Here are a few things your congregation can do now to support Black and Brown people both within the Jewish community and beyond, both directly and on a systemic level.
Jewish tradition teaches of the Divine spark in every person. As Jewish groups that are committed to protecting and advancing the safety and security of our community, we know we have an invaluable tool to leverage: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
Welcoming the stranger, or immigrant, is a core part of Jewish tradition, mentioned 36 times in the Torah. We affirm our commitment to create the same opportunities for today's immigrants that were so valuable to our own community not so many years ago.
We are so proud to launch the Union for Reform Judaism's (URJ) Equity Indicator; an exciting new tool that will help guide all of us in our efforts to create equitable Communities of Belonging. An equitable Jewish community is a space and place where all people have the opportunity to feel affirmed, safe, celebrated, and experience a sense of belonging.
While camp is an oasis away from everyday life, it still exists in a world that has much work to do around harm prevention, particularly for Campers of Color, gender-diverse campers, campers with a variety of body sizes, and campers with disabilities.