Anti-Racist Resources for Jews

As is the case with our Covid-19 Resource pages, this is a living document and a work in progress. In the interest of responding to a pressing need, we are publishing knowing it is unfinished, and we will continue adding to it. If you know of other events, opportunities for solidarity, resources, or accounts that you’d like us to promote, please let us know.

We are making an immediate call for submissions of any medium (thought pieces, poetry, art, etc.) from JoCs, especially Black Jews. If you have anything to say or contribute we want to use our platform to amplify it. Our editorial staff are available to advise whether you consider yourself “a writer” or not, and can provide technical/digital assistance. If hardware is a barrier for you to create content, get in touch and we’ll help with that too. We compensate our contributors for their content.

Here is TC Jewfolk’s full statement on how we are currently changing our strategies to elevate the voices of Black Jews (and all Jews of Color), as our mission and values demand. We apologize for our role in marginalizing JoCs who are members of our community and we are committed to doing better.

Finally, inclusion in this resource page does not imply an endorsement by TC Jewfolk/Jewfolk, Inc. and should not be taken as such. There may be links to causes or organizations below that do not fit with the thinking and/or values of every single member of our Twin Cities Jewish community. We encourage you to take a look at some of them regardless to best understand this complex situation.

Front Line Actions

A cautionary note about attending or amplifying protest events: Anyone can create an event page. Before you share or go, find out who the organizers are. Checking their profile picture is not enough—does it look like a real account or a burner? Check to see who has shared that particular event. If the event is not organized/promoted by Black leaders or a reputable allied group, exercise extreme caution & skepticism. Attending any front line action always carries some personal risk. However, experienced organizers know how to identify, plan for, and mitigate risks. They are trained in deescalation tactics. If participants are anticipated to risk arrest event organizers should have bail or jail support prepared.

via @maimonides_nutz

Volunteer Opportunities

JCA Community Crisis Response

Sanitization Stations at the George Floyd Memorial Entry Points

Twin Cities Mutual Aid Project

Organizers to Follow

Black Lives Matter TC Metro

Black Lives Matter St. Paul

Black Visions

Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB)

Racial Justice Network

Twin Cities Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee

Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar

Uprising Minnesota

Resources to Support the Minneapolis Protests

Follow Support the Cities for mutual aid & community service pop-up opportunities

Get Tested for Covid (if you test positive or haven’t been tested but display symptoms, stay home)

Participate Safely, Responsibly, and Respectfully

ACLU

Communities United for Police Reform

Vice

Wired

Women for Political Change MN

Digital Security & Safety | Guide to Protesting

Map of self-service bike repair stations

Citizen Safety App

Creature Friend Finder (help finding/aiding a friend arrested in protests)

Actions from Home

via Jewish Multiracial Network

Upcoming Community Events

Town Hall Series on the Future of Public Safety: What do we mean by Abolish and Defund? (Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association) 6 – 7 p.m. Thursday, September 24

Feeling Safe and Welcome at Adath: Security and Antiracism (Adath Jeshurun) 5:10 p.m. Monday, September 28

Town Hall Series on the Future of Public Safety: What does reforming police look like? (Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association) 6 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 7

Town Hall Series on the Future of Public Safety: What does reforming police look like? (Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association) 6 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 20

Comment on proposed changes to the Minneapolis City Charter

Incorporate the Kaddish for Black Lives from Jewish Multiracial Network into your Shabbat

Justice In June | Justice In July

MPD 150: How You Can Help (MPLS, June 2020)

Vote!! Request your absentee ballot to vote by mail or find out where to vote in person

September 18: Absentee ballots sent out for those who have already requested one; in-person early voting for the general election begins

October 13: Pre-registration ends at 5 p.m. for the general election

November 2: In-person early voting for the general election ends at 5 p.m.

November 3: General/Presidential Election Day

Contact your elected officials:

Cosponsor the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act (S. 1083/H.R. 40)

Provide Critical Funding for Elections in Response to COVID-19

Address the COVID-19 Emergency in Prisons and Jails

Jewish Community & JoC-Led Orgs

Adath Jesurun Congregation’s Antiracism Committee

Be’chol Lashon

Beth Jacob Congregation’s Antiracism Position Statement

Black and Jewish Facebook Group

Dimensions

Edot: The Midwest Regional Jewish Diversity Collaborative

Evolve (An Initiative of Recontructing Judaism)

via @liziegettinbusy

Jewish Community Action

Crisis Response sign-up | Campaigns

Jews for Racial & Economic Justice

Jewish Multiracial Network

Resources | Privilege Checklist | Organizational Assessment

Jews of Color Field Building Initiative

Jewish Social Justice Roundtable

Racial Justice Resources | Pilot Racial Justice Framework

Jewtina

Mount Zion Temple Tzedek Committee

Not Free to Desist

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

Hearts and Minds: A Model Discussion About Racial Justice

Shir Tikvah Racial Justice Task Force

T’ruah

TribeHerald

Resource Sharing ($$$)

