T'ruah is a New York-based rabbinic human rights organization founded in 2002 that mobilizes approximately 1,900 rabbis and cantors across the United States for human rights advocacy, Palestinian rights, and opposition to Israeli occupation.

How much funding does T'ruah receive from Spielberg's foundation?

Spielberg's Righteous Persons Foundation has given T'ruah $690,000 between 2020 and 2024.

Rabbi Jill Jacobs serves as Executive Director of T'ruah since 2015. She is the primary spokesperson and strategic leader on Israeli military operations, Palestinian rights, and Diaspora Jewish political engagement.

What is T'ruah's position on the Gaza war?

T'ruah has repeatedly demanded immediate ceasefire during the 2023-present Gaza war, characterized restrictions on humanitarian aid as collective punishment, and called continued military operations morally indefensible.

What is T'ruah's connection to Bend the Arc?

T'ruah and Bend the Arc share overlapping funder networks — both receive major grants from Spielberg's Righteous Persons Foundation. They co-organized the February 2026 Jews Against ICE protest at ICE headquarters in Washington D.C. with 400+ rabbis and 60+ co-sponsoring Jewish organizations.

What is T'ruah's position on Israeli occupation?

T'ruah frames Israel as maintaining a military occupation of Palestinian territories since 1967 and has called for ending the occupation. The organization frames ending Israeli occupation as a core Jewish religious obligation.

T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights — Spielberg-Funded Rabbi Network Behind Jews Against ICE & Palestinian Advocacy

Founded: 2002

Headquarters: New York, NY

Leadership: Rabbi Jill Jacobs (Executive Director, 2015-present)

Annual Operating Budget: ~$3.5M (2023)

Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Membership Base: ~1,900 rabbis and cantors across denominations

Overview

T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights is a New York-based Jewish advocacy organization founded in 2002 to mobilize rabbinical leadership around human rights and social justice issues. The organization frames its work through Jewish religious and ethical values and operates exclusively as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

T'ruah claims a membership base of approximately 1,900 rabbis and cantors across Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, and Jewish Renewal denominations.

Major Funders (2020-2024)

Righteous Persons Foundation (Steven Spielberg) — $690,000

Ford Foundation — $200,000 (October 2024)

Walter & Elise Haas Fund — Multiple documented grants

New Israel Fund — $139,320 (2023)

Total documented funding (2020-2024): $1.5M+

Tax Records (IRS Form 990)

T'ruah Organization: EIN 02-0614268. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
2023 Form 990: Available via ProPublica
2022 Form 990: Available via ProPublica
2021 Form 990: Available via ProPublica
2020 Form 990: Available via ProPublica

Key Personnel

Rabbi Jill Jacobs (Executive Director, 2015-present) — Primary spokesperson and strategic leader. Public statements on Israeli military operations, Palestinian rights, and Diaspora Jewish political engagement.

Board Members: Mix of rabbis from multiple denominations, Jewish social justice figures, and community leaders

Organizational Positions & Actions

Israeli Military Operations: Has characterized Israeli military operations in Gaza as "war crimes" and made statements accusing Israel of "deliberately starving" Palestinian civilians
Palestinian Rights: Primary focus on Palestinian rights, occupation, and settlement expansion
U.S. Foreign Policy: Advocates for conditioning U.S. military aid to Israel on human rights compliance
Jewish Donor Criticism: Has accused wealthy Jewish donors of using fear to suppress discussion of Palestinian casualties and Israeli military conduct
Rabbinical Mobilization: Uses rabbinical authority and religious framework to legitimize human rights criticism of Israel

Jews Against ICE: February & May 2026

On February 11, 2026, T'ruah and Bend the Arc co-organized the "Jews Against ICE" protest at ICE headquarters in Washington, D.C. — described as the largest ever gathering of Jewish clergy protesting ICE. 400+ rabbis, cantors, and lay leaders. 60+ co-sponsoring organizations. The protest concluded T'ruah's 2026 National Jewish Clergy Convening.

In May 2026, T'ruah and Bend the Arc organized a follow-up action outside NYC ICE headquarters. 10 rabbis were arrested. Part of a national Jewish day of action across 17 cities, with 70 co-sponsoring Jewish organizations.

Related Funding Networks

T'ruah participates in overlapping funder networks with Bend the Arc and Jews United for Justice. The New Israel Fund connects T'ruah to a broader ecosystem of left-of-center Jewish grantmaking and political mobilization.

The New Israel Fund's Progressive Jewish Fund directed grants to 256 organizations in 2023, including direct support to T'ruah and funding for other radical pro-Palestinian advocacy groups.

Related Investigations

Spielberg's Foundation Funds Jews for Mamdani — Documents $690K Spielberg funding to T'ruah as part of broader $3M network

Bend the Arc's Money Map — Comprehensive analysis of $50M+ foundation network funding pro-Palestinian advocacy, including T'ruah's funders

Where Schindler's List Money Went — Initial documentation of Jewish progressive organization funding

Related Entities

Righteous Persons Foundation | Bend the Arc: Jewish Action | Jews United for Justice | Global Jewish Philanthropy