Congregation Etz Hayim is outraged at the killing of George Floyd, which once again

brings to the forefront the systemic racism that exists in our country and the

disproportionate risks posed to Black lives. On behalf of CEH, Rabbi Lia Bass signed a  letter organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington,

expressing the Jewish community's solidarity with color the African American

community. 

As Jews we cannot stand idly by in the face of brutality and injustice.There are many ways to engage in seeking justice. Below are some a few  resources for both action and thought, including in our local community.

• Join the Arlington chapter of the NAACP, or another organization actively working to eliminate racial injustice.
• Read Anti-Racist Work: Appalled as we are, and even with our ability to empathize based on experiences of anti-Semitism, many white and non-Black Jews do not truly understand racism and its effects. Read, share, and discuss with friends and family some of the works on this anti-racism reading list.
• https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/books/review/antiracist-reading-list-ibram-x-kendi.html
• Kitah Zayin this week read and discussed the following article, which has extra resources for engaging teens in this important conversation. https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/george-floyd-racism-and-law-enforcement
• Donate to a Bail Fund: Fight the effects of the cash bail system, which disproportionately affects low-income people and people of color by increasing incarceration rates without improving public safety.
• National Bail Bond Fund: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory

• Virginia:
• Richmond: Richmond Community Bail Fund
• Roanoke: Roanoke Community Bail Fund
• Tidewater: Freedom Fighter Fund

• Maryland: Baltimore Legal Action Team Bail Fund

• Support a Black-Owned Business: With COVID-19 restrictions still in place,  restaurants are a great place to start.

The Social Action Committee welcomes ideas on how Etz Hayim can best engage in

these efforts going forward. Please feel free to contact us.

Thank you for your engagement!  Laura Hill, Paula Levin-Alcorn, Eva Kleederman, Elisa Rosman, Rachel  Waldstein