PROTESTS

PROTESTS Jewish Atlanta Pledges to ‘Not Stand Idly By’

Photo Credit: Audrey Galex // Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal of Ahavath Achim Synagogue speaks during a June 4 interfaith march from near the state capitol to downtown Atlanta.

By Dave Schechter

In Atlanta, in the cradle of the civil rights movement, there is a history of the Jewish community praying, with their voices and their feet, speaking up and marching in support of African Americans seeking equality under the law and in the

Photo credit: Audrey Galex. // Rabbi Joshua Lesser of Congregation Bet Haverim takes a knee during the June 4 interfaith march that ended outside CNN Center.

application of justice. in the name of law enforcement, by police

Over the decades there also have been and citizens, are horrific. These slayings points of friction between the communiare part of a pattern of systemic violence ties, differences of opinion over issues inagainst Black Americans that cannot conternational and local, and times when the tinue. We cannot stand idly by these and Jewish community might have done more countless other transgressions against our to assuage their neighbors’ pain. Black brothers and sisters.”

In the aftermath of the killings of Harkening back to the “history of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna TayBlack-Jewish solidarity during the Civil lor in Louisville, and Ahmaud Arbery near Rights movement,” the statement went on Brunswick, Ga., segments of Atlanta’s Jewto say, “our tradition compels us to actively ish community decried violence against fight racism and systemic injustice. As our African Amerisages taught, ‘It is cans and called for not incumbent upon greater efforts to you to complete the counter racism at work, but neither the individual and are you at liberty to institutional levdesist from it.’ Segels. The statements ments of our comthey issued struck munity have been common themes as active in this fight, well as differences and the entire Jewreflecting how each ish community is views its mission. called to re-engage

“Do not stand in this effort.” idly by the blood of The Atlanta your neighbor” (LeJCRC also issued a viticus 19:16) was the separate statement, first line of a joint extending condostatement issued lences to include the by the Jewish FedLeslie Anderson, executive director of families and “counteration of Greater Atlanta JCRC, said that the organization less others, Black Atlanta, the Jewish “felt it was important to include a call Americans who Community Relafor action” in its separate statement. have been killed in a tions Council of Atlanta, the Anti-Defamawanton and senseless manner and whose tion League Southeast region, the American deaths spotlight the lack of equal rights Jewish Committee regional office in Atlanta, and treatment under the law,” and pledgand the Atlanta Rabbinical Association. ing to “join the fight against institutional

Citing the deaths of Floyd, Taylor, and and acts of individual racism, which conArbery, the statement said, “These crimes, tinue to traumatize, terrorize, and devalue

Photo credit: Audrey Galex // Rabbi Mitch Cohen holds a sign bearing the phrase "Justice, justice, shall you pursue" (Deuteronomy 16:20) during the June 4 interfaith march against racism and police violence.

the lives of black and brown people in can epidemic, a blight that has continued America.” because, time and again, perpetrators have

Leslie Anderson, executive director of not been brought to justice,” said the CCAR Atlanta JCRC, said that the organization statement signed by Segal and Rabbi Hara “felt it was important to include a call for Person, the group’s CEO. action given the work we have done in The CCAR statement included a call by criminal justice and based on the input Reform rabbis to demonstrate solidarity by from the Jews of color and black partners “Reaching out to African-American friends we spoke with.” JCRC’s statement also inwho are in pain, frightened, or angry to cluded a call for passage of the hate crimes offer support and to demonstrate our enbill that currently during presence,” as sits before a state well as patronizing Senate committee black-owned busiand called for repeal nesses, supporting of Georgia’s law percommunity organimitting citizen’s arzations “that work rests. The latter “was to empower Africanthe cornerstone of Americans” and Jim Crow-era ha“joining efforts to rassment and dischange policies that crimination against perpetuate systemic minority commuracism.” nities and does not Congregants represent the due of The Temple, a process of law enReform congregashrined in our Contion, received a letter stitution,” the JCRC signed by current statement said. and former clergy.

As president of “Racist extra-judicial executions are an “As we lay awake at the Reform moveAmerican epidemic,” read a statement signed night, listening to the ment’s Central Conby Rabbi Ron Segal of Temple Sinai, president sirens and wonderference of American of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. ing how we will exRabbis, the name of Rabbi Ron Segal of plain the headlines to our children, considTemple Sinai appeared at the bottom of a ering all the of the terrible suffering heaped statement issued by the CCAR. upon suffering already brought about by

“Once again, the lethal reality of sysCOVID-19, we recognize that this is a time of temic racism has shown its evil face. ... Racdeep hurt,” read the letter, whose signatories ist extra-judicial executions are an Ameriincluded Rabbis Alvin Sugarman and Peter

Berg, the former and current senior rabbis. their claims are dismissed as nonsense.