Shop with Black-Owned Businesses in the Twin Cities

While we make every effort to ensure that we have linked to official pages that direct funds where they say they do, please do your own research and be aware that not all of the following are 501(c)3 organizations and your donation may not be tax-deductible. We believe these are groups deserving of support regardless of their tax status.

via @eliwohlphoto

Organizations to Support

Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL)

Cities Care Collective

Du Nord Riot Recovery Fund

Intersection of Hope

Juxtaposition Arts

Keiko’s Kitchen / Keiko’s Electric Herbs

Lake Street Council

The Legal Rights Center

Little Earth Residents Association

Longfellow Community Council

Midtown Global Market Mend

Minnesota Voice

Neighbors United Funding Collaborative

Northside Strong x McKinley Neighborhood Organization

Pimento Relief Fund

Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment

via @niaanntart

The Somali Museum of Minnesota

Support 7 Mile Immigrant and BIPOC Workers

Urban League Twin Cities

Venus Unveiled Recovery Fund

West Broadway Business and Area Coalition x Northside Funders Group

Women for Political Change

ZACAH

Individual/Family Funds

George Floyd Memorial Fund

Justice for David McAtee

In Memory of Tony McDade

Justice for Breonna Taylor Fund

I Run With Maud Fund

Resource Sharing (Goods & Services)

via @adamkylometers

Community Rebuilding with Hands On Twin Cities

George Floyd Memorial Site (Intersection of Hope) Sanitization Station volunteer sign up

MN Mental Health Providers of Color Database created by Larry Yang

The People’s Laundry

Powderhorn Sanctuary volunteer, food, & supplies sign up

Twin Cities Mutual Aid Project

Anti-Racist (Un)Learning Resources

Articles & Op Eds

TC Jewfolk’s George Floyd Coverage and new Tzedek + Tikkun section

5 Jews From Across the Country Share Why They Joined the Black Lives Matter Protests by Josefin Dolsten

Against Analogy by Ben Ratskoff

An opportunity to confront white supremacy and create a Jewish, intersectional future by Jared Jackson

The Anti-Black And Anti-Semitic History Of “Outside Agitators” by It’s Going Down Staff

Arming Synagogues Will Make Them Less Safe – For Black Jews. Stop Erasing Us. by Bentley Addison

As a Jew of Color, I Need More People in My Community to Speak Up by Danielle Ziri

As Jews of Color, We Need You to Read This by Alma Staff

Ashkenormativity Is a Threat to All Jewish Communities by Isaac Ofori-Solomon

‘Believe us’: Black Jews respond to the George Floyd protests by Josefin Dolsten

Black Jewish Woman Speaks out on Racism She Experienced at L.A. Jewish Day Schools by Chana Hall, Ariel Sobel

Black Jews Are Grieving, and We Need You to Help Us Mourn by Shekhiynah Larks

Black Jews Are Not a Monolith by Jesi Taylor Cruz

The Black Jews Are Tired by Chris Harrison

Black Jews to white Jews: Change your relationship with police by Ari Feldman

Checked Boxes by Shoshanna Hemley

via @ayeolaomolara

Dancing between Light and Shadow – Increasing Awareness of the Impact of Covid 19 Disparities on Jews of Color by Yavilah McCoy

Dear Jewish community – here’s what to do now by Jeremy Burton, Josh Sayles, Lindsey Mintz And Rori Picker Neiss

Dear Jews, Black Lives Can’t Only Matter When You’re Criticizing The Movement by MaNishtana

I Helped Coin the Term ‘Jews of Color.’ It’s Time for a History Lesson. by Shahanna McKinney-Baldon

The Heavy Baggage that Comes With Being a Black Jewish Convert by Liyah Foye

Jews of Color and the Policing of White Space by Rebecca Pierce

Jews of Color, Covid-19, Civil Unrest — An Argument for Inclusion by Nate Looney

Jews of Color Deserve Teshuva by Yoshi Silverstein

Jews of Color and the Policing of White Space by Rebecca Pierce

Jews for Racial Justice Move the Conversation About Police Brutality Into White Communities by Chris Crass & Marjorie Dove Kent

Jews Should Understand Why Black Americans Need Reparations Now by Lilli Sher

A Love Letter to My Black Jewish Mom by Aviva Davis

My Black Father’s Legacy by Yaffy Newman

Other by Naomi Bethune

Skin in the Game: How Antisemitism Animates White Nationalism by by Eric K. Ward

Things Must Change by Nyemadi Louise Dunbar, D.A. Bullock, & Melanie Walby

Ways Your Congregation Can Act Now for Racial Justice by Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner

