Let me be clear. You are either racist or anti-racist. Those are the two choices. The latter meaning you are working everyday either emotionally or physically to dismantle the racisim that we all have been taught since day one in the United States.
Dear white liberal Jews: when you meet a Jew of color, before you start to ask us to tell you intimate details about our lives, ask yourself why do you need to know? And curiosity is the absolute wrong answer.
I’m still trying to swallow 45 saying that Democrats are anti-Jewish when over 70% of American Jews did not vote for him. We are moving into a culture where Christian Zionist feel like they get to define antisemitism. This needs to stop
Why am I seeing so many tweets from Christins who think that Yom Kippur is their holiday. In case you did not know Yom Kippur is a Jewish holiday. If it was a Christian holiday I would not have to spend so much time defending Jewish students’ rights to miss class
Morning thoughts: When more voices from women appeared in Judaism, Judaism got better. I believe the same is true when we learn from Jews of color. Jews of color make Judaism better.
PSA
#1
for Jews who are white: asking me if I converted when you meet me & telling me you want to know b/c you want to know my story, actually doesn’t tell you about me. & forces me in that moment to decide if I want to tell you intimate details about my life.
Frustrated: Dear reporters please stop saying I grew up in a Christian home when I repeatedly tell you that I did not. I know many of you want to believe, if a black person converts to Judaism they must have converted from something. My parents were raised Christian but I was not
Morning thoughts: I gave a talk last night to which I was introduced as a convert to Judaism. I don't see myself as a convert to Judaism, even though I did convert and I definitely don't see myself as a Jew by Choice. I see myself as a Jew full stop.
Here is a reminder 4 whoever can hear this or maybe some of you are hearing it for the 1st time. When Black people say antisemitic stuff there are Black Jewish leaders who can also speak on this issue, often w/more nuance bc we understand the intersection of racism & antisemitism
Good morning! Just a thought after reading and listening to members of the Jewish community. I hope you all know that you all can say "Black Lives Matter" without a qualifier. Try it and see how it feels. It might feel pretty good.
Some of you need to hear this: When Jews of color tell you about our experiences of racism & lack of acceptance by many in the Jewish community, we are not looking for validation (some might be). I'm a rabbi I am very secure in my Jewish identity more so than many other Jews.
Warming thread on racism in the Jewish world: I am Black rabbi. I am not the only one and soon there will be more. Please understand that I and other Jews of color experience racism regularly in Jewish spaces and for many of us racism happens often in liberal Jewish spaces.
Some of y'all are out here tweeting that the Jews did X to this Black celebrity. Please remember that these folks are doing it to themselves. Please get some education on the Jewish community and on the history of antisemitism. Y'all are showing that you know nothing about us.
Reminder for Progressive White folks: Just because race is a social construction doesn't mean that racism doesn't exist. Continuing to say to BIPOC that "race is not real" or "race is a social construction" or "whiteness is not real" etc does nothing to move the needle on racism.
Venting: everytime some black or brown celebrity puts their foot in their mouth about the Jewish people. BIPOC jews suffer. We suffer from the antisemitic statement and we suffer from the white Jewish community. Signed frustrated.
For my Jewish folks on Twitter who are not BIPOC, imagine if you will every time you met another Jew (not POC), all they wanted to know or ask is did you convert to Judaism. Try to imagine how exhausting that must feel. Why is it so important? I really want to know.👇🏾
I'm going to be doing some unfollowing of my fellow jews across apps. If you find yourself unfollowed it's probably because you said something racist and I am exhausted in trying to help y'all understand.
I am a black queer rabbi and I am the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. My existence today would not have been possible if it were not for the work of him, the many others before and after him.
This tweet is for anyone but right now I am not happy with some of my rabbinic colleagues so if you are a rabbi I hope you read this thread. It is not up to us to publicly out how someone is Jewish.
To the Jews on Twitter & outside of our screens. We cannot have a discussion on race & combatting racism if the 1st words are "Jews are not white." That gets us nowhere & it hijacks the conversation on race & focuses attention away from the issue. This White Fragility in play.
I am not the first Black lesbian rabbi, and I have never claimed to be the first Black lesbian rabbi. Published sources that say this are wrong. Also, I was never a Christian and was not raised as a Christian. Published sources that say that are also wrong. Please retweet/share
Why are there so many Jews online that have nothing better to do than to tell me I’m not a rabbi? Why spend so much time putting negative energy in the world? Let’s spread more Jewish love.