In noting its “historic and close reThey are not speaking nonsense. They are lationships with our African-American speaking from their truth, their reality and brothers and sisters,” the letter said, “this we must be open to hearing it, regardless is an inflection point in America. On no of how uncomfortable it feels to shake our other issue does the mandate lo ta’amod own consciousness.” al dam reyecha, you Listening is at shall not stand idly the heart of a curby the blood of your rent effort by the neighbor, speak more Black-Jewish Coaliclearly to us. How we tion of the AJC’s respond shall be a Atlanta office, a test of our collective project that grew humanity and moral out of a joint push maturity. Our Temple, in 1982 to support as we have always renewal of the Votbeen, is committed to ing Rights Act. The working for a better AJC is fostering world for our children what regional diand for our neighbors’ rector Dov Wilker children.” called “small con

Rabbi Laurence versations” among Rosenthal is both segroupings of conior rabbi at Ahavath alition members Achim Synagogue Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal of Ahavath Achim “to educate, to talk and president of the Synagogue wrote about a conversation about what’s going rabbinical association, a signatory to with a police officer who told him “nobody hates a bad cop more than a good cop.” on. We can create venues for the Jewthe community letter. ish community to hear what people in the

Rosenthal wrote to his congregants: black community are doing.” “We all want peace, but it cannot come Rabbi Ari Leubitz, head of school at without justice. Our nation is at the same the Atlanta Jewish Academy, wrote to the crossroads we have been at for many years, AJA community that he headed into Shastanding idle, unable to decide the path to vuot on May 28 “feeling hopeful, energized take. I wish I could say that it was simply and celebratory,” but emerged after Shaba lack of courage or resolve, but it is not. bat “feeling the collective pain and hurt for There is a sickness deep in the soul of our our school community, city, and country country that will take more than courage to and a heavy heart” as he watched the news. heal. It is a sickness “One of our that leads an armed, core values as Jews trained, officer of the is Pikuach Nefesh (the law to kneel on the preservation of huneck of an unarmed, man life). We place handcuffed man, eximmeasurable value tinguishing his life, on this – as we are while his partners created in the image look on, all hearing of G-d. We value jushis cries, ignoring tice (Justice, justice his pleas for breath.” you shall pursue)

The rabbi reand we are commitlated a conversation ted to teaching our he had with “one of students to underour AA family memstand and respect bers, a police officer our common huhere in Atlanta,” manity across our who told Rosenthal communities,” Leuthat “nobody hates a bad cop more than a good cop.”

Rabbi Ari Leubitz, head of school of Atlanta Jewish Academy, wrote that “we are committed to teaching our students bitz wrote.

Among his to understand and respect our common gry. We are sad. We recommendations, humanity across our communities.” are devastated. We Rosenthal said, “We need to be better lisstand in solidarity with communities of teners. There are large groups of people in color across the country as they are yet America who cry out for justice and fairagain subject to unnecessary pain and ness in our systems of government, law, suffering. They are not alone. We are with business, healthcare, and education, but them,” he concluded. ì

“We are frustrated. We are an

PROTESTS Rabbis Criticize Letter on Killings, Protests

By Dave Schechter

Less than 48 hours after five Jewish organizations in Atlanta issued a statement in response to the death of an African American man under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, its authors received a rebuke from one rabbi and an endorsement of that criticism by another.

The signatories to the original statement issued the morning of June 1 were the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, the Atlanta Rabbinical Association, the Anti-Defamation League Southeast region, the American Jewish Committee regional office in Atlanta, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta.

The community letter said that the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery are “part of a pattern of systemic violence against Black Americans that cannot continue. We cannot stand idly by these and countless other transgressions against our Black

Shalom Lewis, rabbi emeritus at Congregation Etz Chaim, wrote that he was “appalled and embarrassed by the text,” of the community letter.

brothers and sisters.

“Police brutality against Black Americans is the most visible manifestation of institutional racism,” the letter

Harold Kirtz, president of JCRC of Atlanta, said that Lewis’ objection “signals how much work needs to be done in recognizing our own part in systemic racism.”

said, going on to say that, “Misguided and immoral public policy that preferences white Americans over people of color and contributes to ongoing inequities must come to a swift end.”

Late on the night of June 2, Rabbi Shalom Lewis, rabbi emeritus at Congregation Etz Chaim who retired in June 2019, sent the signatories an email objecting to the tone of the statement and citing what he felt a serious omission.

Soon after, Lewis’ criticism was endorsed in an email by Rabbi Ilan Feldman of Congregation Beth Jacob.

The AJT received copies of the email thread, which spread beyond its initial recipients.

The subject line on Lewis’ email — addressed to “Colleagues and Friends in the ARA and beyond” — was “Dam Reyecha,” taken from the Torah portion Vayikra in the book of Leviticus (19:16), which includes the admonition: “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.”

“I waited a day to calm down but remain appalled and embarrassed by the text,” Lewis began, going on to call it a “shameful expression” that “relies on pandering generalizations, progressive doctrine and untruths.”

Lewis wrote that “the opportunity of rare unity was lost by an orgy of pillaging, arson and urban rape that was ignored by the authors and agencies that send out this document. The rampage became the face of the protest not the lifeless body of George Floyd.

“The chutzpa of community leaders assuming they speak for all of us resulted in an inarticulate undeserved

“A community as diverse and large as ours has a myriad of perspectives so no one statement can capture them all,” said Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal, president of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association.

Mea Culpa that ignored the hijacking of legitimate, peaceful protest,” Lewis continued.

Lewis concluded by saying: “From the Oval Office down Blacks have found a place in American society albeit an imperfect society in need of much improvement. In mere decades we have come a great distance from a Woolworths lunch counter and [an Alabama] bridge. We must celebrate the change and not slacken in the effort to bring every American of every color across the Jordan to the Promised Land. But that day will not come by issuing sanctimonious statements that ignore thuggery, blame law enforcement and dismiss the destruction of our great cities. I doubt our prophets and Martin Luther King would find comfort and hope in this irresponsible, reckless text.”

Soon after, Feldman replied to the recipients: “Shalom, I applaud your courage. Thank you for saying what needs to be said, to say it with passion, and for the willingness to stand for integrity. If I would have said those words (and I doubt I ever would have been so eloquent), they would have been dismissed as the predictable ravings of an extremist Orthodox rabbi. Group-think is a powerful thing. It takes no courage or moral clarity to parrot clichés.”

The AJT sought comment on Lewis’ response from each of the five groups that issued the original statement, and asked the two rabbis if they wanted to elaborate on what they said in their emails.

Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal of Ahavath Achim Synagogue, who is also pres

ident of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association, said, “I really appreciated Shalom’s willingness to speak up. The community message referenced was representing felt feeling and values that the authors identified and believed we needed to be articulated clearly at this difficult time. Of course, a community as diverse and large as ours has a myriad of perspectives so no one statement can capture them all. Shalom is giving voice to others in our community. Ultimately that is what this is all about.”

A statement issued by the Federation said: “We are fortunate to live in a community of people who care deeply, and we welcome a diversity of perspectives, and above all dialogue. Our intent in invoking Dr. King’s commitment to nonviolence was to get across that injustice cannot be solved by more injustice and that violence and vandalism cannot be allowed to distract from the important message that must be sent. This is such a difficult time, and we hope that people will continue to listen to one another, give some grace, and find constructive and peaceful ways to make their voices heard.”

Harold Kirtz, president of JCRC of Atlanta, said that Lewis’ objection “signals how much work needs to be done in recognizing our own part in systemic racism. In no way do any of our Jewish institutions condone violence or looting,” he wrote to the AJT. “These criminal actions are committed by law violators who take advantage of unrest and volatile emotions. The looting of Jewish stores in some cities is a crime worth pursuing by law enforcement; and the antisemitic graffiti in several locations and captured by various media is also disturbing.

“The issue at hand is the deeply embedded racism that our society as a whole must deal with in substantive and substantial ways. The 99 percent of demonstration participants have been peaceful and earnest protestors, and the magnitude of the protests throughout the nation raises hope that much will be done. To condemn statements of support because they lack mention of the 1 percent is short-sighted, as Rabbi Lewis’ comments have done. The uncomfortable truth is that all of us must change our mode of thinking in order to meet the challenges raised by systemic racism in society,” Kirtz said.

Feldman said that his comments “were made among colleagues,” adding, “I don’t think a public forum is the best way to have this conversation.”

Lewis told the AJT that he understood why the five organizations felt compelled to issue a statement.

“I don’t have a problem with that at all, on a significant issue and a piece of American history,” Lewis said. “The problem with something like this is that it’s crafted rapidly, because of the urgency of the moment, not that much thought goes into it. . . . What is sacrificed, I think, is wisdom and a statement that unassailably has the moral high ground.”

