.Response to “A HISTORY LESSON - The responsibility Commentary from a community leader
of Richmond’s Jews during the current protests.” Editor’s Note: The following commentary is by Irving M. Blank, a longtime community leader who chaired the Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Committee for nearly 15 years, and served on many local and national boards. By Irving M. Blank ecently, an article appeared in a local publication purporting to be “A History Lesson” and calling the Richmond Jewish Community to action in support of our local and national Black Community. It has been my privilege for the past 50 years to witness and participate in the Richmond Jewish Community’s response to a myriad of human rights issues, including the denial of civil rights to the African-American Community. I take issue with the “History Lesson” that called on our community to repent and suggest that the history portrayed in the article was incomplete, inaccurate and displayed a lack of knowledge of our
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c o m m u n i t y ’s actions in this regard. The fact is that rather than repent, our history is one for which we can and should be very proud. R a t h e r than focusing Irving M. Blank on statements made over 100 years ago by people no one remembers or even knows about, I suggest we focus on our history over the last 75 years. While dealing successfully with many important events unique to Jews, our community has also built institutions like the Weinstein JCC and the Virginia Holocaust Museum that have been dedicated to supporting the African-American Community.
These and other institutions in our community such as the Beth Sholom Home and JFS, have for the last 75 years provided services to the African-American community, have been open to membership to the African-American Community, have had Black board members, and encouraged the application of equal rights under the law for all of our citizens. For almost 15 years, I was privileged to be the Chairman of the JCFR’s Community Relations Committee. In that role, I learned from great Jewish leaders of the role our community played in the furtherance of advancement of opportunity for our African-American neighbors. Our institutions were built and operated with Jewish values and have served thousands in our community every day for the 50 years to which I can attest and certainly for years prior to my personal involvement. While it is important that we continue
to adhere to the values of our religion, it is also important to acknowledge our past accomplishments so they can be a guide to secure a more just and righteous future for all. While we are commanded to act in the face of injustice and that we cannot remain on the sidelines, I would submit we have and are satisfying that commandment. Our history is one of many in our community supporting the arts, mentoring school kids at disadvantaged schools, caring for the aged, providing social work expertise, and bringing home health care to areas of our city in need. Additionally, we have been instrumental in the continued existence of Historically Black Colleges and churches. We have contributed to the expansion of opportunities for the African-American Response to History Lesson. More on page 4 ©2019 TPCK, LLC
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2 | the Reflector | August 2020 Av/Elul 5780
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