Juneteenth marks the date when news of emancipation finally reached Galveston, Texas, confirming the freedom of the last remaining enslaved people in the deepest parts of the South. To learn more, click here. Today, Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. Register for this event here!
Panelists:
Rafi Forbush is Youth Director at Beth Jacob Congregation in Mendota Heights (St. Paul) and founder of the Multiracial Jewish Association of Minnesota which focuses on creating a space for Jews of color to connect to one another through the community, education, and advocacy. Rafi is also the National USY JOCISMCohort Leader.
Heather Miller, President of the Flatbush Jewish Center in Brooklyn, NY is an educator and future rabbi who is passionate about creating embracing spaces in both the religious and secular parts of her life. She was awarded MTNY’s 2020 Ernest L. Rothschild Leadership Award.
Dr. Tameika Minor, Assistant Professor in Clinical Mental Health Counseling-Rehabilitation Counseling at Rutgers University. A member of Congregation Beth El in Voorhees, NJ, she has served on the Beth El Sisterhood Board and is currently the secretary of Achim Sheli: My Brothers and Sisters.
Kendell Pinkney, Brooklyn based theatre-maker, Jewish-life consultant, and rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary where he is a Wexner/Davidson Fellow. Rabbinic fellow for the Jewish arts and culture organizations Reboot and LABA, he serves on the Spiritual Direction team at Ammud: The Jews of Color Torah Academy.
Moderated by Rabbi Ari Lucas having served as Associate Rabbi since 2018 and will become its Senior Rabbi as of July 1, 2021. He is passionate about deep Jewish learning and practice, and enthusiastic about building Jewish community, one relationship at a time.
Introductory remarks from Ruth Messinger is the inaugural Finkelstein Fellow at the Hendel Center at JTSA, working on issues of social justice. She is the former CEO of American Jewish World Service and a former NYC elected official.
Hosted by the Tzedek Initiative, Congregation Agudath Israel, Caldwell, NJ, with support from the JTS Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice