This month we’re talking to Tema Smith about the current Black Lives Matter protests, and how the Jewish community has been and should be working for racial justice. And for our second segment we’re talking with Nissa Mai-Rose about a recent uproar around determining how many Jewish people are also People of Color.
Tema Smith is Director of Professional Development at 18Doors (formerly InterfaithFamily), and a contributing columnist at the forward. She is joining us from her home in Toronto.
Jews and the Black Lives Matter protests
Why will this time be different than all other times? by Tema Smith in the Forward
It’s on us. Jewish clergy weigh in on the aftermath of George Floyd in the Forward
Black Jews, he says, ‘get traumatized twice.’ To cope, he painted their experience. By PJ Grisar in the Forward
Counting Jews of Color
In Mid-May, ejewishphilanthropy published an article called How Many Jews of Color Are There? By Ira M. Sheskin and Arnold Dashefsky. The article is excerpted from a forthcoming chapter in the next American Jewish Year Book, and it refutes a May 2019 demographic report that concluded “at least 12-15 percent” of the nation’s Jews identify as Jews of color — “broadly, anyone who identified as non-white.” Sheskin and Dashefsky argue the number stands closer to 6 percent.
The article prompted a number of responses, including one from Tema Smith, who we just spoke with. We were drawn to talk about this because Nissa Mai-Rose brought our attention to #JOCsCount: A Jewish Communal Sign On Letter. We invited Nissa on to speak with us about her advocacy.
Endorsements
Zahava endorses the singing of the Black Happy Birthday song for Breonna Taylor on her 27th birthday at racial justice rallies, and Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz’s obituary for Rebbetzin Chaya Ausband in Tablet, called “The Female Torah-Teaching Genius of Cleveland.”
Tamar endorses the song Shvuaim by Dikla