The community letter issued by the five organizations cited “Black-Jewish solidarity during the Civil Rights movement,” and said, “Our tradition compels us to actively fight racism and systemic injustice. As our sages taught, “It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it.” Segments of our community have been active in this fight, and the entire Jewish community is called to re-engage in this effort.”

As did Lewis, the community letter ended with a reference to the civil rights leader from Atlanta: “‘We adopt the means of nonviolence because our end is a community at peace with itself,’ said Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. ‘We will try to persuade with our words, but if our words fail, we will try to persuade with our acts.’ Let us channel the fear and anger of this moment into real change,” the letter said.

Lewis told the AJT, “I am associated with a document I find repugnant in words of commission and the words of omission. The most flagrant absence, transgression of this document, is there is no mention whatsoever of the rioting and the violence that has ensued, not a word.

“When you are dragging me down a path I do not wish to go down, it’s a problem,” he said.

Rabbi Dan Dorsch, who succeeded Lewis as senior rabbi of Etz Chaim, told the AJT how he views the path being taken by the Conservative congregation in Marietta. “We are a congregation of nearly six-hundred families with a wide variety of perspectives and opinions, but who are united in our belief in B’tselem Elohim, the importance of according dignity to all human beings the world over. As Jews, we always stand with those who advocate for a more just society,” Dorsch said. ì

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PROTESTS Minneapolis Jewish Mayor at Center of Crisis

John Minchillo/AP // Protestors demonstrate outside of the burning Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct, Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Minneapolis. Protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody Monday, broke out in Minneapolis for a third straight night.

By Bob Bahr

On May 23 Sam Blustin sat in front of his computer monitor at home in Minneapolis to participate in the virtual graduation ceremonies of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and to be ordained a rabbi in the Conservative branch of Judaism.

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John Minchillo/AP // A protestor sprays graffiti on a wall near the Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct May 28 in Minneapolis.

tor as the city where he grew up and first fered from discrimination, finally built their decided to become a religious leader explodown hospital, Mount Sinai, in 1948 to obtain ed in rioting and violent protests over the medical privileges. death of George Floyd, an African American. Ironically, today the mayor of Minne

Blustin, who will become the new asapolis, who has had to answer charges of sociate rabbi at Ahavath Achim Synagogue racism and discrimination in the city, is a in Atlanta later this month, was asked if 38-year-old Jewish attorney. he was surprised by Jacob Frey, who what he saw. attends two Reform

“I think in many synagogues in Minways, no. There’s a neapolis, was elected lot of frustration in three years ago. Begeneral, economifore the rioting, he cally, and add to that was generally conthe situation that sidered a popular minority communileader, with good ties have been hit looks and charisma, particularly hard by a description that COVID. … There are he told the Jewish a lot of people who Telegraphic Agency are sick and tired of news service that he young people dying appreciates as a Jew. for no reason.” “In seriousness,

Seve n t y- f ive years ago when Jews first began moving New AA Rabbi Sam Blustin, who grew up in Minneapolis, was an eyewitness to the city’s turmoil. traditionally Jewish males are stereotyped through Nazi to the Minneapolis propaganda to be suburb of St. Louis Park where Blustin grew ugly and weak. And if nothing else, I think up, they were the ones protesting injustice. it’s good when media and the community An article at the time in Common Ground rejects that notion.” magazine, written by Carey McWilliams, Although he grew up in a secular Jewsaid “Minneapolis is the capitol of anti-Semish home, he told the JTA that, as a politician itism in the United States.” he is inspired by Jewish values.

McWilliams, who later became the “The moral imperative outlined by tiklong-time editor of The Nation, went on to kun olam,” he said, referring to the Hebrew say that in almost every way, “an iron curfor repairing the world, “is something I betain separates Jews from non-Jews in Minlieve in strongly and is foundational both to neapolis.” Judaism but also my philosophy in govern

Many neighborhoods were restricted. ment.” The Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis clubs barred On May 27 Frey said he supported the Jews and local resort hotels accepted “Genfiring of four police officers who were actiles only.” Jewish doctors, who had long sufcused of killing Floyd by restraining him

John Minchillo/AP // Protestors demonstrate outside of a burning fast food restaurant, Friday, May 29, in Minneapolis. Protests over the death of George Floyd continued in Minneapolis for a fourth straight night.

and ignoring his complaints that he could not breathe.

