The Gathering | Our Visionary Collaborators - Avodah

The Gathering | Our Visionary Collaborators

Published May 1, 2022
Felix Mittermeier; Unsplash
Whenever people ask me what’s kept me connected to Avodah for so many years, my first answer is always: “The people.” I feel very lucky to spend time collaborating with people who operate with intentionality, kindness, and a deep commitment to the values, challenges, and joys of working towards a more just world. These relationships are a gift, built on envisioning new pathways and doing the work to hold each other accountable and offer support as we blaze them.
 
One of the biggest gifts in the creation of the Avodah Institute for Social Change has been the opportunity to connect with new collaborators and ensure that the Institute’s development is guided by visionary advisors from across the Jewish community. And so it is a particular joy to use our newsletter this month to highlight some of the writings and teachings that have come from members of our extraordinary Advisory Council. These pieces offer insight into ethics in the rabbinate, true communal anti-racist accountability, gender equity in day schools, and the need for genuine humility. We’re honored to offer the chance for you all to learn from these phenomenal leaders along with us.
 
— Sarra Alpert, Director of The Avodah Institute for Social Change

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Jewish Ethics, Social Justice, and the 21st Century Rabbinate

Institute Advisory Council member Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay and rabbinical student and theater artist Kendell Pinkney reflect on their shared learnings from community organizing, theater, and Jewish communal life.

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Despite 10 years of promises, Jewish leaders have failed to make space for Jews of Color

Institute Advisory Council Co-Chair Ilana Kaufman outlines the need for greater accountability and policy change to build truly anti-racist Jewish organizations. She writes, “We must begin by planting our feet firmly on the side of courageous and righteous justice. Among other things, this means we own our communal influence, take risks, and speak truth to power.”

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Problems, Solutions, and Generations

Institute Advisory Council member Danielle Natelson writes for the Prizmah blog about gender inequity in day schools, “We have an opportunity to make gender equity, along with other kinds of equity and inclusion, part of, and central to, visions of character development.”

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If You Only Knew

Institute Advisory Council Co-Chair Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt writes about the assumptions we make of each other, and what is possible when we make room for more understanding and humility.

Modern Commentary on Ancient Wisdom

Each week, our Ruach Avodah faculty* examines how we can use Jewish texts as tools for justice in our current era. Here are some of their divrei Torah (commentary on the Torah portion) from the last month.

 
 
 
*The Ruach Avodah faculty is made up of rabbis, rabbinical students, and spiritual advisors who provide our Service Corps participants with Jewish programming and ritual experiences, teaching at the synthesis of social justice and Jewish life.

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