Dear larger Jewish community, please remember your Jews of color after the Martin Luther King Jr holiday. Remember us when you do other stories relating to the Jewish community and remember us when you do stories on issues relating to Jews of color.
I know that many of you who are not BIPOC folks are in varying degrees of moving toward antiracism. When working with BIPOC people here is some unsolicited advice that will serve you well. Before you speak remember this acronym WAIT - Why Am I Talking?
"Mr. Biden also revoked Mr. Trump’s executive order limiting the ability of federal agencies, contractors and other institutions to hold diversity and inclusion training."
Jews of color are telling the Jewish community so we can do better. Instead of saying things like "You are Jewish" or "I accept you" listen, learn, and when you witness disrespect to another Jew, racism or some microaggression call it out or call the person in for some education.
Dear rabbi/cantor colleagues who are NOT people of color. Please educate yourself around issues relating to race so that you can better support BIPOC folks who want to become members of the Tribe.
Passover is approaching which means it’s time to have another conversation about Jews who benefit from white privilege using songs that speak to the Black experience of American slavery.
Here is some unsolicited advice to well-meaning Jews who benefit from white privilege people. When I or any Jew of color express our frustration with being denied our identity as Jews, just listen.
I have been discovered by alt-right, antisemitic, conspiracy theory cray-cray people on YouTube who have nothing better to do than harrass me and other people. Spent yesterday reporting and blocking on Youtube. These folks are crazy and dangerous.
Sarcasm: I love how so often white Jews, usually men who have no idea what it is like to be in my shoes feel entitled to tell me what is and isn’t becoming of a rabbi. 🙄
Like many Jews of color, Haddish has also experienced her fair share of racism and discrimination in the community.
“I’ve been to like over 500 bar mitzvahs, and I’m tired of people telling me to go to the kitchen. No, motherfucker, I’m supposed to be here!”
This week we begin the holiday of Passover, a holiday of joy, hope, and celebration as we retell the story of our exodus from Egypt and our escape from slavery.
PSA
#2
dear straight men who find themselves in new friendships with Lesbian, queer or gay women, do not make jokes that assume that I don’t have concerns that I might be assaulted by a man.
Please stop with the messages wishing me a Merry Christmas. It’s cool that you celebrate and I want to celebrate you but no need to wish me a Merry Christmas. And it’s not my holiday.
Today is Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday and this weekend we celebrate his memory. To my white Jewish siblings before you reference Abraham Joshua Herschel please remember this is King’s Birthday.
2day I was banned from posting to
@tiktok_us
4 a week. I have been called the nicest rabbi on TikTok. I don't attack people, I try to educate. There are players on the app that continue to come after me because they believe gay, black, and or women can't be rabbis.
@TikTokSupport
These last few weeks have been crazy busy, and I haven't had a lot of time for my own reflection and how I feel. As I sit here drinking my coffee, it just hit me that thousands and thousands of people tuned in to watch two black queer women lead Kabbalat Shabbat. Wow! Thank you💕
Woke up early this morning finalizing Yom Kippur services for student leaders and staff. And started scrolling through Jewish progressive organizations. Y’all are so white. This has to change.
Black Lives Matter wrapped in a Tallit. Thank you Aaron Hodge Greenberg.
"Anyone who destroys a life is considered to have destroyed an entire world, and anyone who saves a life has saved an entire world.” BLM
We should not be in the business of telling others if someone was raised, born, or converted to Judaism. Even if we believe the information is public. If we feel like we need to disclose that information publically, then we should at least check in with the person in question.
I'm up early preparing for a talk I have to give on Thursday. After the events in Kentucky and Pittsburgh I feel like many are really ready to hear what it is like to be black, Jewish and a rabbi.
Wow! You write this on a video while I'm reciting Kaddish for my mother. Please unfollow me. Where are your Jewish values? This shows a complete lack of respect. And take your racism with you.
ICYMI and want to see the type of antisemitism I experience from other Jews, take a look at my tweet feed for the past almost 72 hours at least most of them took a shabbos break
Here is a source sheet put together by our colleague Cantor David Fair that should refresh your memory or teach anyone that did not know this before today.
When I walk into Jewish spaces or sit down to pray or if you sit next to me at an oneg please do not feel that you are entitled to learn about how I came to be Jewish. That line of questioning is othering and makes me and other Jews of color feel like we do not belong.
I am upset with rabbis because you all know better. I am sick and tired of watching white privileged Jews decide for themselves how marginalized Jews see themselves.
