Federation Selected to Pilot Jewish Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Program

Buffalo Jewish Federation recently completed the region’s first J.E.D.I. (Jewish Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) learning course with members of its professional team. This seven-session course was created under the leadership of Jewish Federations of North America to help support federations across North America to build more inclusive spaces. During the past 6 months, Federation professionals gathered to learn, share, and grow, as individuals and as an organization in a combination of in-person and virtual sessions. The topics ranged from exploring identity and implicit bias, to taking a deep dive into housing segregation in Buffalo.

At the end of the sessions, space was left to think about how to build a more inclusive Jewish community recognizing the racial diversity within the Jewish community, and to reflect on how the Jewish community builds ally ships with groups across the region. As Miriam Abramovich, Chief Operating Officer noted, “even though Jewish Buffalo has spent decades working to be inclusive and create spaces of Belonging – our efforts to make sure every Jew (and their loved ones) can find entry points, see themselves lead, and thrive in community, never ceases. The J.E.D.I. curriculum has become a foundational tool in helping our professional leaders build competencies and capacity to be engaged in this ongoing work.”

The ability to implement this important J.E.D.I. work was more than two years in the making. In 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) convened a Racial Justice Working Group to explore major topics related to Buffalo’s history with racism and inequity, and to help craft recommendations to help guide the Buffalo Jewish Federation as it moved forward.

Then in 2021, Buffalo was selected to be one of only seven cities in the nation to be part of the Jewish Federation of North America’s J.E.D.I. year-long initiative; the communities included Los Angeles, Greensboro, Seattle, Milwaukee, Columbus and St. Louis. Buffalo was represented at these monthly gatherings by multiple Buffalo Jewish Federation staff members, as well as by volunteer leaders including Corey Auerbach, Racial Justice Subcommittee Chair.

And at the end of this first J.E.D.I. cohort, participants were able to reflect back on their experiences. As Robin Kurss, Director of Jewish Experience, shared: “I didn’t know how much I didn’t know until the J.E.D.I. curriculum opened my eyes. I have learned so much about race, implicit bias, how to reflect and act…both in my personal and professional life. I feel as though I now have more tools to begin the next steps in building relationships in our community.” Mandy Weiss, Director of HRC Operations, Planning & Overseas, reflected, “I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the first J.E.D.I. Buffalo cohort. I think that this J.E.D.I. work is just the beginning, a great start to open the conversation and begin the dialogue to build relationships, all part of the work of Tikkun Olam and making this world a better place.” Buffalo’s JCRC and the Buffalo Jewish Federation are looking forward to continuing to the bring the J.E.D.I. curriculum to more members of our Jewish community in the months and years to come. For more information or if you have any questions. Please reach out to Rachel Beerman, JCRC Manager at rachel@buffalojewishfederation.org.