Multiracial Sinai
Multiracial Sinai: Guiding Temple Sinai in Being an Affirmatively Antiracist Congregation
Multiracial Sinai (MRS) became a committee of the Temple in 2019. The committee’s purpose is:
to provide guidance in affirming Temple Sinai’s identity as a multiracial congregation and in identifying opportunities for improvement in aspects of our congregational life. The committee is committed to guiding Temple Sinai in becoming an affirmatively antiracist congregation.
Multiracial Sinai’s primary areas of activity include: Temple-wide programming to create educational opportunities for the congregation, an initiative called the Racial Equity Project, the Building Racial Stamina facilitated discussion groups, and affinity spaces for Jews of Color and people of color in the Temple Sinai community. Multiracial Sinai members reflect the diversity of the Jewish community. While the majority of participants are white Jews, we prioritize the participation and leadership of Jews of Color and people of color in the Temple Sinai community. Multiracial Sinai utilizes an intentional and deliberative process where members of the committee are committed to ongoing learning and developing skills in being antiracist.
The work of Multiracial Sinai is grounded in the understanding that “when we choose to be anti-racist, we become actively conscious about race and racism and take actions to end racial inequities in our daily lives.” (“Being Antiracist”) The commitment to striving to be anti-racist informs every dimension of the work of Multiracial Sinai.
Connection to Social Justice
From housing justice to reproductive freedom, the impact of climate change or mistreatment of workers in today’s economy, nearly every social problem in the United States has a disproportionate impact on people of color due to the legacy of slavery, Jim Crow and legalized racism, and continuing structural racism. Achieving social justice is inextricably linked with addressing the lasting impact of racial inequity in our country.
Multiracial Sinai seeks to empower Temple Sinai members to see themselves as change agents for racial equity, which starts with self-reflection about their own racial identity and role in dismantling racial inequity. Through our Building Racial Stamina (“BRS”) facilitated discussion groups and Practicing Antiracism, our cohort of BRS alumni, we seek to build the shared language and skills for collaborative anti-racist action both inside and outside Temple Sinai’s walls.
Multiracial Sinai committee members work to foster and maintain relationships with leaders of the multi-faceted social action initiatives of Temple Sinai. MRS also lifts up opportunities for social and racial justice action, such as participating in Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) and the Poor People’s Campaign.
Outreach and Communications with the Temple Sinai Community
Multiracial Sinai has a listserv with over 240 recipients. Over 120 congregants have participated in the Building Racial Stamina facilitated discussion groups led by Multiracial Sinai. MRS has a section on the Temple’s website with information about past and present initiatives, and regularly communicates about our programming via the Temple’s weekly email.
Learn about how the Renovation and Expansion committee incorporated a racial equity lens to its work here.
To receive information about upcoming events, contact Dora Chen or Steve Metalitz, co-chairs of Multiracial Sinai.