A Reconstructionist Day of Learning on Reparations to begin the Month of Elul
Sun Aug 8, 2021 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM EDT
Online, Zoom
Description
Join Reconstructionists from around the world on Sunday, August 8, 2021, for our movement-wide day of learning on the topic of reparations. We are offering this program as we lean into the work of Reconstructing Judaism’s goal to, “join and lead Jewish efforts to dismantle systemic racism.” These Jewishly rooted sessions will take a deep dive into one of the most potentially transformative and complicated pathways for racial justice. In March, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association passed a resolution on Reparations for Slavery, Indigenous Genocide, and Systemic Racism in North America/Turtle Island. This day of learning kicks off an effort, led by our Tikkun Olam Commission, to explore what a movement-wide resolution on reparations could look like. We understand racial justice to be the civil rights issue of our era and are determined to help shape a Jewish response to it.
We will start at 11 a.m. EDT with a special Hallel service for Rosh Hodesh Elul and opening remarks, followed by multiple sessions of learning from amazing teachers from across the movement and partner organizations in our racial justice work.
The cost of the program is on a sliding scale from $0 to $54.
Sessions will be recorded and sent out to everyone who registers post-event. You must register to receive videos if you can not attend.
Schedule (all times Eastern)
11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Rosh Hodesh Elul “Mutual Aid” Hallel service, hosted by Kol Tzedek
Rabbi Ari Lev Fornari, Rabbi Monica Gómery, and Student Rabbi Koach Baruch Frazier
Bringing innovative music, prayer and intentions in celebration of the beginning of the new month of Elul, and the start of the high holiday season.
11:30 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.: Welcome & Opening Session
Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph. D. & Rabbi Sandra Lawson
We will formally open the day with a welcome from Reconstructing Judaism's CEO and president, Rabbi Deborah Waxman, followed by an introduction to the day by Rabbi Sandra Lawson, Reconstructing Judaism's director of Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, sharing why we are studying this topic, and an invitation to learn this timely Torah with us.
11:50 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.: Invitation to Action
Rabbi Elyse Wechterman
Rabbi Wechterman, Executive Director of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, will address how the RRA has been taking action on reparations since the passage of their resolution in March and offer an invitation to join them.
12 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.: Sitting at the Welcome Table: A Conversation on Reparations
Lazora Jordan, LMSW & co-presenter
What would it mean for government institutions in the United States to give out reparations? Where does the call for reparations to African Americans come from? How can a Jewish theology of collective accountability guide us in our exploration? Join us for a conversation where we explore these questions and more.
1 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.: Teshuvah on Stolen Land
Eric Greene, Sarah Waisvisz, and Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg
This session will be a conversation about how Jewish tradition can help guide us in understanding the obligations and impacts of living on indigenous land in North America/Turtle Island, and what reparations might look like. Eric Greene is a Los Angeles-based writer, civil rights activist and long-time organizer in national and local Jews of Color and interfaith communities. Sarah Waisvisz is a writer, dramaturge, multi-disciplinary performer and academic as well as a member of Ottawa’s Or Haneshamah Reconstructionist community. Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg is an organizer and educator and author of, “An Introduction to Trauma, Healing and Resilience for Rabbis, Jewish Educators and Organizers”, published by Reconstructing Judaism.
2 m. -2:50 p.m.: The Torah’s Case for Reparations
Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein
The biblical narrative of the Exodus from slavery understands the reparations taken by the Israelites to be an essential part of our redemption from servitude. This session presents a Jewish argument for supporting reparations for descendants of slaves in the United States, based on the Jewish archetype of liberation. Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein is Avodah’s National Educator.
3 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.: Jewish Communities Practicing Reparations in Our Day
Faryn Borella and Koach Baruch Frazier
This session will study three case studies of contemporary, intentional Jewish communities practicing reparations as an expression of their Jewish values in action. Faryn and Koach are both rabbinical students at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
3:50 p.m. - 4p.m.: Closing Thoughts
Rabbi Sandra Lawson and Rabbi Micah Weiss
Let's wrap up this day of learning on reparations together and learn about more ways to get involved moving forward.
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Reconstructing Judaism is committed to offering an accessible space to our community members. We commit to:
- Providing participants with all the session materials ahead of time
- Providing automated captions on all live sessions
- Providing subtitles for all recorded sessions
- Using the chat function and read it aloud during the sessions
- Asking for participant accessibility needs and doing our best to accommodate them. Please feel welcome to contact us at RForth@ReconstructingJudaism.org.