We sat down with Dollinger and Kaufman to learn more about the revised edition of Black Power, Jewish Politics, their thought partnership, their reflections on the powerful book launch at Skirball Cultural Center, and how Dollinger and Kaufman became co-conspirators in the work of re-telling history.
2024
Cheryl Weiner conducts research on Jewish activist teen girls. Though her research is not solely focused on the experiences of Jews of Color, Weiner made sure her research included a diverse sample of young women, focusing on those whose experiences are often overlooked, such as Jews of Color, those living in remote Jewish geographic areas, and those not raised in mainstream Jewish communities.
By assessing barriers to end-of-life care, riddick’s study is geared towards the creation of resources for JoC that can help them navigate end-of-life processes, rituals, and mourning with greater care.
With a keen focus on JoC (Jews of Color) family units—for young children, parents, and congregational educators—Kolker's project, “We Belong At the Table,” harnesses the power of community programming, research, and web archival work to document, showcase, and disseminate diverse culinary traditions within Jewish communities.
Looking ahead, Mansour and Williams are optimistic about the future of JoC Cleveland and its role in shaping a more diverse and inclusive Jewish community. Through their efforts to bridge diversity and foster unity, they are paving the way for a more vibrant and resilient Jewish community in Cleveland
Since joining the JoCI Philanthropy Fellowship in May, 2023, our dedicated Fellows— Ilana Ybgi, Santy Barrera and Maya Katz-Ali— have gained extensive professional development rooted in essential learnings of the philanthropic sector, equity-based approaches to philanthropy, and the perspectives of JoC and communal leaders. As the rest of the JoCI team prepares for a bittersweet goodbye to our Fellows at the upcoming conclusion to their year-long program, we are awestruck by the accomplishments of this exceptional group of leaders.
"It took me [20 years] to map out the kind of broad boundaries of the different people who said that they were both Black and Jewish, and that long to decode what I was looking at," Haynes explains. "I spent a lot of time trying to piece together the historical context that shaped the categories of Black and Jewish in the United States."
"I think of the work I do in our community more as being a facilitator, steward, or caretaker. I know what it feels like to be disconnected from community and I know what it feels like to be nourished by community."
“The Midwest tends to be a really underserved region for Jews in general, but specifically for Jews of Color,” Crichlow Silva explained. McKinney-Baldon and Crichlow Silva—as well as the rest of the Edot team—are Midwesterners themselves, and believe that uplifting JoC leaders in the Midwest is essential for a thriving future for the region’s Jewish community.
SMQN’s Shabbat dinners create an environment where folks do not need to check any part of their identities at the door—where people’s Sephardic and Mizrahi heritage will be embraced, along with their queer identities. The dinners are also a time when we can take ownership of, and reclaim, our connection to Shabbat in a welcoming and affirming space.
Aweku Michal Avera Samuel, an Ethiopian Israeli educator, is pioneering research and initiatives to integrate racial justice into Jewish early childhood curricula. As a key figure in the Shalom Curriculum Project (SCP), she collaborates with the University of Wisconsin, Madison, to create engaging materials that reflect the ethnic diversity of the Jewish community.
Lewis envisions a future where JoC have more agency within the Jewish Climate Movement, creating resources and opportunities for leadership. Meeting with rabbinic fellows at Dayenu, she aims to empower JoC to initiate their circles, ensuring their voices are valued. This lifelong pipeline of opportunity is crucial for impactful change in the Jewish and climate justice community.