Racial Justice Committee

Our Mission:

• Increase self-awareness of our own implicit biases and privilege
• Build awareness in our congregation about our own diversity and celebrate it
• Create and ensure a safe environment for all people involved with CBI
• Educate our congregation about the Jewish values of tikkun olam and racial justice
• Increase awareness of issues of racial injustice, bias, privilege and systemic racism
• Develop ways for congregants to become involved in efforts to further racial justice in our congregation, the Reform Jewish movement and the larger community

Our Vision: CBI will...

• Be inclusive of people of all backgrounds and races and celebrate diversity
• Further awareness of systemic oppression faced by people of color and privileges of those perceived as white
• Through social and political action efforts, be an active ally in working with the Reform Jewish movement and local community groups involved in racial justice efforts

Join Us:

Join us at our next meeting. For more information, or to be added to our mailing list, please contact racialjustice@bnais.com.

• Racial Justice Shabbat (January 17)

  • Handout with songs, prayers, and resources

• CBI Mitzvah Day Activity (January 19): Sign-Making for MLK March

• CBI Participation in Annual MLK Jr. March for the Dream (January 20)

• Book Discussion: The History We Choose To Tell

  Two events based on The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance, by award-winning author Rebecca Clarren.

  • Congregational Book Discussion (April 6)

  • Conversation with Author (April 27) the recording of this program is available to CBI Members with Shul Cloud log-in

• CBI Participation in Annual MLK Jr. March for the Dream (January 15)

• Voter engagement about local elected offices in advance of March 5 primary (January – February)

• Racial Justice Shabbat (February 16)

  • D'rash (Sermon): Toward Repair (Tikkun)
    Read our d'rash or watch the video – click here to go directly to this part of the service. We explore the connection between the week's Torah portion and California reparations for slavery.
  • Handout with songs, prayers, and resources
  • The California Reparations Report
    A CBI study group read the full report of the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans over several months this past summer and fall. The history chapters added substantially to our understanding of the various forms of subjugation that emerged to replace enslavement, including here in California. We found many of the Task Force’s recommendations to be reasonable state policy changes designed to stop ongoing harm and begin the process of repair. 
  • California Legislative Black Caucus – 2024 Reparations Legislative Package 
    The Caucus recently announced a package of 14 priority bills to be considered in the 2024 legislative session. This is a first step in a multi-year effort to implement recommendations from the report. The bills address access to education, civil rights protections and apologies for rights violations, criminal justice reform, health equity, and business opportunities. 

• Was Our Country Built on a Stolen Beam? (April 6) 
  A conversation about reparations with Rabbi Mona Alfi, Brian Landsberg, and Judy Heiman at Stars & S’mores, CBI’s congregational retreat. See the slides:

  • Was our country built on a stolen beam? (PDF)
  • And if so, what should we do about it? (PDF)

• Authentic Voices Reader’s Theater Performance (April 14)
  Presented in partnership with Women of B’nai Israel; CBI Brotherhood, Membership, Pride, and Lifelong Learning Committees; NCJW Sacramento; and Jewish Community Relations Council of the Sacramento Region.

• The Jewish Case — and California Case — for Reparations (May 12)
  Featuring Chris Lodgson, Lead Organizer of the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California and Yolanda Savage-Narva, Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism, with an introduction by Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

  • Brief overviews of key chapters of the California Reparations Report:
    • Chapter 1: Introduction
    • Chapter 14: International Reparations Frameworks
    • Chapter 15: Examples of Other Reparatory Efforts
  • Slide presentation on international reparations frameworks and examples
  • View the recording of this program 

• Sacramento Mayoral Candidate Forum (September 22)
  Presented by the CBI Racial Justice Committee in partnership with Black American Political Action Committee of California (BAPAC) Sacramento Chapter, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Sacramento Section, Jewish Community Relations Council of the Sacramento Region, and Sacramento's Latino-Jewish Forum.

  • View the recording of this program 

Engaging in Conversations About Race (various dates in March and April)

• Sixth Grade Chug: 3-session interactive workshop as part of Religious School.
• Schmooze School: Interactive workshop for adults on working through uncomfortable moments in conversations with family, friends, and colleagues.

Civil Rights Then and Now: CBI Civil Rights Tour of the South (May 25–30)

Thirty-eight congregants joined Rabbi Alfi to visit historical and cultural sites in Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham and Memphis. We developed a shared understanding of the historical background behind today’s civil rights issues and connected what we learned to our Jewish heritage and values. 

Click HERE for information about CBI's Spring 2022 Civil Rights Tour.

Antiracism Education Here and There [U.S. and Israel] (June 21)

A conversation with Adar Cohen of Hebrew University, Bina Lefkovitz of the Sacramento County Board of Education, Lisa Brodkey formerly of UC Davis, and Lynn Berkley-Baskin of Sacramento Faces Race. Discussed definition of race and racism in each country and some approaches to teaching about racism, bias, and equity in different settings. 

Shabbat Service Featuring Civil Rights Tour Alumni (October 14)

Congregants who participated in CBI’s May 2022 Civil Rights Tour of the South planned a special service to share stories and reflections from this profoundly moving experience. Attendees learned about our trip and raised our voices together in prayers and songs inspired by our journey. Click here to view/print the service handout.