Originally from Canada, Ora received her B.A. and M.A. from the University of Toronto. As a Corps member, Ora worked with the New Orleans non-profit Resurrection After Exoneration, helping wrongfully convicted men become advocates for change in the justice system … Continue reading
When you’re working for justice in an often unjust world, it’s easy to feel isolated and alone. The sense of fighting an uphill battle can be overwhelming, even for those of us who work professionally in the Jewish social justice … Continue reading
It’s not hard to find symbols of social justice in Chanukah. There’s the triumph of individual freedom over censorship and oppression; the reminder, as we light candles, that we can act as a shamash in our own communities; and there’s … Continue reading
Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Ora participated in AVODAH New Orleans in 2008-2009. As a Corps member, Ora worked with the New Orleans non-profit Resurrection After Exoneration, helping wrongfully convicted and incarcerated men become advocates for change in the justice system … Continue reading
In searching for answers to yesterday’s question – that is, how to foster plurality and minimize alienation in a community that boasts an AVODAH majority – I was offered meaningful insights from former Corps members. One New Orleans alum wrote … Continue reading
Last Thursday, I blogged about the sensation of walking through life as a visible and invisible privileged minority. I also wrote about how, within North American Judaism, Ashkenazi culture is often taken to be the Jewish culture; we ‘white’ Jews … Continue reading
In May 2010, I visited Chicago for the weekend and stayed with Jenna Pollock (AVODAH New Orleans 08-09). While there, Jenna invited me to march with her to protest the racist implications and policies of Arizona’s SB 1070. We took … Continue reading
The Tishrei moon was waning as we celebrated Simchat Torah last Thursday night at New Orleans’ Beth Israel Synagogue. As I nibbled on salmon salad (in my experience, an AVODAH alum will never say no to free food), I was … Continue reading
On October 1, 2008-2009 AVODAH alum Ora Nitkin-Kaner joined the Jewish Voices Pursuing Justice team. Ora will be blogging about the intersections of social justice and Judaism and highlighting activist movements across the country. Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Ora received … Continue reading