Retired, Kehilat Shalom Synagogue

“Rabbi Raphael has been an inspiring clergy leader in AIM since our founding. He recruited some of our first congregations to join AIM and led our early campaigns for the Housing Initiative Fund and all-day kindergarten. AIM is blessed with his leadership.” —Jeff Eagan, Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ

Reflection from Rabbi Raphael:

“I’ve worked in several nonprofits, but AIM is special because it tackles the root causes of poverty. It organizes people power to change systems so everyone can fully participate in society.

Organizing is about relationships, and the people I work with—insightful organizers and leaders—really stand out. I met AIM’s first organizer, Mark Fraley, in 1999. We began with meetings where we read sacred texts and explored their relevance to organizing. When Mark came to my congregation, he did about 45 one-on-ones, energizing me and teaching me how to organize.

I love AIM actions. Filling a room with a thousand people to ask for public commitments from politicians—no one else in Montgomery County does that. For 25 years, I’ve often done the call to action at the end, helping energize the crowd. The energy that flows off all those people on the same page is uniquely powerful.

Finally, you can’t talk about 25 years of AIM without honoring Larry Froehlich. He was a brilliant leader, a strong Jewish voice, and masterful at questioning political leaders. He passed in 2010 and is deeply missed.”