“Being black in America should not be a death sentence. For five minutes we watched as a white police officer pressed his knee into the neck of a black man. For five minutes. When you hear someone calling for help, you are supposed to help.”

The police officer, Derek Chauvin, was “weak” by President Donald Trump, will get charged initially with third-degree murder any direct federal assistance. and manslaughter. On Wednesday, June For Blustin, there’s an even bigger is3, the charges were sue than rebuilding increased to secondphysical structures; degree murder and it’s rebuilding relathree other officers tionships between who were involved the races. were charged with With the knowlaiding and abetting edge he’s gained in second-degree murMinneapolis in the der. past several weeks,

The alleged killhe says he’s eager ing has led to protests to continue to work and violence across toward better underthe nation and chargstanding when he es that Mayor Frey takes over his new was slow to act when role this month at looting and arson beAA. gan in the city.

On Tuesday, June 2, first esti Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is only the second Jewish mayor to be elected in the city’s history.

It’s unclear whether Frey, whose restories and to really see each other and try to sponse to the rioting was described as lift each other up.” ì

“One of the things that I hope to do when I get to mates of the damAtlanta is to meet ages described the losses as totaling at least with different faith leaders of different back$55 million dollars. Mayor Frey indicated grounds to try to build coalitions in which the city would need state and federal aid to we can actually make some change towards reconstruct the hundreds of buildings that equality in a deeper way. We need to bring had been damaged or destroyed. communities together to hear each other’s

PROTESTS Rabbi Practices What He Preaches

This past weekend I had the privilege of standing up for my beliefs. I heeded the call to join in the protests taking place Rabbi Brad in the heart of my city and asLevenberg sembled with Guest Opinion thousands of others to confront oppression. Though my own comfort level with social activism has evolved over the years, I have always believed that when our neighbors cry, we should cry with them. When our friends are in pain, we approach and hold them close. When our loved ones feel alone, we show up and say with our presence, “You are not alone, and I am here with you.”

I came to Atlanta as a rabbi seeking to live my principles and to work for a time when inequity is no more. Over the years, I have come to understand that, while there is much about our country

Another row of officers appeared every few minutes, culminating in SWAT as well. ”I stood on the front lines, attempting to help create a barrier between the protesters and police,” said Rabbi Levenberg.

that I most certainly love, we are living in a system that is most certainly broken. And I do not believe that I can pray for peace on Shabbat morning and work for it in the afternoon by binge watching Netflix, tempting as that may be. As

My friends, the prayers are there, even just to tell them that you are aware should we allow ourselves to listen. They of their pain. are there in the tears shed over yet an2. Stand up. Go to the front lines. other black Lock arms man muror do so with dered by the a bit of dispolice. They tance. If you are there in don’t know the voices crywhere the ing for justice, protest is takrealizing that ing place towithout jusmorrow, look tice, there can at where it be no peace. took place toThe prayers day. And don’t are there in Protester holds aloft a sign outside of Centennial Park. worry about the multi-generational gatherings across the timing – the country where people are shouting show up. And if you have to wait a bit, for change (I just wish there were more wait. Watch. Listen. Engage with those people there who looked like me). The who are lingering in those spots. Hear the prayers are there in the pleas that have stories. Receive the pain. become the slogans of a new (but not so 3. Recognize the privileges you bring new) movement: I can’t breathe. I can’t to the conversation and use them. This breathe. I can’t breathe. is the time for a privilege check, and it’s

Our brothers and sisters are praytime to bring the tools in our toolbox, ing. And crying. And bleeding. And dywhether it is contacts you have, or bottles ing. And that means that we are as well, of water, or the color of your skin, or for we are a part of the same system, the your cultural narrative, or your religious same country, and the same humanity. identity, or your … bring it. Bring it all.

I went this past weekend to stand Use it all. on the front lines because I couldn’t look But most of all, just show up. Live at the words of our prayerbook and the the words we read on Shabbat and each words of our Torah the same had I choand every day. Then will our prayers be sen not to go. And as I heard the voices of answered. May that day come speedily my friends and read their posts on Faceand soon. ì book and spoke on the phone, I came to realize that my place was not at home Rabbi Brad Levenberg is one of the spirbut rather was standing together on the itual leaders of Temple Sinai.

front lines. As I stood, a part of a peaceful protest, I watched what happened from the front lines as the police formed rows and then columns, moving all peaceful protesters from several spots into one central location. And then they got closer and barricaded us in. And then the SWAT team showed up. And then the drones. And it was scary. And it was provocative. And it was wrong.

