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Shabbat Tzedek 2021
Shabbat Tzedek 2021: Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-racism
Friday, January 15, 2021: Curb Side Pick Up, Supporting Black-Owned Businesses
Shabbat Tzedek weekend began with over 140 Temple Israel families pre-ordering dinner from four featured Blackowned businesses (MIDA, Fresh Food Generation, Tawakal, and Sweet Teez Bakery), for curb side pick-up prior to the virtual service. Because of systemic racism that is embedded throughout our society, Temple Israel continues to be committed to promoting purchases from Black-owned businesses. As a community, Temple Israel aligned over $10,000 with our values by supporting Black business owners that evening. We invite you to explore our virtual shuk (marketplace) with additional Black-owned business suggestions, at www.tisrael.org/shuk.
My family and all of my staff are really excited to be part of this MLK observance. One of the TI members called, unable to order online and asking for help. She was amazing, chit chatting over the phone, sharing her story. I felt " like I was talking to my grandmother. This is how we were raised, to enjoy those conversations. Would love to get to know everyone at the Temple. Food brings everyone together. So glad to be in this position." - Yahya Noor, Owner of Tawakal We very much enjoyed our meal from Tawakal, a Somali restaurant based in East Boston. We ordered Hummus, which was smooth and creamy and came with some oily, tasty pita strips. The Vegetarian Sambusas were " delicious, sort of like Somali knishes. Biryani, a rice and meat main dish, was simple but colorful and the portions were generous. The Tawakal Fries, spicy and salty French fries, were a nice contrast to the more mellow flavors of the other offerings. And the meal finished with Nutella Chapatis, outstanding pastries filled with chocolate hazelnut sauce and topped with ice cream. Yum. Very satisfying, all around and we were glad to support a minority owned business. We will be going there when the world opens up again." - Bob Goisman and Jeanne Traxler Grub Hub, DoorDash, Uber Eats, many of us have had food delivered in the last 10 months. Friday, January 15th I was supposed to make a very special and unique delivery. As part of Temple Israel’s ongoing support of Black" Owned Businesses, this year for Shabbat Tzedek food could be ordered and picked up at TI. The food I was supposed to deliver was for a Shabbat Tzedek speaker, who lived an hour away from TI. When I arrived to pick up the food, I found out one of the vendors was delayed. There were quick decisions and we pivoted, as we have all learned to do in the last year. So instead of delivering food to a speaker, I made calls to congregants asking them to please arrive a little later to pick up their food. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ Friday, I helped others. Think about what you will do next for others, today, this week, this month, and this year." - Rachel A. Daniels
The Friday evening service began with a video of welcoming messages from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Mayor Marty Walsh, DA Rachael Rollins, Newton Mayor (and TI member) Ruthanne Fuller, and countless national interfaith leaders, giving a prayer, a hope, and a charge. The service continued with reflections from teenage students from Temple Israel and Beacon Academy, as well as powerful music and prayers, and a reading of words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Renée Graham started the panel discussion by asking each featured guest what accountability looks like in today’s climate. “How do we take this moment and move toward unity? What’s the most important thing that we can do to
reach the goal of unity, which this country has never done in its history? How do we do that with love, democracy, and inclusion?"
"Build a habit, build muscle memory, build a routine of participating in change making.” - Senator Sonia Chang Diaz Be willing to name and be uncomfortable. Be in the discomfort to own the harm that you have caused, and be ready to hold others accountable in a way that is rooted in compassion for one another." " - Organizer Nadav David Once you find your local struggle you should ask yourself: how am I smart about this issue? It’s the small daily things, the redundant things that we do everyday that matter the most." " - Imam Taymullah Abdur-Rahman
Reverend Liz Walker: Thank you Temple Israel for your persevering friendship...It is a mindset and movement, in big ways and small. Every act counts. Adam D. Williams: Fullness is the oneness we have here now. Blessings and gratitude.
Jen Grella: Thanks to the TI family for helping us to be our best selves. Elaine Abrams: So very beautiful - so moving.
Carole-Bethel AME: Thank you for this beautiful Shabbat service. Shalom to ALL! We will look forward to our Temple Israel Friends to attend our Bethel Services on Sunday!! Reverend Gloria White-Hammond: Shabbat shalom to our beloved Temple Israel Family.