Keep in mind there are currently no Black rabbis ordained by the top non-orthodox rabbinical programs servicing as "rabbi" of a congregation. This statement does not include rabbi educator positions. If I am wrong please let me know.
Dear Twitter family: I've been attacked by a lot of people online but today I heard a new one. Some jerk who grew with Chabad and then converted to Catholicism had the nerve to call me a goyesche ger and tell me I am not a real Jew even though now he is a Christian. 🤪
Good morning just sharing here that I’m now an equal opportunity offender. I’m getting racist, sexist, homophobic and antisemitic messages on all platforms and emails. I’m blocking and reporting people like I’m at an old west shoot out or maybe I’m Wonder Woman.
I am grateful to
@jdforward
for giving me a platform and if this piece helps move the conversation in the right direction then awesome. If you are white and Jewish and this makes you uncomfortable. I invite you to sit with being uncomfortable after a while it will get better.
I converted to Judaism because I fell in love with Judaism. I also naively believed that once I converted to Judaism, I was Jewish and would be treated equally as a member by others in the Jewish community. The reality, however, is the opposite.
Today someone pointed out to me that there were more people present at Kabbalat Shabbat sponsored by
@bechollashon
,
@keshet
and many others than were at the Trump rally. Just saying
Some of you may not know this but we have trans rabbis & trans rabbinical students across movements. We as Jews should be supporting them and many of us already do. The argument that some of you have made today doesn't hold water to where we are today in our society and as Jews.
What you are seeing is an example of some of the hate I get online. I’m sharing this one because it’s both racist and antisemitic from someone who claims to be Jewish.
Morning thoughts. Warning I'm frustrated. If you are white and have BIPOC "friends" and they don't discuss their racialized experiences with you and or racism, think back to the one time they may have tried. How did you respond?
In the Jewish tradition, each person is considered to be created in the image of God, with inherent worth and dignity. The Talmud teaches that "whoever saves a single life, it is as if they have saved the entire world."
When Jews who also happen to be white send a Black rabbi (me) messages like this. All you are doing is signaling that you are not in relationship with Black people and your hurt feelings are not based off an actual relationship. And it’s also racist, but that goes without saying.
Also if you have an image in your head that Jews are white get rid of it, some of us are white and many more of us are not. Instead of blaming us and defending celebrity X please take the time to learn why something is antisemitic and hurtful.
Good morning Twitter. If you are Jewish or interested in Judaism and live near or in Alamance County in North Carolina. I'd like to meet you and take you out for coffee/tea. Message me and please RT
Oh boy, the bigots & racists are out to get me today. They are back to calling me not a Jew. One can google me & see my commitment to the Jewish people & to Judaism. Often the people who come after me can't show, prove or highlight what they've done or what they are doing 4 Jews.
Today I laid my mother to rest and tomorrow after spending two weeks in St. Louis Susan and I head back home. My friend and colleague Joel Harter mentioned to me that losing a mother is soul changing and I am learning how true that really is. Thank you all so much for the love.
@levantinenative
@rabbisandra
She's not even a real convert. She converted via reconstructionist Judaism and so she's not accepted as Jewish among most Jews. She's no different from Jews for Jesus or Black Hebrew Israelites.
In less than a week a crazy dude murdered people at random because they were black. On Saturday another crazy dude murdered people while they were praying in synagogue. I'm black and Jewish and scared.
When you ask yourself this question think: What do I have to share? Is it worthwhile?
Is it appropriate? Am I centering myself and my experience. Am I talking to control and take charge of the situation? How might I simply listen and let go of my urge to talk? Repeat
Since becoming a rabbi there have been a few words that I never dreamed I would say. I should keep a running list. Here is today's phrase: I'm home waiting for the
@nytimes
to come to my house to watch my wife make Matzah.
Vent: before you as a White Jew bring out your social justice resume and all the things you as a white person have done to combat racism, first ask yourself if you have caused harm to another Jew of color because of your racism. And if you ask me my answer might be yes.
@RabbiSandra
Lawson (she/her), a trailblazing leader, will join
@ReconJudaism
as its inaugural Director of Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Read more:
If it makes you feel better to call me angry instead of listening to Jews of color go ahead but all you’re doing is proving my point and not dealing with the problem. - I’m just venting from a comment on the inter webs.
Morning Thoughts: To move our Jewish communities towards, racial equity, towards anti-racism we must look at every ounce of our communities from the perspective of a Jew of color.