To their credit, the police were restrained. They took the verbal abuse from the crowd in stride. But the system that emerged in plain view was one of containment, of power, of order. They had – and have – the power and ability to diffuse the situation but instead chose to This sign captures one frustration of the incite. protesters. The crowd was multi-ethnic, The system, friends, is broken. And multi-gender and inter-generational. the fight is raging around us. And at this point, silence is complicity. Please, wherever you are, in whatever city you live, I have preached and as I have taught, please try to do a few things: perhaps, just perhaps, God put us here on 1. Reach out to your friends of colearth to be the answer to the prayers of or. They are hurting. They are bleeding. others. They need you to check in, to listen, hell,

It Is Time

We carried the chains in Egypt and our necks held the shackles in Africa before our long journey over the rough seas. Our lands

Tarece Johnson

Guest Opinion were looted, our belongings stolen, and our sacred spaces were burned.

We toiled in the fields and labored to build this country you call great. For centuries we have worked, we have fought, we have bled, we have suffered, and we have died.

We are tired.

The time has come. The time has come when we say, “enough is enough.” The time has come when we stand up and shout “never again.”

The time has come when we know we will never forget. We will say the names of the people who were murdered by law enforcement, and we will remember.

The time has come. The blood we shed that created the soil of the earth and fed the roots of the tree has grown to be a solid trunk with sprouting branches that now blooms. The blood to eat, the blood to vote, the blood to learn, the blood to be humanized, the blood to be who we are, and the blood to live. The time has come when we no longer shed our blood. The time has come when we stand together and with our allies as one human race and recognize we all bleed the same color blood.

The time has come when we fight.

We fight for justice, equity, humanity and liberation. We fight for love.

The time has come to unpry the crippling fingers from around our necks and push the boot off of our chests, ... so we can breathe.

The time has come for a revolution.

A revolution to value the lives of black/ brown people and for the world to know our power and that we matter. Black lives matter is not just a hashtag; it is a movement to ensure justice, equity and liberation. The time has come where all people stand together as one humanity to fight to end the structural oppressions, injustices and modern-day issues that negatively impact the livelihood of black/brown people.

The time has come for systemic police reform. We want to end the militarization and brutality that black/brown people experience from police. We want police that stop the excessive use of force that disproportionately impacts black lives. We want to stop the implicit biases, racism and antiblackness that result in targeting, disrespectful interactions and unequal sentencing of black people.

We want to end qualified immunity. If there is an incident when a law enforcement person murders or uses excessive force, we want them to be convicted like a civilian would in the same scenario. If civil rights are violated, we want the ability to sue to get justice.

We want a Georgia hate crimes bill that is included with comprehensive criminal punishment reform. We do not want this bill to disproportionately impact black people, for this reason criminal reform, ending mandatory minimum sentencing, stopping cash bail, and investing in education (instead of prisons) are all important.

A Georgia hate crimes bill may discourage people from committing acts of violence against another person because of their race, color, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality or ethnicity.

We want to end citizen’s arrest, stand your ground and open carry laws that may encourage terrorism and murder of black people.

The time has come to divest from police, jails and prisons, and invest in education. We must end the school-to-prison pipeline by investing in early literacy; arts; tutoring; after- school programming; socialemotional programs; constructive discipline policies; implicit bias training; diversity representation; and culturally relevant curriculums. Instead of school resource officers, we need more counselors, social workers and paraprofessionals. We need to reduce class sizes, improve the school environment and engage the rich diversity of our communities. We need school leaders who reflect the demographic, have lived experiences, are empathetic, and work to meet the needs of the community.

The time has come to remove confederate names and symbols. We must demolish the representations of a history of terror and racism. The statues, street and school names and monuments must be replaced with symbols of unity, hope and peace.

The time has come to stop making empty promises and statements of solidarity without anti-racism systems. Many organizations are homogenous and because they do not reflect diversity in their leadership, they uphold structural racism. The time has come to actually abolish structural racism in our Jewish and non-Jewish organizations. We must engage BlPOC [black, indigenous and or/people of color] leadership in institutions, establish affirmative actions for black people and end the capitalistic greed over humanity. We must invest in

Jewish participants in the Black Lives Matter interfaith prayer vigil June 4 at the state capitol included Rabbi Michael Bernstein, Dedra Walker, Leslie Andersen, Johnson and John Eaves.

the people to close the wealth gap that keep black/brown communities oppressed.

The time has come when all injustices must be reconciled, and reparations made to descendants of chattel slavery.