This year, I enjoyed serving on the host committee for Shabbat Tzedek, spreading the word about a meaningful event to me over the years. In 1992, the Temple Committee and Rabbi Mehlman decided to change our January Friday " night Interfaith Lecture on Hunger and Homelessness to a weekend partnership with the Black Columbus Avenue AME Zion Church in remembrance of Martin Luther King. This church was housed in the original Adath Israel built in 1865 and sold to the church in 1903 where they still worship. Maybe the awareness of the brutal police beating of Rodney King in L.A. and the destructive riots that followed in 1991 opened our eyes to the iniquities suffered by our Black citizens, distant memories of MLK speaking at Temple in 1965, and the 26 years that had passed before his birthday became a national holiday after his assassination in 1968. Where had we been all those years despite our work in social justice? I volunteered to arrange a potluck dinner which eventually necessitated a caterer due to larger attendance along with our regular, important political and community speakers and on Sunday, we worshiped and lunched at their church. In the late 1990’s we changed partners to The Bethel AME Zion Church in Jamaica Plain with the same format where we still continue to honor Dr. King. I subsequently joined the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, participated in one-to-ones and worked on our successful request for a paid Social Justice position. Under Rabbi Jonah Pesner, our commitment grew action groups that appealed to our legislators. New initiatives in racial justice, prison reform, commitment to minority businesses and greater participation of our membership continue. Early on, I felt it was my moral obligation to work for Tikkun Olam. Repairing our world and our country under our present toxic environment is daunting, but I will continue to work for Dr. King’s vision. I hope others will join our efforts. - Louise Freedman
On Sunday morning,Temple Israel joined Bethel AME Church during their virtual Sunday worship and MLK celebration. Rabbi Zecher and Reverend Ray Hammond delivered a joint sermon and then congregants from both communities had the opportunity to connect with each other in breakout discussion groups.
TI congregant Malcolm Arnold shared, “I really enjoyed meeting people I have never met before from different backgrounds. It was a great experience going to that church and having a conversation with people.”
Jill Arnold reflected, “It was such an invaluable moment to share with my 12 year old son as we immersed ourselves in Bethel AME’s church service honoring MLK’s legacy, amid members of our own Temple Israel community and that of Bethel AME’s. The music captivated us and the words spoken by Rabbi Elaine Zecher and Pastor Ray were powerful and moving. The most surprising and thought-provoking moments of the service were spent in the small breakout Zoom room when we found ourselves conversing with two people whom we did not know. The 4 of us, ranging across many generations and experiences dove deep into a conversation about Martin Luther Kings’ words, his hopes and what on earth he would have thought about today’s world. Love as a catalyst for change was what wrung true for the 4 of us in this very memorable discussion. In only 10 minutes, we each shared the floor (well, zoom screen) to offer our thoughts, worries and hopes. Malcolm and I both left the zoom feeling enriched, and with a feeling of hope although knowing there is so much more work to do!”
A collection of people’s thoughts, questions, and wonderings as we work on our culture shift toward anti-racism, diversity, equity, inclusion for all...
• “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-racism trainings and conversations should be a routine part of our culture.” • “How will we know if we are successful? How do we measure a culture shift?” • “We have a long way to go, but we are on the right track.” • “I now have heightened awareness about microaggressions and the harm they cause.” • “I am humbled to be a part of this.” • “I am hopeful and curious to continue this conversation and for this community to reach our goals.”
Do you want to be a part of our ongoing social justice work? Contact Assistant Director of Social Justice Engagement, Tali Puterman, at tputerman@tisrael.org.
SHABBAT TZEDEK BY THE NUMBERS...
• 4 Black-owned businesses supported • 12 songs in Songfest for Peace, Justice, and
Freedom • 30+ Civic and interfaith leaders at Friday night’s
Shabbat service • 63 Lay-volunteers • 100+ Participants in Saturday’s Conversation on
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism • 100+ TI members who joined Bethel AME’s
Church service • 140+ Meals ordered from Black-owned businesses • 1,000+ Service participants on Friday night • $10,657.63 spent in support of Black-owned businesses...
