January 16th, 5:00 p.m.–FREE
On Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend this year, join UJA and scholars from Ammud: The Jews of Color Torah Academy and the Shalom Hartman Institute, for an evening of learning to explore when we’ve felt at home, when we haven’t, and what it will take for everyone in America to feel like they belong. Register here: https://www.ujafedny.org/event/view/mlk-day-program
February 22nd, 8:00 p.m.–FREE
The FHJC Sisterhood and FHJC SURJE are teaming up for a virtual book discussion to honor Black History Month. The book, The Personal Librarian, by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, tells the remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian—who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true. Register here: https://forms.gle/VkYFvzkW44nqA4LW7
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February 10th, 11:00 a.m.–$18
Join Hadassah on a virtual trip to Jewish South Africa. This “trip” will feature a tour guide from Majorca and former Young Judaen Dani Rotstein, who will moderate with his friend and Cape Town tour guide Craig.
The Cape Town Jewish community has been thriving since 1841, when the community was formed on Erev Yom Kippur. Jews have always been part of the activist community in South Africa. From the beginning of Communism in the early 20th century to being major players in the struggle against apartheid, and being social entrepreneurs for social justice for all peoples in South Africa. Register here: https://bit.ly/3nhfq4e
Masterdocs for white allies:
https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1PrAq4iBNb4nVIcTsLcNlW8zjaQXBLkWayL8EaPlh0bc/mobilebasic
Jewish Text Resources:
Jewish Teaching Resources:
Leveled readers and read-alouds with Black characters or a Black point of view:
Cece Loves Science: Push and Pull (I Can Read Level 3) by Kimberly Derting, Shelli R. Johannes, et al.
Just For You!: Hurry Up! by Bernette Ford (Level C)
Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell (Level E)
Books by Ezra Jack Keats- The Snowy Day, Peter’s Chair, Goggles… (Level J)
Princess Truly series by Kelly Greenawalt Lola series by Anna McQuinn (Level J)
Jabari Jumps and Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall (Level J)
Jamaica’s Find by Juanita Havill (Level K)
Quickest Kid in Clarksville by Pat Zietlow Miller (Level M)
Ron’s Big Mission by Rose Blue (Level M)
A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams
A Story About Afiya by James Berry, Anna Cunha (Hardcover)
My Rainy Day Rocket Ship by Markette Sheppard, Charly Palmer
Billy Bloo is Stuck in Goo by Jennifer Hamburg, Ross Burach
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, David Roberts
Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper
The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan, Tom Knight
Books by Black Authors
What Is Given from the Heart by Patricia McKissack
Ana and Andrew series by Christine Platt
Hair Love (there is also an animated short of this story) by Matthew Cherry
Bright Eyes, Brown Skin (poetry/verse) (Level J) by Cheryl Willis Hudson
Be A King (Level L) by Carole Boston Weatherford
Dream Big (Level M) by Deloris Jordon
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Imani’s Moon by Janay Brown Wood
Do Like Kyla (Level H), Lily Brown’s Paintings (Level L), Tell Me a Story, Mama (Level L) by Angela Johnson
We March (Level I) by Shane W. Evans
Another by Christian Robinson
Thank You, Omu! By Oge Mora
Sail Away by Donald Crews
Biographies
Christine Platt- Biographies- Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Vashti Harrison- Little Ladies: Bold Women in Black History, Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History, Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World
Anna Membrino- I Look Up To…Michelle Obama
Diversity, Culture, Acceptance…
All are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman
We’re Different, We’re the Same (Sesame Street) by Bobbi Kates and Joe Mathieu
Speak Up by Miranda Paul and Ebony Glenn
Lovely by Jess Hong
Where are you From? by Yamile Saied Méndez
Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, Michaela Goade
A Place Called Home: Look Inside Houses Around the World (Lonely Planet Kids) by Lonely Planet Kids, Kate Baker
You Matter by Christian Robinson
Antiracist Baby Board Book by Ibram X. Kendi, Ashley Lukashevsky
Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tonatiuh
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale by Duncan Tonatiuh
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, Erin E. Stead
Grades 3-5: Books with Black Characters and/or Written by Black Authors
Out of Left Field by Klages, Ellen
Trouble the Water (Level V) by Dowell, Frances O’Roark
Spirit Week Showdown (Level R) by Allen, Crystal
Horizon (Level V) by Westerfeld, Scott
All Different Now (Level S) Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Johnson, Angela*
Kinda Like Brothers (Level Z) by Booth, Coe*
Skateboard Party by English, Karen*
by Johnson, Varian*
The Lincoln Project (Level V) by Gutman, Dan
Ruby Lee & Me (Level T) by Hitchcock, Shannon
A New Beginning My Journey With Addy by Patrick, Denise Lewis*
As Fast as Words Could Fly by Tuck, Pamela M.*
Ghost Boys by Rhodes, Jewell Parker*
Towers Falling (Level W) by Rhodes, Jewell Parker*
P.S. Be Eleven (Level X) by Williams-Garcia, Rita*
If I Just Had Two Wings (Level T) by Virgina Frances Schwartz*
Send One Angel Down (Level T) by Virgina Frances Schwartz*
Gone Crazy in Alabama (Level V) by Williams-Garcia, Rita*
The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond (Level T) by Woods, Brenda*
The Mighty Miss Malone (Level U) by Curtis, Christopher Paul*
Kid President’s Guide to Being Awesome (Level R) by Montague, Brad
Poems in the Attic by Grimes, Nikki*
Zoe in Wonderland (Level T) by Woods, Brenda*
Looking Like Me (Level R-picture book) by Myers, Walter Dean*
Betty Before X By Shabazz, Ilyasah*
The Crossover (Level Z) by Alexander, Kwame*
Under the Same Sun (Level N) by Robinson, Sharon*
Unstoppable Octobia May (Level W) by Flake, Sharon*
I Am Enough (picture book) by Byers, Grace*
We March (Level I-picture book) by Evans, Shane*
Preaching to the Chickens (picture book)
The Story of Young John Lewis by Asim, Jabari*
The Youngest Marcher (Level T-picture book)
The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, A Young Civil Rights Activist by Levinson, Cynthia
The Seventh Most Important Thing (Level Y) by Pearsall, Shelley
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 (Level U) by Christopher Paul Curtis*
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Level W) by Mildred D. Taylor*
One Crazy Summer (Level W) by Rita Williams-Garcia*
The Skin I’m In (Level W) by Sharon G. Flake*
Email: FHJC.SURJE@gmail.com
FHJC SURJE–Standing Up for Racial Justice & Equity
Our Vision
FHJC SURJE challenges all FHJC members to live up to the principle of tikkun olam, by embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion for all people. FHJC welcomes Jews of all races, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ability, and socio-economic status.
Our Mission
The mission of this committee is to advance our vision by educating our members about racism and other diversity, equity, and inclusion issues, through discussions and events, by providing resources, and by other means, within and outside the synagogue.
FHJC SURJE will advocate for people of color in the FHJC and local community–advising the shul when a response is needed on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
