This article originally appeared on eJewish Philanthropy on May 24, 2019.

By Philippa Boyes

It’s been nearly a month since the shooting in Poway. In the aftermath of the attack, the Jewish media was filled with articles about the importance of building relationships with other communities targeted by white nationalists to combat all forms of hate. Other than expressing this solidarity on social media, what steps have most of us actually taken to create change, to build these relationships, and to demonstrate solidarity? As the U.S. grows increasingly segregated, ask yourself – what is my action plan for making sure I’m in deep relationship with people who are different than me?

Read more

This article originally appeared in the STL Jewish Light on May 9, 2019.

By Stacy Bernstein

On our third day in New Orleans my teen group spent the morning volunteering at the Second Harvest Food Bank.  That afternoon, we walked into a local grocery store in the Lower Ninth Ward where the group was greeted by the owner, Burnell.  Over the next hour, Burnell shared with us the story of how he had rebuilt his grocery store and community in the 14 years since Hurricane Katrina.

Read more

This article originally appeared in Jewish Community Voice on May 8, 2019.

By the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey

Twenty-one South Jersey Jewish teens graduated from the JLEAD program in mid-April. The program, a collaboration of the Katz JCC, JCC Camps at Medford, and BBYO South Jersey Region, inspires and involves Jewish teens in South Jersey through leadership development and personal evolution.

Read more

This article originally appeared in The Times of Israel on April 26, 2019. 

By Josefin Dolsten

JTA — SooJi Min-Maranda rarely sees other Jewish people who look like her.

“I often feel very isolated as a Jew of color living in the Midwest,” she said.

Min-Maranda, who lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her husband and two children, was born in Korea but moved with her family to the United States at the age of 3.

Read more