The time has come for change. We need change now and we are joining together all around the world in solidarity against systemic racism. Black people have grieved for centuries, the systemic racism before COVID-19, the disproportionate deaths due to racism during this epidemic, and the perpetuation of injustices during this health pandemic are too much.

Enough is enough. We want strategic and sustainable actions to abolish systemic racism now. The time has come for change. The time is NOW. ì

Tarece Johnson is founder of the Global Purpose Approach, which promotes understanding, appreciation and respect for diversity, inclusion, equity and social/economic/education justice.

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PROTESTS Atlanta Minister Calls for Stronger Black-Jewish Relations

In the wake of the recent “lynching,” a lot of my Jewish friends in Atlanta are asking me “How can we help?”

Rev. Anthony A. Johnson

and “What needs to be done?” What Guest Opinion should be the response of Jewish Atlanta to the killing of George Floyd? The answer is simple: We’d like for Jewish Atlanta to help us to end the murder of innocent blacks in Georgia, Minnesota, Kentucky and everywhere with the exact same fervor, dedication and commitment that you show towards preserving and defending your own families, that you show for Israel.

One of the main challenges to interfaith collaboration in Atlanta is that every community tends to prioritize its own, making the needs of other communities less of a priority, and even making reciprocity and interfaith collaboration less of a priority. Those of us who seek to once again re-establish black-Jewish relations in Atlanta have to learn how to prioritize one another’s efforts. And in order for our respective cultures to understand one another’s needs, there must first be “real” dialogue, real understanding. Understand that each and every day, every one of your black friends in Atlanta and across America, including me, lives with the reality of being killed by police officers. Many Jews are passing as white. Black Atlantans need you to be proud kippah-wearing Jews and stop passing as white (to those who it applies to) and experience the “inconvenience” of being people of color (which is what you are) even if you’re Ashkenazi. My black is beautiful. And YOUR black is beautiful.

Atlanta, we know that there is power in numbers. The truthful acknowledgment of Jews in Atlanta, throughout the Southeast and around the world as people of color will not only allow you to be your authentic selves, a proud people who protested and subsequently defeated Pharaoh of the Torah/Old Testament, but it will cause a deep, transformational change in your hearts toward your

Johnson’s grandfather Rev. N.H. Smith Jr.; Rev. A.D. King, Dr. King’s brother; and Rev. John T. Porter are known as the “Birmingham trio” for leading marches in that city in support of desegregation.

black brothers and sisters, understanding the plight of blacks in white Atlanta and white America, feeling with “empathy” versus “sympathy” because we have the same Pharaoh in common.

Atlanta’s native son Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “There’s a little black in every white. And there is a little white in every black.” I say to all of my Jewish friends and family in Atlanta, across this nation and around the world that we may all be a different hue, but we’re all the same color. This is what Dr. King was saying to us while alive and what continues to resound from beyond, that every single human being is connected through our DNA. And it is this brick and mortar that he used to build his “Beloved Community.”

We need you to denounce any racist friends that you may have in your circles of influence and speak against the racist “Hamans” that you personally know (you know who they are). We need you to stop racist comments when you hear them, to break business ties with racist whites. We need you to understand that blacks and Jews are in this together; white racists view you as the n-word, too. We need you to embrace blacks as absolute equals.

Jews have used their influence to make a difference in society. You’ve used it in the past, during the civil rights movement right here in Atlanta, the cradle of the civil rights movement where The Temple was bombed by racist extremists in 1958. We need you to join us in today’s modern-day struggle for civil-human rights and the basic right of human life.

When I attended the recent day of solidarity in Sandy Springs, there were only a handful of blacks amid thousands of Jews. When I attend black solidarity rallies, there are only a hand

Johnson’s grandfather, Rev. N.H. Smith Jr. of New Pilgrim Baptist Church in Birmingham, co-founded the SCLC with Martin Luther King Jr. and others.

ful of Jews. If we can have meaningful, robust dialogue, understand one another’s priorities and come together, when Jewish communities are attacked by anti-Semitic actions or death threats, as in the case of the most recent acts of anti-Semitism in New York, which led to the death of Jews in synagogue, then the black community will be there for you by the masses, right here in Atlanta.

And when injustices like the lynching of George Floyd happen, Jews must be there to support our black communities by the masses as well. As Rabbi Abraham Heschel once said, “The black church is the salvation of Judaism.” We need each other.

