, so does the need for a comprehensive system of affordable, quality long-term care services and for innovative, cost-effective ways to provide these services. Long-term care for the elderly should include a continuum of services, including health, housing, transportation and social services. In addition, these services should be provided in a variety of settings, from in-home and community to institutions. The goal should be to address the specific needs of seniors and of their caregivers in ways that are affordable, that are available to all regardless of income and that provide adequate opportunity for consumer choice. The MJC is especially committed to initiatives and programs that facilitate independent living and allow an individual to age with dignity in his or her own community.

Long-term Care: The MJC supports the recommendations of the Michigan Long-term Care Workgroup issued September 1999. The MJC encourages implementation of these recommendations. By implementing the workgroup’s recommendations, the State would also begin to address other issues discussed in this section.

Access to Prescription Medication: The MJC supports policies and programs which ensure that the elderly receive prescription medication as needed and are able to purchase medication without forgoing basic necessities.

Health Care Staffing: The MJC supports training and support for long-term care workers and others who work with the elderly to reduce turnover and absenteeism. The MJC also recommends considering incentives to encourage people to go into the long-term care field. Additionally, the MJC supports increased staff-to-patient ratios in nursing homes and increased direct-per-patient care hours.

Adult Day Care: The MJC supports initiatives and funds for adult day care programs. Participating in activities outside of the home is an important component of living a meaningful and quality independent life. These programs must be staffed adequately to provide the appropriate level of supervision and care.

Medicaid Waivers: The MJC supports increasing the number of Medicaid waiver slots and allowing waivers to be used for in-home support services, residents in adult foster care, homes for the aged, and in other assisted living settings.

Medicaid Coverage: The MJC supports quality Medicaid care which emphases preventive health care measures. Further, the MJC recommends that any changes to the Medicaid system not limit eligibility or access to the program.

Community and Home Based Care: The MJC supports programs that increase finances and support for community and home based care and allow the elderly to continue to live in their home environment.

Respite care: Taking care of the elderly can place extreme stress on the family or other caretaker. The MJC supports programs and initiatives that provide respite care in these situations.

Guardianship: Often as individuals age they need someone to protect their interests and assist them with their affairs. Currently, the State only reimburses for guardianship for those living in a skilled nursing home. The MJC strongly supports adequate reimbursement for guardianship services for those living at home, in group homes and other types of assisted living.

Transportation: Transportation is a major problem for the elderly and disabled. Even when it is available, these populations often require an escort or additional assistance. For people to live in their communities and remain independent, they must be able to meet their basic needs. The MJC supports programs and initiatives that address this serious problem of transportation.

Those who are disabled have similar needs to the elderly and require many of the same services. Again, the MJC strongly supports those programs and initiatives that provide a continuum of services to those who are disabled in a variety of environments with the primary emphasis being on keeping the individual in the home environment.

Respite Care: Due to advances in medical care, individuals with disabilities are living much longer. In addition, these individuals are living in their homes instead of being placed in an institutional setting. The stress that this can place on the caregiver is enormous. The MJC supports programs and initiatives that provide respite care.

Long-term Care: The MJC supports adequate funding for long-term care services. People with disabilities are often denied appropriate placement due to inadequate funding. Low reimbursement rates also make it difficult to recruit, hire or retain quality care workers.

Mental Health Benefits and Parity: The MJC supports parity for mental health and substance abuse services.

You must open your hand to the poor, elderly and disabled. (Deuteronomy 15:8)

Several years ago, the State ended its traditional welfare program and implemented the federal program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). While the intent of the program was to move families that received assistance to economic self-sufficiency, there have been too many obstacles for some to achieve true economic security. The system created a new class of "working poor," people who work and earn minimum wage but still remain below the poverty level and cannot adequately support their families.

The MJC supports initiatives that provide people with realistic work opportunities and adequate financial and social service support as well as programs that address inadequate education, housing, health care and illiteracy. These services must minimally include job training, transportation, housing, day care, health care and emergency food and shelter. Strategies must be implemented that help families become part of the economic mainstream and achieve true economic self-sufficiency.

Adequate Minimum Wage: The MJC supports an annual review and adjustment of the minimum wage to ensure that the wage is adequate and has been adjusted for inflation.

Implementation of a State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Currently, the federal EITC provides tax relief to low-income workers, further supporting the "working poor" by allowing them extra dollars to meet their daily expenses. The MJC supports the creation of a state EITC.

Access to Affordable Health Care: Currently programs exist to provide health care for only those families or parents with children. The MJC supports programs for adults who do not earn enough money to cover their basic medical needs but do not qualify for existing programs.

Access to Affordable and Accessible Licensed Child Care: Some parents, primarily mothers, are unable to obtain meaningful employment because they do not have access to child care. Child care needs to be available and accessible at all hours of the day and night.

Immigration issues are primarily handled at the federal level. The MJC believes that immigrants are a part of the community and if necessary should be eligible for State assistance. The MJC supports programs and initiatives that assist immigrants with obtaining citizenship and becoming self-sufficient citizens.

Who is ignorant? He who does not educate his children. (The Talmud)

The MJC places a high value on public education and recognizes that public schools are the primary source of education for the majority of children in Michigan. Public schools play a central role in teaching democracy and common civic values and in fostering tolerance, respect, and appreciation for the diversity within our country. The MJC supports sound innovative programs that support, strengthen and sustain public schools. The MJC opposes initiatives that take funds or resources away from the public school system.

Sales Tax Exemptions for Charitable Organizations: The MJC supports (1) raising the threshold to at least $25,000 for a sales tax exemption for retail fundraising sales and (2) revising the tax exemption to tax only those dollars above the threshold amount.

Simplify the State Grant and Contracting Process: The current process for applying for State funds varies by department. The MJC supports a consumer-friendly, streamlined process.

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Last modified: 03/27/2003