Jewish Groups’ Statement on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Jewish tradition teaches of the Divine spark in every person. As Jewish groups that are committed to protecting and advancing the safety and security of our community, we know we have an invaluable tool to leverage: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is about creating a culture that is welcoming to and reflective of people of all ages, races, religions or no religion, genders, sexual orientations, dis/abilities, socio-economic backgrounds, and any systemically marginalized group. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is the heir to efforts to open access to schools, professional associations, social clubs, and even entire neighborhoods that for decades were restricted against Jews. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a descendant of efforts to integrate classrooms that were limited to white students. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is the progeny of campaigns to make buildings and sidewalks accessible to those with disabilities or to parents pushing babies in a stroller. All these achievements, now regarded with nearly universal pride, were and are about making our communities equally inclusive for all, for the benefit of all. Why? Because people and society overall are stronger when arbitrary barriers to participation are removed.

Every person’s safety and ability to thrive depends on fostering a culture in which all people belong and can equally bring to bear their unique talents, gifts, and indeed their whole selves. Yet too often, the American story has been one in which leaders – national, state, local, communal – have sought to gain or hold power by sowing division. And too often, individuals have helped them succeed through active encouragement or passive silence.

Some Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion champions have spoken or acted in ways that have caused us pain, including through overt expressions of antisemitism, and others have shared visions of the future that differ from our own; none can speak authoritatively and comprehensively about what Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is or is not. Rather, it is for each of us to do the work of opening the doors of opportunity for all. It is not only possible, but necessary, to advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts in a way that is truly inclusive of Jewish safety, identities, and history.

We also know that Jews are made less safe when Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are suppressed. Under the guise of opposing such initiatives, federal agencies have banned Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorations; conspiracy theorists and other extremists who vocally oppose both Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Jewish vibrancy are emboldened; and our inclusive, pluralistic democracy is tested. Jews who identify as people of Color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and women feel all these harms even more acutely.

In the face of attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we will not be silent. Telling the full story of our people has been essential to Jewish life; Americans of all backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, and identities deserve the same. In a Jewish community and broader society comprised of varied racial and ethnic, observance, and economic backgrounds, we reject the dynamics of division and fear and embrace a commitment to help each and every person thrive.

Sincerely,

Union for Reform Judaism
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
National Council of Jewish Women
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
American Conference of Cantors
Association of Reform Jewish Educators
Avodah
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Carolina Jews for Justice
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Coastal Roots Farm
Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action
Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism
Jewish Community Relations Council – St. Louis
Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
Jewish Social Justice Roundtable
Jews for a Secular Democracy
Jewtina v Co.
Kesher Pittsburgh
Keshet
Kirva
Lab/Shul
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Men of Reform Judaism
Mitsui Collective
National Association for Temple Administration
New York Jewish Agenda (NYJA)
Reconstructing Judaism
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Society for Humanistic Judaism
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Women of Reform Judaism
Womens Rabbinic Network
The Workers Circle