I believe that these recent, unjustifiable, malicious, heinous acts of violence and murder leave us no other choice but for all people of color as well as people of every race, creed, sexual identity and economic class to at last come together to defeat white supremacy. We can do infinitely more to bring about real justice, true freedom and democracy if we at last come together as one people. Baruch ata Adonia Eloheinu Melech ha’olam. Shalom, and in the spirit of tikkun olam, May G-d’s blessings rest upon each of you and your families. Together, we shall overcome! ì

Rev. Anthony A. Johnson is a Martin Luther King Jr. scholar and doctoral student in interfaith studies at the United Theological Seminary. He is an ordained minister, longtime civil-human rights activist and former Alabama state representative. He is also the grandson of Rev. N.H. Smith Jr. of Birmingham, Ala., co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Dr. King and others. Johnson was a member of Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham for 10 years and is a member of The Temple.

Is This a Jewish Issue?

The past several weeks have been among the most painful and heartbreaking that I can recall: the overwhelming loss of life to COVID-19, the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, seeing the frustration, anger, sorrow of the black community of the Lois Frank United States as we learn of Guest Opinion the disproportionate losses. After the demonstrations and destruction in Atlanta, I needed to take a hard look at where I am, where have we failed, what more can we be doing as individuals and as communities. It’s not only how we respond now, but how we have addressed or failed to address so many issues that have resulted in this moment in history.

The black leadership of Atlanta pleaded to the crowd: “don’t destroy, … use constructive means to achieve change as did the heroes of the civil rights era.”

The Jewish community has always felt and acted on its obligation to work toward a just society through “constructive means.”

In my self-searching, I took some solace in knowing the Jewish community has been, and we ARE, working on the disparity of justice. We need to redouble our efforts and be strategic.

Before this pandemic, before the Arbery and Floyd deaths, the Jewish community was addressing issues of education, jobs, access to affordable health care, voting rights, criminal justice reform, nutrition and hunger, hate, affordable housing, women’s rights, gun control. Each one of these has tremendous significance and impact on the black community in particular.

Some ask if these are Jewish issues.

For the Jewish Council for Public Affairs every policy issue is prefaced by its biblical citation for its action.

Combating anti-Semitism and assuring a strong, viable Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people are two pillars of the JCPA mission, but our sources challenge us to act beyond our unique concerns.

JCPA is an umbrella for the organized Jewish community, representing some 14 national agencies such as ADL, Hadassah, National Council of Jewish women, the Orthodox Union, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist movements, and 125 Jewish communities around the country.

For over 75 years JCPA, formerly National Jewish Community Relations Council, has crafted policy platforms on all the above issues, and many others, informed by consensus among all the constituents. These policy positions are available to inform the education, advocacy and action of each organization and community that chooses to use them.

In addition, each year JCPA selects an area of focus as its own national initiative.

In past years, some focus issues have been cyber security, confronting racism, poverty and the food stamp challenge.

The JCPA national focus for the past 18 months has been criminal justice reform.

The criminal justice system is among the greatest concerns of communities of color today. The tragedies of the past several weeks confirm the need for reform, and we have been asked to be part of this effort. A portion of this national initiative is in coalition with many faith communities and is being spearheaded by Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

What more relevant and proximate place for Atlantans to invest our resources.

JCPA’s Criminal Justice Initiative engages Jewish communities around the country in reforming the criminal justice system, and aims to:

• Educate and empower the Jewish community to TAKE ACTION on criminal justice • Advocate to CHANGE UNJUST LAWS and improve law enforcement practices • SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES harmed by incarceration • BUILD ALLIANCES between Jews and communities of color.

The inequities people of color suffer at the hands of the justice system constitute one of the most pressing civil rights issues in the U.S.

The Jewish community has a distinguished track

record on fighting for racial equality and civil rights throughout the U.S. However, more than 50 years after the passage of landmark civil rights legislation, our society still struggles to fully embrace equality. But through partnerships and active engagement, we can help to change that.

If you, like I, am saying, “I haven’t done enough, I need to be more proactive in addressing the inequities in our society” please consider being part of the work of Atlanta’s Jewish Community Relations Council under the JCPA umbrella. We welcome and need your participation.

American Jewish Committee, ADL, NCJW, Hadassah, every synagogue in Atlanta is part of JCRC here as are most national organizations. We partner with other faith communities, ethnic and racial communities, think tanks and caring individuals to work toward the day when peace and justice prevail.

If not now, when? ì

Lois Frank, a longtime community activist, is a past national chair of the JCPA and past president of the Atlanta chapter of the AJC. She sits on the national board of the AJC, and the board of the Atlanta JCRC, in addition to her leadership in other human rights and humanitarian organizations.