Prominent Jews of color in Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and New York melded the year-old federal holiday of Juneteenth with Friday night Shabbat traditions to highlight freedom struggles and the value of working towards inclusion.
(RNS) The Juneteenth Kabbalat Shabbat was the first Jewish service organized and led by Jews of color to mark the annual celebration of freedom that is now a federal holiday.
Yet in March, Lawson, who is Black, queer, an activist, social media pioneer, vegan, a veteran, and a musician, will become Reconstructing Judaism’s inaugural director of racial diversity, equity and inclusion. (Reconstructing Judaism is the central organization of the Reconstructionist movement of Judaism.)