Longtime resident Abigail Fisher was one of 12 individuals recently recognized for their commitment to social justice.
“I’m incredibly honored. I couldn’t have done it without the support of the Beth El Temple Center community,” said Fisher. “I love being here in Belmont and in this community. It’s given me and my family a place to thrive and I really appreciate that.”
Each year, Women of Reform Judaism, the feminist affiliate of North America’s largest and most diverse Jewish denomination, selects 12 people to be honored with the Women’s Empowerment Award, according to Women of Reform Judaism. The award was established in 2019 to honor women, nonbinary, and genderfluid individuals who strengthen the voices of others, with a focus on empowering women and girls who promote progressive Jewish values.
“In line with Women of Reform Judaism’s legacy of strengthening the voices of women worldwide, the individuals selected for this prestigious honor work toward a more just, inclusive, and compassionate world in all that they do for their communities,” said WRJ President Karen Sim.
Fisher, who has lived in Belmont for the past 32 years, served as president of the Beth El Temple Center from 2019 to 2021. Currently, she serves on Beth El Temple’s Budget and Finance Committee and the Security Task Force.
“We completed spending a federal security grant for a nonprofit institution for security at the end of December,” she said. “ We made some really significant improvements in the synagogue security.”
She’s also particularly proud of the work Beth El has done when it comes to advocating for solutions to the housing crisis.
“We were a big push for the bond bill, among other things that the Legislature passed over the summer,” Fisher said. “Beth El really stepped up, and I was really proud that the Town Meeting passed something that is in accordance with the MBTA Communities, and we’re not fighting that.”
In addition to her involvement at Beth El, Fisher is co-chair of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. She was also the founding chair of URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy – East, a Jewish science and technology summer camp.
Her interest in social justice began in a realm she was most familiar with — women’s issues. Since then, she’s worked in areas such as gun violence prevention, housing, LGBTQ rights, and immigration issues.
“I feel very passionate about all of them,” Fisher said.
When she was younger, she said, she fought for women’s rights because “that’s what I am.”
“Now, I want to help other people,” she said.
Fisher touted the reform movement’s early declaration in support of trans rights as human rights.
“I think what’s happening now is frankly terrifying,” she said. “I’m not a member of that community, but I consider myself an ally. I feel really passionately that efforts to make other groups be ‘other’ — whether it’s trans kids or people of color — that’s divisive. We’re all one human family and we should be treated as such.”
Fisher will be recognized alongside the other awardees at a celebration on April 6 in Washington, D.C.