We Need to Stop Erasing Mizrahi Jews by Sarah Boxer

What It’s Like to Be a Black Jewish Writer by Natasha Díaz

What It’s Like to be a Trans Jewish Woman of Color by Dahlia St. Knives

What It’s Like to Grow Up As a Black Orthodox Jew by Sara Levine

What Non-Black Jews Can Do to Combat Anti-Black Racism by Clara Sophia Camber

White Jews: Stop Calling Yourselves “White-Passing” by Nylah Burton

Why You Need to Care About Black Lives Matter by Aviva Davis

Books & Studies

via @poetryaaron

9 Writers Who Perfectly Capture What It’s Like for Jews of Color by Nylah Burton

20 Books by Black Jewish Authors You Should Read by Emily Burack

Black History Month Library

Black-Jewish Relations in the United States from Jewish Virtual Library x Encyclopedia Judaica

Black Lives Matter book list from Red Balloon Bookshop

Black-Owned Book Stores

Books for Adults list from the Jewish Multicultural Network

The Case for Reparations by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Enough Is Enough! A 150-year performance review of the Minneapolis Police Department (Expanded Edition 2020) from MPD 150

A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota edited by Sun Yung Shin

Handbook for Jewish Communities Fighting Mass Incarceration from T’ruah

Noname Book Club

Reading for Racial Justice books free to read online through August 31 from University of Minnesota Press

A Toolkit for Addressing Criminal Justice at the Local Level from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs

Podcasts & Radio Programs

via Joyous Justice

1619 (NYT)

Call to Mind: Spotlight on Black Trauma and Policing (MPR)

Can We Talk? Episode 43: Black Lives Matter (Jewish Women’s Archive)

Catalyst: with Unite & Rebuild MSP (KFAI)

Code Switch (NPR)

Community voices on the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing (MPR)

Intersectionality Matters! (The African American Policy Forum)

Jews Talk Racial Justice with April and Tracie (Joyous Justice)

Momentum (Race Forward)

Roxane Gay, Anna Deavere Smith and Tay Anderson on the protests’ hope and despair (PBS)

Somali Link Radio: with Abdu Rahman (KFAI)

Wholly Jewish (ReformJudaism.org)

Film & Video

12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen) on Amazon Prime

Anti-Semantics: Sifting Through Whiteness and Jewish Identities on YouTube

via @brokenbirdmovie

Black Lives Matter Collection on Netflix

Blackness, Jewishness, and America series from Shalom Hartman Institute

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | for Jewish Professionals

Broken Bird (Rachel Harrison Gordon) on Vimeo

Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) free on tubi

The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) on Hulu

How to Overcome Our Biases? Walk Boldly Toward Them (Vernā Myers) on TED

I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin) on PBS

If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) on Hulu

A Jewish conversation about Juneteenth (The Forward) on YouTube

Jewish Council on Public Affairs Webinars

White Nationalism, Racism and Antisemitism in America Today

Ending Racism in America: A Discussion with Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP

Black Lives Matter: A Conversation on Being Black and Jewish at this Moment

Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) free on Amazon Prime and Google Play

King In The Wilderness (Peter Kunhardt) on HBO

Racism in the Jewish Community: The Uncomfortable Truth (Ilana Kaufman) on YouTube

Revolution Now (Rachel Cargle) on YouTube

Standing in Solidarity (Bend the Arc) on FB Live

Teshuvah, Racial Justice and Inclusion – Listening to Black Jewish Voices (Rabbinical Assembly) on YouTube

Tisha B’Av: Mourning and Reimagining Safety (Bend the Arc) on FB Live

Who Counts? Race and the Jewish Future (Ilana Kaufman)

Courses & Communities

via April N. Baskin

Anti-Racist Training (free thru June 30) from Diversity & Resiliency Institute of El Paso

Audacious Hospitality from Union for Reform Judasim

Culturally Responsive Teaching: Awareness to Action ($1 thru July 31) from Learners Edge

Effective Communication with Racist Family Members from Racism Recovery Center

Every Voice, Every Vote: the Reform Movement’s 2020 Civic Engagement Campaign

The Great Unlearn with Rachel Cargle

Guide for Facilitating Anti-Racism Conversations (At the Well)

In Solidarity – Around the Shabbat Table (OneTable)

Joyous Justice: Diversity Coaching & Consulting with April N. Baskin

Living the Legacy Civil Rights Lessons from Jewish Women’s Archive

Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups by Craig Elliott, PhD

What is Your Role to End Racism? from Racism Recovery Center

(Un)Learning with Kids

Events

Talking to Kids about Racism: 10 a.m. Thursday, July 9 & Tuesday, July 21

As adults, it is our responsibility to teach our children about racism. This two-part program will give you tools to guide these important conversations with the children in your lives.