Jewish tradition teaches of the Divine spark in every person. As Jewish groups that are committed to protecting and advancing the safety and security of our community, we know we have an invaluable tool to leverage: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is about creating a culture that is welcoming to and reflective of people of all ages, races, religions or no religion, genders, sexual orientations, dis/abilities, socio-economic backgrounds, and any systemically marginalized group. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is the heir to efforts to open access to schools, professional associations, social clubs, and even entire neighborhoods that for decades were restricted against Jews. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a descendant of efforts to integrate classrooms that were limited to white students. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is the progeny of campaigns to make buildings and sidewalks accessible to those with disabilities or to parents pushing babies in a stroller. All these achievements, now regarded with nearly universal pride, were and are about making our communities equally inclusive for all, for the benefit of all. Why? Because people and society overall are stronger when arbitrary barriers to participation are removed. Every person’s safety and ability to thrive depends on fostering a culture in which all people belong and can equally bring to bear their unique talents, gifts, and indeed their whole selves. Yet too often, the American story has been one in which leaders – national, state, local, communal – have sought to gain or hold power by sowing division. And too often, individuals have helped them succeed through active encouragement or passive silence.
Some Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion champions have spoken or acted in ways that have caused us pain, including through overt expressions of antisemitism, and others have shared visions of the future that differ from our own; none can speak authoritatively and comprehensively about what Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is or is not. Rather, it is for each of us to do the work of opening the doors of opportunity for all. It is not only possible, but necessary, to advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts in a way that is truly inclusive of Jewish safety, identities, and history.
We also know that Jews are made less safe when Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are suppressed. Under the guise of opposing such initiatives, federal agencies have banned Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorations; conspiracy theorists and other extremists who vocally oppose both Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Jewish vibrancy are emboldened; and our inclusive, pluralistic democracy is tested. Jews who identify as People of Color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and women feel all these harms even more acutely.
In the face of attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we will not be silent. Telling the full story of our people has been essential to Jewish life; Americans of all backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, and identities deserve the same. In a Jewish community and broader society comprised of varied racial and ethnic, observance, and economic backgrounds, we reject the dynamics of division and fear and embrace a commitment to help each and every person thrive.
Sincerely,
Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Council for Public Affairs National Council of Jewish Women ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal American Conference of Cantors Association of Reform Jewish Educators Avodah Bend the Arc: Jewish Action Carolina Jews for Justice Central Conference of American Rabbis Coastal Roots Farm Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism Jewish Community Relations Council – St. Louis Jewish Council on Urban Affairs Jewish Social Justice Roundtable Jews for a Secular Democracy Jewtina y Co. Kesher Pittsburgh Keshet Kirva Lab/Shul MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger Men of Reform Judaism Mitsui Collective National Association for Temple Administration New York Jewish Agenda (NYJA) Reconstructing Judaism Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association Society for Humanistic Judaism T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights Women of Reform Judaism Womens Rabbinic Network The Workers Circle