Rabbi Robert J. Marx Social Justice Fund

If you would like to apply for a grant, please click here.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The Trustees meet twice a year
to consider applications, or more often if needed.

Robert J Marx (z"l) was Hakafa's founding rabbi, and our congregation continues to embody the spirit of his vision of inclusivity, learning, prayer, and justice. To Rabbi Marx, these were the necessary components of a holy community. Over his 70-year career, Rabbi Marx was at the forefront of many justice movements in Chicago and across the country. His commitment to civil rights, racial equity, worker justice, women's equality, and economic opportunity for all led to the creation of numerous organizations that continue to fight for a better society: The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, Interfaith Worker Justice, the Chicago Conference on Religion and Race,  the Illinois Committee to abolish Capital Punishment, and the Catholic/Jewish Dialogue of Chicago are a few of the many institutions impacted by his leadership. Rabbi Marx embodied the prophetic ideals of our Jewish tradition, and he spoke and acted with the clarity of someone charged with the responsibility to not only uphold those ideals, but to offer them as guidance to all who would venture to join him as well.  

Rabbi Marx passed away on Passover 5781 (2021). The Rabbi Robert J Marx Social Justice Fund was established to honor and reflect his life and values. It exists as a sustained source of funding available for justice projects suggested by and involving members of Hakafa.

Fund Trustees:
Eddie Chez
Rae Goodman-Lucker
Cindy Hamilton
Sara Hoffman
Naomi Neirick

If you would like to apply for a grant, please click here.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The Trustees meet twice a year
to consider applications, or more often if needed.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the trustees at rjmfund@hakafa.org.

Contributions to the Rabbi Robert J Marx Social Justice Fund may be made to Congregation Hakafa, Click here for instructions for making a donation.

The bylaws for the Fund and a rubric for the use of its money are available here.