The Jews of Color Initiative has commissioned a study to be conducted by researchers at Stanford University. This study will go beyond assessing the population counts of Jews of Color, learning about and documenting the diverse and varied experiences and identities of Jews of Color living in the U.S.
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In December, Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz and Eddie Chavez Calderon asked our Executive Director, Ilana Kaufman, to speak with their community on Jews of Color and inequity.
In racial justice movements, caucus groups have been popular models for collective consciousness-raising—developing one’s awareness of, and ability to challenge, how racism plays out on both individual and structural levels.
As Gorsky pointed out, this is far more common among Jews of Color. “I think there are so many people that don’t even know it’s possible to be not white and be Jewish,” they said with comedic bafflement.
Building pathways for Jews of Color to be decision-makers in Jewish communities—not only for matters of diversity and equity, but all facets of Jewish life—can ensure that we build a beautiful second chapter that will sustain and transform the Jewish people.
As a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization, ALEPH focuses on deepening Jewish connection and spirituality through a trans–denominational approach known as Renewal.
Pettis and Webster are focused on understanding how Jews of Color experience identity not only through internal understandings of oneself but in relation to other people.
Changing our institutional structures can be an overwhelming task. Perhaps many of the innovations that come from brainstorming sessions, workshops, and meetings end up as crumpled paper, forgotten, or labeled too challenging to legitimately undertake. We want to change that.
In order to build a community focused on Earth, unity, movement, and Judaism, Silverstein wanted his collective to be guided by “the ability to connect to nature, to get your hands dirty, and then to have shared meals and to have access to delicious, nutritious, locally-resourced food together.”
“There’s so much energy required for someone to sit down and read something really dense,” Alana Chandler began. “But food? Food is something everyone needs to live. And not only is it necessary sustenance, but there’s so much culture and tradition infused into recipes. Recipes really tell a story.”