Chevre,

An enormous amount is happening in the world right now. It feels almost impossible for our nervous systems to return to a relaxed state, because we are constantly encountering so much, and so much of it is absolutely terrifying.

This call tomorrow (below) addresses just one piece of what is going on. It is not meant to address everything, and for some of us, its thesis might be at the center of what is on our minds, and for some of us, further from the center.

For some of us, we might be thinking about antisemitism in terms of how it intersects with attacks on democracy (the topic of the call), and for some of us, we might have been thinking about that more deeply a couple of months ago but are now in more embodied fear from the attacks in DC, Boulder, and right here in Brookline at the Butcherie. Of course, all of it is interconnected, but I know at least I sometimes find myself in a different place at each hour of a single day.

No matter what, my inclination is that this will be a very good call, and I want to make sure everyone has the information. Forwarded below is an email from Rabbi Jonah Winer, T'ruah's Director of Learning. Rabbi Winer has semicha (rabbinic ordination) from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, a Modern Orthodox rabbinical school, and he began working at T'ruah relatively recently. He will be in conversation with Rabbi Jill Jacobs, T'ruah's CEO.

More information is below, and I hope you can join if you'd like to,

Rabbi Aliza

Join Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah, and myself for a conversation that attempts to answer the question: Why is Antisemitism at the Center of Attacks on Democracy? Register here for the webinar tomorrow, June 30, at 2pm ET / 11am PT.

Here’s why this topic is important now: Over the past few months, the Trump administration has detained and attempted to deport international students, stripped funding from universities, and instituted a new travel ban — and Trump has claimed to do these things in the name of fighting antisemitism.

In spite of the rise in antisemitic violence, including the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in May and the attack in Boulder at a hostage march in June, most of the American Jewish community believes in democratic institutions and constitutional rights — including the right to free speech and due process. We know that democratic institutions keep us — and other marginalized communities — safer.

Why is the administration invoking antisemitism in order to dismantle democracy? What are potential implications for the Jewish and broader community, and how can the Jewish community respond?

You won’t want to miss this insightful discussion.

 I hope you will join us tomorrow.

Rabbi Jonah Winer

he/him/his

Director of Learning

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