Racial Justice Task Force

Our Racial Justice Task Force was formed in the spring of 2020 and has been very busy since. We provide opportunities for congregants to learn about racial justice as a Jewish mandate, as well as work for equity, diversity and inclusion within our country, congregation and personal lives. This taskforce is involved in some of the most civically significant programs in our congregation, many of them done in partnership with Woodlands’ Adult Education Committee as well as with other Social Action teams. 

Diversity Training
Woodlands has a strong commitment to diversity. We know that however well-meaning folks may be, they sometimes are not aware of the impact of their words/deeds on others. To make us all better at living our values, we urge congregants to sign up for a REDI (racial equity, diversity, and inclusion) workshop offered by the URJ.

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones – THE BOOK
Sep 26, and the fourth Tue of each month thereafter, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm, Zoom
Book discussion group sponsored by Racial Justice Task Force and Adult Education Committees. We continue to read this controversial book that substantially expands on the award-winning NY Times 1619 Project, which attempts to reframe our understanding of American history by placing slavery and its ongoing legacy at the center of our national narrative. We will explore the book’s ideas by discussing a chapter or two each month. Participants are invited to volunteer to take turns
facilitating discussion. Each chapter stands on its own so, while each chapter has something else to teach, you are welcome to join in at any time. For Sep 26, read Chapter 9, Self-Defense and Chapter 10, Punishment. Sign up HERE to join the group.

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones – THE VIDEO
Wed, Oct 11, Nov 8, Dec 13, Jan 10, Feb 7, Mar 13, 6:00 – 8:00 pm (refreshments at 5:45 pm)
The 1619 Project has been transformed into video (Hulu). Join us monthly at the Greenburgh Public Library for a viewing of an episode followed by a discussion led by a different pair of Black-identifying and white-identifying facilitators each month.
Our goals are to:

• examine the role that slavery played in forming the United States and the role it still plays in determining who we are
• provide us with the opportunities to hear a wide variety of voices and reexamine our ideas in response to those voices
• build community

Sponsored by WCT Social Action and Adult Education Committees, along with Bet Am Shalom Synagogue, Greenburgh Public Library, Greenburgh Human Right Advisory Committee, and White Plains/Greenburgh Chapter of NAACP. To allow as many people as possible to attend, separate registration is required for each episode and will open the day after the showing of the prior episode. Registration and other information HERE.

Racial Justice Book Read (date T/B/D)
For those going on the Adult Civil Rights Journey, those who have gone, and everyone else. Choose one book from a list of several that expand our understanding of racial justice, read it and discuss it with others who made the same choice. Watch for book selection in temple emails.

Generation Growth: Film Presentation and discussion 
Sun, Feb 25, 4:00 pm (hybrid)
Where do Racial Justice, Environmental, and Civic Engagement Task Forces Meet? At Woodlands, when Green Bronx Machine founder Stephen Ritz presents his award-winning documentary. Ritz, a globally acclaimed Bronx teacher, created the first edible classroom in the world. He shows how, in one of the nation’s poorest communities, his students thrive in school and life by growing, cooking, eating, and sharing the bounty of their classroom. Watch for sign-up info.

Greenburgh Restorative Circle Project
We are partnering with the Greenburgh Restorative Circle Project. The purpose of the Circles formed by the project is to:

• provide a safe place for people ton share lived experience and have their voices heard
• develop a deeper understanding of the racial inequities that exist in Greenburgh
• open a path for ongoing racial healing in Greenburgh
• create avenues for respectful dialogue on race and diversity in Greenburgh

Sponsors of this project are Restorative Justice Westchester, Race Talk Revolution, SURJ Westchester, and Westchester Racial Equity Collaborative.

Leaders:  Linda Einfrank and Rebecca Mazin (rjtf@wct.org)