#rabbi Sandra Lawson

[rabbisandra]

Torah Tuesday: Nachshon and the Legacy of Black Courage

This past weekend, as the rabbi in residence for Shir Hadash in St. Louis, I mashed up the words of "Mi Chamocha," which also appears in this week's Torah portion, Beshalach, and the well-known spiritual "Wade in the Water" - to create a representation of the journey of liberation. After the service, a congregant approached me with questions about the significance of the mashup. I explained to him how I saw the two songs as complementary, using the Midrash and the Talmudic story of Nachshon ben Aminadav, Aaron's brother-in-law, as a metaphor for the bravery and resilience of Black people and the struggle to survive. 

[themichigangayly]

“By focusing on racial justice, we can make Jewish communities more inviting and, ultimately, more vital. And, at the same time, we’ll be taking on white supremacy, the primary American source of antisemitism.” - Rabbi Sandra Lawson

Who is Rabbi Sandra Lawson?

• She is a gay and Jewish rabbi, writer, activist, public speaker, and musician.

• In 2018, she became one of the first openly gay, female, and Black rabbis in the world.

[progressivejudaism]

Mazel Tov Rabbi Lawson!

[yourdailyqueer]

Sandra Lawson

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Lesbian

DOB: Born 1970

Ethnicity: African American

Occupation: Rabbi, veteran, activist, sociologist, personal trainer, weightlifter, writer, musician

Note: First openly gay, female, and black rabbis in the world in 2018

[smalltownseeker]

My Favorite Religious Leaders:

Judaism: Rabbi Sandra J Lawson Islam: Imam Suhaib Webb Christianity: Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber

[daloy-politsey]

Rabbi Sandra Lawson is one of the first rabbis who identifies as black, queer, and female. She’s a veteran, an activist, a musician, a power lifter, and a boundary-breaking spiritual leader. She’s a technology lover who uses Instagram to bring Torah to people all over the world. And she is devoted to creating a more diverse Jewish community in which individuality and social justice are paramount. Through her unique story, Rabbi Lawson will help us expand our own perspective on what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century. Join us as we learn about UJA’s work combating racial inequality, supporting LGBTQ communities, and what you can do to help.

[hydrogenperfoxide]

Racism in the Jewish Community by Rabbi Sandra Lawson and Donna Cephas

http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org/racism-in-the-jewish-community

Co-written by Rabbi Sandra Lawson and Donna Cephas, this essay examines the assumption that all Jews are white, while touching on a myriad of interrelated issues: conversion, interracial families, adoption, Ashkenazi privilege and political correctness.

I’m not jewish yet but some of y’all might enjoy this

[divinum-pacis]

Rabbi Sandra Lawson sings and plays the guitar during Friday (June 17)'s Shabbat service celebrating Juneteenth at the Distillery of Modern Art outside Atlanta. 

Photo courtesy Dedra Walker/Emory Rose Photography.

[rabbisandra]

My latest piece for Interfaith America Magazine

[schraubd]

Suit Up Roundup

The latest wedding prep item to be checked off the list is my wedding suit. I like it. It's snazzy. Still have to pick it up post-alterations, though. * * * Anil Kalhan explains what was evident to anyone paying attention: John Roberts didn't "overturn" Korematsu in Trump v. Hawaii -- he renamed it. What do you call a Jewish Indian fusion food truck? Nu Deli. I love this more than I can express (semi-related: I picked up The Last Jews of Karala: The 2,000-Year History of India's Forgotten Jewish Community at a bookstore the other day. So far, so good.). Right now, we're seeing growing recognition of the full diversity of the Jewish community. That's good. But it also means reckoning seriously with the fact that the Jewish community has not always been welcoming of our full diversity. Hey Alma hosted a roundtable discussion with six Jews of Color that's definitely worth a read. Sandra Lawson and Donna Cephas write of racism they've experienced within the Jewish community. And the Baltimore Jewish Times just ran a profile on Mendel Davis, son of an African-American Chabad Rabbi. Nobody expects the National Review to defend the Spanish Inquisition! An interesting blast from the past: the Jewish Current reprints an exchange between Rabbi Joachim Prinz and an antisemitic Christian pastor who heard in speak at an army base in Abilene, Texas. It is striking reading, precisely because the pastor's arguments come couched in language we'd recognize today: he condemns Nazism, acknowledges the existence of some good Jews, speaks in unfailingly polite terms -- but nonetheless makes sweeping generalizations against the faith as a whole to justify his bigotry. It's well worth reading not because of how alien it is, but because of how little the language of "civil" bigotry has changed over the past seventy years. JTA profiles Alma Hernandez, a 25-year old Mexican-American Jewish women running for a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives. (She's also being targeted by David Duke, which is possibly the least surprising thing imaginable). via The Debate Link https://ift.tt/2tVYLGW

[progressivejudaism]

“...In fact, I have never been in a Jewish space where my Jewish identity has not been questioned. I have been asked multiple times upon entering Jewish spaces if I belong. I have repeatedly been asked by strangers, how am I Jewish, when I converted, am I an ordained rabbi, “Don’t you have to be Jewish to be a rabbi?” and so on....

...I understand that many white Jews do not see themselves as racist. Racism is associated with someone who is a member of the Klu Klux Klan or someone who is a Neo-Nazi. They may also think of American slavery and lynchings, and yes, these are all excellent examples of racism.

But focusing on these examples of what it means to be racist keeps many white people from identifying racism in their own communities and daily lives and understanding that racism has evolved. ...

...When I use the word “racist,” it freezes many in the Jewish community into inaction. Many believe that this is the worst possible word that one could be called, causing many Jews to proclaim, “I am not a racist,” “I don’t see color,” and “I am not white.” The problem is that saying that you are not racist also means that you are not doing anything to dismantle our racist system.

If you are colorblind and you don’t see race, how will you ever see or understand racism? How will you ever understand the racism that black people regularly experience and how will you understand the racism I experience from other Jews?

Lastly, the statement that you are not white because you are Jewish demonstrates a lack of understanding of how whiteness operates in our society. Just as racism has evolved, whiteness has evolved. White privilege is the social, economic, educational, and legal advantage that people get for being perceived as white...”

[iftheshulfits]

This podcast absolutely should be listened to. This has been an enlightening and organic listen. Highly recommend and it features one of my favorite rabbis, Rabbi Sandra Lawson!

[aluuv]

"Let My People Go"

“Let My People Go”

  Join Abundant Love on Sunday, September 1, at 10:30 a.m. for inspiring services celebrating Black Gay Pride. This special service will be led by visiting Rabbi Sandra Lawson and Bishop-Elect Rev. Troy Sanders at the historic Hammonds House Museum, 503 Peeples Street, Atlanta, GA 30310. 

About Pastor Troy Sanders:

Pastor Troy Sanders’ relationship with the divine started when he was a toddler,…

[themichigangayly]

• She writes a regular column for the Burlington Times-News. She’s been featured in the JTA as a Jewish user everyone should follow on Snapchat and Twitter, and she was recently named on the Forward 50 2020.

• You can support Rabbi Lawson at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/my/profile

“By focusing on racial justice, we can make Jewish communities more inviting and, ultimately, more vital. And, at the same time, we’ll be taking on white supremacy, the primary American source of antisemitism.” - Rabbi Sandra Lawson

Who is Rabbi Sandra Lawson?

• She is a gay and Jewish rabbi, writer, activist, public speaker, and musician.

• In 2018, she became one of the first openly gay, female, and Black rabbis in the world.

[rabbisandra]

Avinu Malkeinu is a heartfelt plea to God for mercy, forgiveness, and compassion. It’s purpose is to guide individuals in seeking forgiveness, strengthening our connection with God, acknowledging our responsibilities, and fostering spiritual growth during the High Holidays.

As the High Holidays approach, Avinu Malkeinu serves as a reminder of our responsibility to mend our ways and seek reconciliation with the Divine and fellow humans. It prompts us to consider how we can better ourselves in the coming year and repair any broken relationships.

Avinu Malkeinu encourages us to introspect, not just on our individual deeds but also on our collective responsibilities. It calls for social justice, compassion, and the betterment of the world around us.

Ultimately, Avinu Malkeinu serves as a spiritual guide, evolving with us throughout the High Holidays, reminding us of our capacity for change, growth, and the pursuit of a more righteous path in the year ahead.

I made this home recording. I remember years ago sitting in shul during the High Holidays and hearing a folk version of Avinu Malkeinu on guitar and loving it. Last year I heard Yoyo Ma play it at White House with a crowd of Jewish professionals singing around him, I was moved to tears. We are at another holiday season, and I humbly offer this version to you.

More music coming soon so please follow me on Spotify to stay up to date.

[progressivejudaism]

With every news headline referencing the Covid-19 pandemic, the past few months ushered the world into unprecedented times. But recently, for the first time in what feels like forever, coronavirus has taken the back burner to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Are we still in unprecedented times? Absolutely not.

Racism is a scourge that’s ingrained in society. As a community of people who share the pain of serving as the world’s scapegoat, Jews — as well as everyone — have a responsibility to dismantle the systems that have oppressed Black people for centuries. Victims of racism cannot fight their battles alone, nor can they be at the forefront.

Many non-Black Jews are reckoning with how best to support the Black Lives Matter movement and, in an effort to help, they’re turning to People of Color for answers. This is a mistake. Even with good intentions, do not lean on Jews of Color, primarily Black Jews, to do the work for you. It’s exasperating and further illustrates privilege.

So, where to start? Listen to Black Jews, learn from Black Jews, but don’t ask them for help — they’re asking for ours. So here’s one super simple thing you can do: Check your privilege and begin with diversifying your social media.