"As a Jew and an African American, I carry the memory of two groups of people who were once enslaved," said Rabbi Sandra Lawson, RRC’ 18, Reconstructing Judaism’s inaugural director of racial diversity, Justice and inclusion.
As Passover approaches, I’ve been thinking about the reasons why I’m a religious Jew, sparked significantly by a recent Reconstructionist pilgrimage to civil rights sites in the south. I’m wrestling with how to incorporate this powerful, painful and staggering experience into our celebration of freedom, in a way that respects the experiences of Black people—and Black Jews.
Check out our Passover resources and you will find a wide variety of readings, songs, and poems. And, as you prepare for your seder, please remember to share your materials with us.
Usually, on Passover, we ask “How is this night different from all other nights?”. This year, many of us are asking, “How does this Passover resemble any we’ve ever experienced?” While social distancing has seemingly changed everything, Passover is still about telling the story of going from oppression to freedom.
The Reconstructionist Network
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Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis
Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues
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