Do not stand idly by while your neighbor’s blood is shed (Leviticus 19:16)
•
Despite the great improvements towards racial equality since the Civil Rights Movement, racism is still a big part of our reality today. Racism is defined as the systematic discrimination of people based on skin color, which affects the lives of People of Color on interpersonal, political, institutional, and cultural levels across the globe.
Jewish values call us to debate about how our Jewish identity connects to race, to cultural norms and privileges, and to the need to address racial inequities both within and outside our Jewish community.
On this Martin Luther King Day, Shalom Corps wanted to inspire our volunteers to take responsibility for their actions, reflecting on the principles of solidarity, empathy and commitment to equity. Volunteering is a powerful tool to help and empower others, addressing problems created by racism and other social injustices. As Dr. King once said, “Social change comes most meaningfully through nonviolent action”.
•
If not now, when? (Pirkei Avot 1:14)
