There are ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These days are often referred to as Days of Awe or Days of Repentance.
They are a gift of time - given to us to use wisely. To see opportunities for change. To make choices. Make promises to ourselves on what we want to do better and do differently in the year to come.
Congregation B’nai Amoona is committed to being a place that is Anti-Bias and Anti-Racist. This commitment calls for Action. This commitment calls for us to DO MORE and to ACT MORE.
During these next ten days we will be sharing with you voices from the B’nai Amoona Community and the greater Community. Sharing how we can and we will commit to working towards Tikkun Olam; Repairing our World through Anti-Bias and Anti-Racists Acts. Where we can say Mah Nora HaMakom Hazeh! How Awesome is this Place!
Today's Reflections Come From Nikki Goldfeder
The ABAR journey at B'nai Amoona has pushed me to dig deeper within myself. While I have been engaged in ABAR work professionally for many years, I have not had a lot of experience having conversations about racism and anti-racism in other settings. While my Jewish identity influences my worldview, I had not thought about how Judaism intersects with anti-racism work. In preparation for the ABAR journey at B'nai Amoona, I came acrossthis article, written by the National Equity Project. To me, it brings all of the pieces together. According to the article, “Biases not only affect our perceptions, but our policies and institutional arrangements. Therefore, these biases influence the types of outcomes we see across a variety of contexts: school, labor, housing, health, criminal justice system, and so forth… These racialized outcomes subsequently reinforce the very stereotypes and prejudice that initially influenced the stratified outcomes.” In other words, the systems create our biases and our biases fuel the systems - it is a circle. In order to make real change, we have to look within ourselves to identify and challenge our biases, and at the same time, we have to look outside of ourselves to learn about the oppressive systems that permeate our institutions. As I read this article, I kept thinking about the Framework for Hate that is part of the Change Begins with Me exhibit at the St. Louis Holocaust Museum and Learning Center. The exhibit illustrates the danger of how prejudice can be come discrimination which can create and perpetuate systems of oppression. I am committed to staying on the journey toward becoming an anti-racist/anti-bias human - I know that it is a lifelong process, and there is always more to learn. Specifically, I am making three commitments: First, my experience as a participant in the ABAR program that Dr. Mayes facilitated at B'nai Amoona has given me new skills to use professionally as I lead staff development sessions and work with children and families. In addition, I am committed to finding ways to engage in this work as a parent with my children and with the LRECC as we think about how we can move from reflection to action. Finally, I am committed to seeking more knowledge and hearing more perspectives about the Jewish connection to the ABAR framework
-Nikki Goldfeder
Now it's your turn! Register for the
Jewish Coalition for Racial Equity Virtual Conference
B'nai Amoona is proud to join other congregations and organizations as a sponsor of this important event. Click HERE to register.
