Black Orthodox Jews Carve Out Their Own Space Amid a National Reckoning Over Race
Kamochah is likely the first ever group to cater to Black Jews who identify as Orthodox.
(JTA) For years, Chava Shervington would connect informally with other Black Orthodox Jews to celebrate Black history that often wasn’t discussed in their communities and to offer and receive advice on a range of topics – from what communities were the most inclusive to how to deal with their children being bullied at majority-white day schools.
But it wasn’t until last year as the death of George Floyd and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests led to a nationwide racial reckoning that Shervington decided to join forces with three other Black Orthodox Jews to create a formal space where those conversations could take place. The result was Kamochah, which is likely the first ever group to cater to Black Jews who identify as Orthodox.
Black Orthodox Jews carve out their own space amid a national reckoning over race June 2, 2021 4:14 pm The founders of Kamochah, clockwise from top left: Chava Shervington, Rabbi Yonason Perry, Maayan Zik, Rabbi Isaiah Rothstein. (Courtesy of Kamochah)
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(JTA) For years, Chava Shervington would connect informally with other Black Orthodox Jews to celebrate Black history that often wasn’t discussed in their communities and to offer and receive advice on a range of topics – from what communities were the most inclusive to how to deal with their children being bullied at majority-white day schools.
But it wasn’t until last year as the death of George Floyd and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests led to a nationwide racial reckoning that Shervington decided to join forces with three other Black Orthodox Jews to create a formal space where those conversations could take place. The result was Kamochah, which is likely the first ev
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