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Next Steps in our REDI Work
The Next Steps in our Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Work
By Tali Puterman and Jessica Greenfield In February 2021, Temple Israel's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-racism, created and affirmed by our Board of Trustees, was shared as reaffirmation of our sacred task to take steps toward justice and holiness in our synagogue and in our homes. This statement included specific actions to transform our community.
A working group, co-chaired by members Bea Wilderman and Kathy Weinman, was formed to develop a holistic plan to guide the transformation process. Group members Rabbi Dan Slipakoff, Tali Puterman, Brigid Goggin, Emma Koblick, Ted Greenwood, Jessica Greenfield, Chris Palmer, Barry Weisman, Andy Lesser Gonzalez, Maria Isabel Rosario, and Nancy Tauber developed a proposal that lays out concrete action multi-year steps in eight areas:
• Clergy • Staff • Security • Lay Leaders • Congregation • Communications • Administration • Monitoring
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN ANY OF THE WORKING AREAS OR THE REDI TEAM?
Please contact Tali Puterman (tputerman@tisrael.org), Rabbi Dan Slipakoff (dslipakoff@tisrael.org), or Jessica Greenfield (JGreenfield@cityyear.org) who will continue to be involved in this work.
A REDI (Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) team has been formed by the Trustees to support and coordinate implementation of this holistic and comprehensive plan. Group member Maria Isabel Rosario said, "As a Jew of Color, being part of this process has
been an incredibly meaningful experience for me. Knowing that my faith community is willing to say 'we see you' and 'we embrace you' is what I have enjoyed the most about this process. This effort has brought a lot of meaning to my life this past year."
Another group member, Andy Lesser-Gonzalez said, "In a course I am taking about
organizing, I am meeting people from different temples across the country. Once again, I am impressed with the fact that TI is in the forefront of the work that needs to be done. As a parent of kids who are Jews of Color, how blessed I feel to belong to a congregation that is able to look internally at where change needs to happen and not just at the outside world."
As lifetime member of the congregation and current Trustee, Jessica Greenfield commented, “I feel privileged to support a collaborative effort to give all members
