Jews Talk Racial Justice - Ep 44: Racial Justice IS a Jewish Issue
QUICK EPISODE OVERVIEW
In this week's episode, we respond to a common question about racial justice work and explain that because the Jewish community is a global, multi-racial people, racial justice already is and must continue to be a core Jewish value and issue.
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
April and Tracie start this episode by sharing an unfortunately all too common question: why is racial justice a Jewish issue? What is your initial reaction/answer to this question? How would you explain the connection?
April reframes the question, asking, “How is racial justice not a Jewish value?” When you think about it like this, what comes up for you? Can you even think of an answer to this reframe?
April reminds us once again that Jews are a global people with origins in Africa and West Asia. What does this bring up for you? How does centering this truth impact your understanding of Jewish identity, particularly as it relates to racial justice?
April makes a distinction between working for racial justice and developing cultural competency. Can you explain the difference? How are the ways in which you are deepening your cultural competency in order to be in relationship with people across lines of difference? What are the ways you can do even more?
Tracie points out that Black Lives Matter is a phrase that already includes Jews because Black Jews already exist! What are the ways in which you can internalize this truth more? How would we react if White Jews were being brutalized by agents of the state?
April and Tracie end the episode by pointing out the danger in using demographic reasons as they are irrelevant when we know a person’s inherent worth is as a reflection of the divine. Have you relied on demographic reasoning before? When has it kept you from making changes because you think an issue only impacts a small portion of your community?
INSIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE
“As Jews, we believe in the value of B’Tselem Elohim, that we were all made in the image of the Divine. Racism is inherently dehumanizing and treats people as sub-human in a systemic, interpersonal, ideological way on every level of the scale. Most notably, it systemically and ideologically treats people of color as less-than. So inherently, it is in violation of this value that we are all created by the image of the Divine. Treat your neighbor as yourself.”
“We are a global people. We started in North Africa and West Asia and have lived and do live all over the globe.”
“As Jews and in the spirit of many Jewish values and laws, we should work to ensure that our lives move us and our society in the direction of justice and are not complicit in the systemic harming of people based upon their identity and or appearance.”
“The truth is, #BlackLivesMatter does say Jewish lives matter because there are Black Jews.”
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
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