And don’t forget how many Jews themselves are Latinos, immigrants, non-white, low income, etc.
Joe Magidsays
I’d like to see some concrete examples of domestic community relations/building opportunities that should be set aside from Mr. Bernstein.
There are a host of significant justice issues faced by communities of color across the US that some Jewish groups are engaged in to one degree or another, but as far as I can tell, mainstream Jewish organizations are hardly engaged at all. I certainly have not seen much of anything coming from my Conservative synagogue around these issues, seen I’m afraid as too political rather than critical to our future as Jews in America.
If communities of color don’t see us as their allies based on our actions today, as was very much the case in the thick of the civil rights movement in the 50’s & 60’s based on our actions then, will they more likely see us as enemies as has sometimes been the case more recently? As we move to a majority-minority country, what would this mean for us as a very distinct minority?
Melissa Andelmansays
This post is raising some important points–we are a minority with security concerns, we have a range of opinions as to what those concerns are, we are part of a minority but also have roles in the larger culture, we have a range of opinions and approaches regarding our role in the majority culture, and so forth.
I would like to respectfully suggest that we consider some other points as we consider these. One, the State of Israel, as it becomes more Orthodox, demographically and ideologically, evokes different responses from different parts of the American Jewish Community. We need to build a means for exchange of opinions within our own community about this.
Also, as the United States becomes more diverse, the communities of color are not only African-American and Latino, but also South Asians, East Asians, Muslims (many from Middle Eastern countries) and others. Many of these people are members of our families, and communities, as well as neighbors. We need to acknowledge (and I would say celebrate)this diversity before we go about a public relations strategy.
And don’t forget how many Jews themselves are Latinos, immigrants, non-white, low income, etc.
I’d like to see some concrete examples of domestic community relations/building opportunities that should be set aside from Mr. Bernstein.
There are a host of significant justice issues faced by communities of color across the US that some Jewish groups are engaged in to one degree or another, but as far as I can tell, mainstream Jewish organizations are hardly engaged at all. I certainly have not seen much of anything coming from my Conservative synagogue around these issues, seen I’m afraid as too political rather than critical to our future as Jews in America.
If communities of color don’t see us as their allies based on our actions today, as was very much the case in the thick of the civil rights movement in the 50’s & 60’s based on our actions then, will they more likely see us as enemies as has sometimes been the case more recently? As we move to a majority-minority country, what would this mean for us as a very distinct minority?
This post is raising some important points–we are a minority with security concerns, we have a range of opinions as to what those concerns are, we are part of a minority but also have roles in the larger culture, we have a range of opinions and approaches regarding our role in the majority culture, and so forth.
I would like to respectfully suggest that we consider some other points as we consider these. One, the State of Israel, as it becomes more Orthodox, demographically and ideologically, evokes different responses from different parts of the American Jewish Community. We need to build a means for exchange of opinions within our own community about this.
Also, as the United States becomes more diverse, the communities of color are not only African-American and Latino, but also South Asians, East Asians, Muslims (many from Middle Eastern countries) and others. Many of these people are members of our families, and communities, as well as neighbors. We need to acknowledge (and I would say celebrate)this diversity before we go about a public relations strategy.