CREATING HOSPITABLE SPACES FOR BLACK/BROWN JEWS IN OUR SYNAGOGUES

Some of you have asked me about our unusual Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark) behind me. I thought I might mention it because it’s relevant to our program today. The doors of the Ark are doors from a synagogue in Spain before the Spanish Inquisition of 1492. It was the Inquisition that said, “If you’re Jewish, you’re less than human.” These doors remind us that no Jew, no matter what color or ethnicity they are, should ever be treated like they’re less than human or less of a Jew—especially in a synagogue—in Gd’s house.

I want to welcome all of you and to especially thank Dr. Tarece Johnson for creating this program: “Creating Hospitable Spaces for Black/Brown Jews in our Synagogues.” I want to start off by saying that we should not be here. There shouldn’t be any need for this program. Judaism is color blind! Every one of us has a holy soul given to us by Gd. Every one of us is physically a descendant of Adam and Eve, and spiritually a descendant of Abraham and Sarah. That’s why Jews have always been at the forefront in the battle against racial hatred and discrimination—whether in America, Europe or even South Africa.

Yes, I grew up hearing some Jews use the derogatory “S” word—shvartza—when referring to African Americans. You may not believe me when I say this—although it was wrong, and my parents never permitted its use in our home—in my experience—and I might be naïve about this—it was more a socio-economic than a racial slur. Growing up in Brooklyn in a neighborhood that was 98% Jewish, I never learned racial hatred. So frankly, I was surprised to learn that there is a very real need today for prayer spaces for “Jews of Color” who want to be Jewishly and religiously active and present, but don’t want the outright prejudices or what is termed, inadvertent “microaggressions” that may come along with it.

So today, let’s keep our minds and our hearts open as we learn what we can do to make our shuls more hospitable to everyone.  

Let me tell you about this shul—Shaarei Shamayim. We are diverse, and yet we are a congregation. We are a traditional shul with 3 seating sections so everyone can feel comfortable. We are diverse spiritually—with all of us on a spiritual journey. Some want us to be more orthodox, some less. Some want a full mechitza and others like being able to sit in the mechitza when they want, and to sit with their spouse if they want.

Some are of European Ashkenazic origin, some of Sephardic origin. Some are white, Anglo-Saxon appearing, while others are African American, Yemenite, Latin American, Bulgarian, Ethiopian, Cuban and on and on. On any given Shabbat, more than 1/3 of the shul is not “white Ashkenazi.” I must tell you, I love it.

Let me tell you a story that goes back to our early years. We had this couple, Oz and Queenie Gamzu who later went on Aliyah to Israel. She was Chinese and he was Yemenite. They were living at the apartment complex across the street from the Marcus Foundation on Briarcliff Rd. I often met them on my way to shul at our old location on Shabbos morning.

            Well one Shabbos morning I met them and Jeanine Southerland—an African American young woman who had spent Shabbos with them. I noticed a young American Latino Soldier in full dress uniform walking toward us on the other side of Briarcliff Rd. He saw my kipah and yelled out, “Can you tell me where the Sephardic shul is?”

            I yelled back the directions and then turned to Oz, who is Yemenite with a darkish complexion, Queenie who is Chinese and Jeanine who is African American and said, “Funny, he doesn’t look Jewish!”

We are all an image of Gd and in Shaarei Shamayim we get it, and I’m proud to tell everyone about it! Once while sharing with pride about our diverse shul, someone asked me, “Aren’t you worried that when new visitors come to your shul and see its diversity that they’ll be turned off and not come back?”

         I was taken back a bit by the question because I had never considered it. I thought for a moment and told her, “The truth is, if they would be turned off by our diversity, we don’t want them here anyway!”

Truth be told, visitors are usually impressed and not turned away.

Feeling like an outsider in our synagogues is not uncommon among Jews of color—some of whom are raised in multiracial households. How do we make those who are not “white Ashkenazi” feel welcome because, apparently, many do not—and there are more “non-white Ashkenazi” Jews—even here in Atlanta—than you might think.

Can you answer this question: Are there more Orthodox Jews in America or Jews of Color? Answer: You may not believe this but they’re the same size—both total about 12-15% or about 1 million, according to a new study! The report also suggests that, “In the 21^st century, the American Jewish community will come closer to mirroring the racial and ethnic diversity of America at large.” It’s a beautiful thing, and it will continue to grow. Let’s be prepared for it.

So how do we make those who are not “white Ashkenazi” feel welcome? The answer is to be true to Torah. Whatever your approach to Torah is—from Orthodox to Reform—we all agree that Gd demands that we be colorblind! Our focus must be to live a Gdly life filled with the study and observance of Torah.

Actively involve your “non-white Ashkenazi” members in Torah and shul life and it will inspire everyone. In our shul, the Aliyot, lifting and holding of the Torahs and other honors are fully diverse—as is our Board of Directors. I can’t tell you how our diversity has enriched our shul.

Also, get your name out there. I found on the internet listings of synagogues where Jewish multiracial families and Jewish people of color have personally attended, felt comfortable, and are now recommending to others. It had synagogues all over America. In the south there were shuls in North Carolina, Florida, even Alabama—but none in Georgia! We have to be better at letting the world know we are Hospitable Spaces for everyone.

There’s the story of 3 Jewish Texans who got together—and you know how Texans love to boast about size. Well, these 3 were members of 3 different synagogues and each one was boasting about the size of his shul. One said, “My shul is the greatest. It has the largest Shabbos attendance of any shul in town.”

            The 2^nd said, “My shul is the greatest. It has the largest religious school enrollment.” 

            And the 3^rd said, “My shul is the greatest. It has the largest budget deficit!” 

Well, we don’t have the largest attendance. We don’t have the largest religious school enrollment; and we don’t—thank Gd—have the largest budget deficit—at least not yet. But what we do have is truly amazing! And anyone that comes to Shaarei Shamayim immediately feels it. The atmosphere in our shul is unique—it’s palpable, it’s inspiring. And much of it is due to our diversity.

Those of you who know me know about my mystical side. You have heard me quote Einstein a hundred times: “Coincidence is Gd remaining anonymous.” It is no small coincidence that you and I are here now. We have a remarkable opportunity to enrich our synagogues and our souls by making our shuls Hospitable Spaces.

Once I visited one of our children in the hospital. Later, his mother told me how much that visit meant to her child. The child, small and frail, had said to his mother, “Rabbi Kunis shows me that you can be important—even if you’re short!”

My friends, when I was growing up I was nothing more than a “short, little kid,” but I tell you as the rabbi of Shaarei Shamayim, I stand tall and proud—and in your synagogues, if become a hospitable space for everyone, you can too! Amen!

                                               Rabbi Mark Hillel Kunis