Do Not Stand Idly By
Jewish tradition teaches us Lo ta’amod al dam rey-echa, do not stand idly by while your neighbor is bleeding (Lev. 19:16). This is a sh’at d’chak, an urgent hour. We need to show up right now, as Jews, in support of justice and real equality for Black and Brown people.
Some Jews are Black and Brown and are always on the front lines of dealing with racism. Some Jews are in the streets. Some are providing logistical and legal support. Some of us can help with the critical resource of money. “You shall surely open your hand to your brother [and sister]” (Deut. 15:11)
These 3 funds fulfill Jewish values and meet urgent local needs, and donations to them will directly support people on the ground.
Pikuach nefesh, physical life and safety, is one of Judaism’s highest priorities, and pidyon sh’vuyim, redeeming captives, is a communal obligation. In New York’s Capital District, the central on-the-ground fund for rapid response to ensure the safety of protesters is the Albany Bail & Safety Fund for Black Lives. This fund is managed by Albany racial justice activists Amy Jones and Clyanna Lightbourn of Voix Noire. Donate here: www.paypal.com/pools/c/8pAK2AzvDg
Shleymut (wholeness) is the Jewish word for wellness. There is need of spiritual healing and safe spaces for Black people and others to deal with the traumas of this moment. Root3d is donation-based wellness studio that centers the healing of Black and Brown communities. Learn here: root3dhealing.com/ Donate here: paypal.me/root3dhealing or through Cashapp: $root3dhealing
“Love the immigrant as you love yourself, for your were immigrants in the land of Egypt” (Lev. 19:34) . The community that was hit on Central Avenue over the weekend is made up in large part of Muslim families, many of whom are recent immigrants. Looting affects not only property but people’s livelihoods. Imam Faisal Ahmad, whose father founded Masjid As-Salam (the mosque on Central Avenue), has established a GoFundMe to support the families in greatest need. Donate here: charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/help-rebuild-albany-muslim-community
May we do the holy work of bringing blessing and protection to everyone. May we shine light upon pain that is routinely de-centered, and accompany each other on the long march to justice. May we gaze into each others’ faces and see the divine spark that lives in each of us. And let us say, Amen.
June 3, 2020 @ 6:28 pm
Thank you Rabbi. Your words are a balm to my heart.
June 15, 2020 @ 7:12 pm
tHANK YOU FOR THE WISE WORDS REMINDING US THAT WE ARE PART OF A LARGER WORLD.
JANE AND BILL GINSBURGH
June 25, 2020 @ 11:36 am
This is a beautiful, powerful reminder. <3
August 4, 2020 @ 2:41 pm
Reading these words was a real boost. I need more guidance regarding how to be a true ally to people of color.
I am in a book group with my SOSS group discussing Kendi’s group. I’ve been reading a lot on various BLM sites. I have been to protests from across the street due to Covid.
I have written long letters to my close black friends (from Board of Safe Inc. of Schdy) expressing outrage over current and past events and how could I be a better ally and received very “blah” replies. I am delighted to say that on Thursday, one of them agreed to FaceTime with me to tell me as much as she knows about her family history. I am very excited about that.
I wish I knew what else to do that would be a meaningful way to demonstrate that I truly want to be a real ally. What does it take to do this?
Much appreciated.
August 4, 2020 @ 7:58 pm
Barbara — what’s really, really hard about being an antiracist ally as a White person is giving up on “demonstrating that one truly wants to be a real ally.”
Instead of working on demonstrating something about yourself, practice doing tzim-tzum (pulling back to make space for other people and other realities to take center stage). Work on being ok with maybe not being thought of well — or maybe, not being thought of at all — by your Black friends.
I imagine you already give of your time and/or talent and/or treasure to groups headed by Black and Brown people who are doing the antiracist work. Instead of wanting your Black friends to know what you’ve done, use your energy to encourage other White people to share what they have.
Another thing that’s really, really, hard: Taking care of one’s own emotional needs (expressing outrage) and intellectual deficits (learning how to be a better ally) without asking Black people to help. You know how to do research. Use those skills. Keep reading. Listen. Find podcasts. (I don’t remember how we got on the list for the NAACP weekly national telephone Town Halls, but I bet you can sign up for them too.)
That’s the short answer. Then it turned into a new blog post. I’ll post the link as soon as it’s complete.