“If you lend money to my people, to the afflicted one (who lives) beside you, you are not to be to him like a creditor, you are not to place on him excessive-interest.” - Exodus 22:25, Everett Fox translation

Maimonides taught that loans should be a vehicle to self-reliance and not lead to a cycle of debt. - Mishneh Torah, Gifts to the Poor 10:7

"I believe that we have both a human and a specifically Jewish obligation to take action in the name of economic justice and for the purpose of alleviating the suffering that is being inflicted on too many of us by the practices of these large banks." -  Rabbi Jonathan Kraus, Beth El Temple Center, Belmont (September 2010)

Through the Move Our Money campaign we contribute to the national conversation on predatory lending practices, which have reached epic proportions.  Our Jewish values clearly oppose usury, yet interest rates on credit cards issued by the major national banks are now up to about 30%, outrageously high.

If you have a bank account at one of the Big 4 banks (Bank of America, CitiGroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo/Wachovia), we hope that you will move it to a more responsible, local institution.  Massachusetts banks as well as credit unions must follow state law and cap interest rates on credit cards; big national banks can charge whatever rates they want.

• Sign or email a pledge (click on link for the pledge card), provide it to one of us, and then move your bank account(s).
• GBIO's Gubernatorial action on October 17 was a great success with more than 1,100 people attending (including about 20 from BETC). Information can be found at www.gbio.org, and a brief YouTube video can be viewed here .
• Add your voice at the GBIO Move Our Money action Wednesday, November 17, 12:00 to 2:00 pm in downtown Boston, when we close accounts in the Big 4 banks. Click here for a flyer about the event.
• VOTE on November 2. Remember that ALL the Gubernatorial candidates oppose Question 3 on the ballot, which would reduce the state's sales tax to 3%. Belmont and surrounding communities would lose more than $12 million directly, and more indirectly, if Question 3 were to pass. GBIO supports a NO vote on Questions 1, 2, and 3.
• Sign an INTERFAITH PLEDGE crafted by GBIO members , which calls on Citizens, Elected Officials, Journalists and Religious Communities to End the Current Wave of Fear and Bigotry Against Islam. Follow the link at gbio.org or go to this link at ipetitions to add your signature online. (NOTE: This is a free service. You may be asked to help support the service, but no donation is required.)

Additional Resources

• More information about usury can be found on the website 10percentisenough.org
• Pledge card
• For information about local banks and about how to move your money, see the FAQ.
• BETC's Social Justice web page