T’shuvah In Action: What Can Congregations Do to Advance Reparations For Slavery and Racism

As we enter the month of Elul, and our thoughts turn to repentance for past sins, it’s timely to consider how we can make t’shuvah for the harms inflicted on African Americans in our community by centuries of slavery and many more decades of institutionalized racism. How is the commitment to reparations rooted in our Jewish tradition and teachings? What are other congregations – and communities from other faiths – doing to learn about the damage inflicted by slavery and racism, and to act to help heal those wounds? What concrete steps can we take here in our local community to move the reparations discussion forward?

In 2021, Temple Sinai dove into the discussion on reparations by leading two expert panel presentations for a nationwide audience as part of a webinar series under URJ auspices. Now, a Reparations Toolkit, recently released by the URJ’s Commission on Social Action, aims to bring this issue down to the local level, and to deepen the engagement of congregations like ours on this critical racial justice issue. Join us in the Bet Am on Thursday, September 19, at 7:30 pm, for a panel presentation on the Toolkit and local reparations initiatives, and a community discussion of actions we can take to advance the effort to make effective t’shuvah for these harms.

Advanced registration required.  Contact Steve Metalitz with questions.

Light refreshments will be served starting at 7:00 pm