It is with a heavy heart that I write to notify you of the passing of our beloved leader and friend, Bobbi Spiegler, after a brief and courageous fight with an aggressive cancer. Bobbi was a rank-and-file union organizer and a social worker. A champion for justice, she spent her life fighting for women’s liberation, LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access, worker’s rights, racial justice, and most recently, immigrant rights. Bobbi was the DJJ liaison to Movimiento Cosecha, spending the last several years pushing to secure driver’s licenses for undocumented Michiganders. Her loss is felt deeply across all the communities she touched. 
Shiva Information: Congregation T’chiyah will be holding Shiva on Wednesday, June 7, Thursday, June 8, and Sunday, June 11 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm over light refreshments to share stories and be in community. A brief service will be held each evening at 7:00 pm. Join us as you are able. Masks are required. Congregation T’chiyah is located at the First United Methodist Church at 22331 Woodward Avenue (at Leroy Street), Ferndale, MI 48220. Enter on Leroy; parking lots at the church and across Leroy.
June All Team Meeting: On Wednesday June 14th, we will be holding space for remembering and mourning Bobbi, and learn how we can continue her work with Movimiento Cosecha, Drive Michigan Forward, and DJJ’s other campaigns. Details here.
More to come: There will be a larger gathering in Bobbi’s memory with Congregation T’chiyah on Thursday, July 6th which DJJ will be a part of. We will share details as soon as they are finalized.
Bobbi was such a bright presence. She had tenacity and optimism, even when things looked bleak. She was opinionated, funny, and deeply dedicated to building a more equitable world. In saying goodbye to Bobbi, I keep coming back to Pirkei Avot, “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it (2:21).” Bobbi’s work is not done. In her final days I promised her that I would continue that work in her memory. That is how I will choose to honor Bobbi, and I hope you will join me.
In deep dedication to Bobbi’s legacy,
Allie Zeff, Executive Director
Detroit Jews for Justice
