Amos: the national Jewish partnership for social justice.

Named for the Biblical prophet Amos who taught social justice, the Amos project took as its mission as being "dedicated to renewing and extending the Jewish community's devotion to social justice." Further, Amos was "designed to be a catalyst and consultant to the Jewish community on social justice engagement." The leader of this group and the inspiration behind the movement that became Amos, Leonard Fein of Boston, wrote the following rationale for the Amos project:

Amos seeks to transform American Jewish culture with the end in view that the pursuit of justice be - and be seen as - among its central commitments. Amos is based on the conviction that America's Jews are capable of and responsible for changing the world for the better, and that acceptance of that responsibility and exercise of that capability will nurture Jewish values, secure Jewish interests, help ensure the Jewish identity of coming generations - and, in fact, help mend the world.

Amos focused its work on consultation, training and coalition building. Its goal was to form "productive alliances with others within and beyond the Jewish community and in sustaining action over time." Another goal was to serve "as a convener and facilitator for coalitions within the Jewish community focused on social justice. Amos works to identify common interests and build effective campaigns."

Organizations who worked with or partnered with the Amos coalition included the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, among others. Among its accomplishments, Amos conducted a National Survey on Social Justice & American Jews, which revealed that a majority of American Jews believe social justice is more important than religious observance in creating Jewish identity. Amos also advocated for issues such as voting rights and worked in support of Jewish communal service programs.

Ultimately, Amos was confronted by many problems, internal and external, that forced it to disband on September 30, 2002. Throughout its brief history Amos strove "to help the Jewish community more effectively pursue its call to help create a just world."

From the guide to the Amos: The National Jewish Partnership for Social Justice Records, 1991-2002, (The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives)