CSZ Youth Group - What's Up This Week
Family Newsletter
June 4, 2020
Edition 12
This week may look a little different.

We hope this week offers some meaningful content to begin and continue a dialog at home about all that is currently occurring in our world. We recognize there are black Jews and Jews of Color in our community, and we see you, we stand with you and we hope this is a first step together.

For the past 11 weeks, we have provided activities and connections to lighten the burden of being socially distanced and staying home. The events of the past week have heightened for many, the need to take action.

As Rabbi Simon shared earlier this week, "As we join together in prayer for mercy, kindness, and grace, we acknowledge that prayer alone is not enough. We commit ourselves to loving life and seeing all of God's creation as equal. We commit ourselves to withholding judgement until we know one's story, and we commit ourselves to learning the stories of those whose experiences are different from our own."

While we all come to this conversation from different places, this week, we hope these links, ideas, and suggestions will help us all move forward on our journey to do a little bit better today than we did yesterday.
There is SO much information circulating about how we can move forward and raise more aware children in our current climate.

In the following NPR conversation, Michel Martin talks with author Jennifer Harvey about how to begin the conversation with white kids about the racially-charged events occurring in our world.

This 7-minute conversation can serve as a springboard for further reading, and it serves as an introduction to her book as a whole.
We also recognize that not all of our families are raising white-presenting children. The Union for Reform Judaism shares resources on Jews of Color as well. A great place to start is with the article below addressing Jews of Color as "perpetual strangers" in our community.
The New York Times has compiled a list of books appropriate for children of all ages that both open a space for dialog and conversation as well as books that feature diverse characters throughout their stories.
As a movement, looking to the Religious Action Center for opportunities for action is natural for many in our teen community through their L'Takein program. The long-standing connections between the Reform Movement, the Religious Action Center (RAC), and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) offer a foundation from which to grow.

THIS FRIDAY AT 3PM The Religious Action Center will host a virtual space for High School and College students to open the door to future conversations. If you would like to participate in this event, PLEASE REGISTER HERE!
Racial Justice

In the Torah, Jews are taught to accept others without prejudice or bias. Judaism also teaches the importance of working with others in the community to achieve social justice. The Reform Movement and the RAC work together across lines of difference to fight the structural racism that is embedded in our society and to advance justice for all people, regardless of race or ethnicity.


Consider Reading as a Family

This short (but not always easy) read was written as a letter from the author to his 15-year-old son. Published in 2015, long before the realities of our world this week, Coates writes candidly to his son expressing the experiences he has seen and felt regarding the heritage of race in America.

Perhaps the most interesting assessment for this book has been that it seems to have been left unfinished. As the author writes to his son, he poses questions and shares concerns without resolving or solving - perhaps charging his son to join him in seeking this resolution?

This book will leave you questioning and perhaps offer an opportunity to open a vital conversation.
  Saturday, June 6, 8 pm
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Middle School is often the first time our children grapple with speaking out and standing up to do what is right. How can you start the conversation in your home about how and when to stand up, speak out and do something that may be seen as "breaking the rules" when you see something that isn't right.

The Wedding Portrait can certainly help open this conversation.
This book features stories of direct action from around the world as well as the author's story from his own wedding day. He and his bride led their wedding party to a protest and were captured in a photo by the local newspaper kissing in front of a line of police just before being arrested.

"We usually follow the rules. But sometimes, if you see something is wrong--more wrong than breaking the rules and by breaking the rules you might stop it--you may need to break the rules."

Innosanto Nagara has beautifully melded an act of love with crucial ideas of civil disobedience and direct action that will speak to young readers' sense of right and wrong. There has never been a more important moment for Innosanto Nagara's gentle message of firm resolve.
There is truly nothing in this world more important than our own name. One of the most challenging realities for children of non-white communities in the United States is how to "fit in" when their names sound so different.

The book The Name Jar features a young girl who moves to the United States and decides she wants to pick an "American Name." In asking for help from her class, Unhei finds power and joy in sharing her true self with her new community.

This simple and powerful illustration of the differences we have coming together in a classroom community can serve as a very concrete example for our Elementary learners.
Have you ever talked about why you chose the names you chose for your child? Have you shared the history and heritage and stories with them? You can use this activity as a conduit to talking first about your history and the names your children wear as you transition into the conversation about other communities and the value in each of their names!
This simple craft uses materials you have around your house to help your child make a sign for their room that shares pride in their name.

  • popsicle sticks
  • paint
  • glitter
  • glue
  • cardstock

You can find full instructions HERE for this project!
Speaking candidly as a mom of an almost 4-year-old, I have struggled a lot this week with how to talk to my own child about what is happening in the world right now.

As difficult as it is, I know that these conversations must start in our home, and we must create spaces where he can ask bigger questions. We ordered some more books and decided to start with this activity.

Thinking about the very base level of same-ness, we could illustrate that even though we know all of the batter is the same, and made of the same things, the color does not change how the cupcake tastes. We also talked about how all of the colors coming together make the cupcake even more beautiful than single-colored cupcakes.
We also plan to record this and watch it together as a family:





For more information from our Amy Gail Buchman Preschool teachers and staff, you can check out their Facebook Page and YouTube channel for exciting classroom resources!
Click the link above to register for the 2020-2021 Religious School year! If you have any questions about enrollment, format or curriculum, don't hesitate to contact Molly Levy at mlevy@zedek.org.
We have a new Flom Religious School Facebook Group! We will be using this platform to stay connected as a school virtually. Keep an eye out here and on that group for some at home summer activities! Click on the button above to join.
For more information about exciting events from #CSZatHome you can visit us at www.zedek.org/athome for livestream, Zoom, and other engagement opportunities.