Do, Donate, Download: Jewish History Month

To celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month we wanted to shine a light on an identity and experience that often gets misrepresented as monolithic. We invited a special guest, Clarissa Marks, to curate this month’s ‘Do Download Donate’ offerings below.

Clarissa is a Jewish writer, curator and podcast producer. She hosts the podcast On Wandering, which provides a window and a mirror to the full spectrum of 21st century Jewish Identity.

DO

  • Duolingo Yiddish. The popular language-learning website and mobile app recently added Yiddish to its offerings. Yiddish is the traditional language of Ashkenazi Jews whose ancestors settled in Northern France and Western Germany during the middle ages. The language carries a vibrant cultural history and is still spoken within Hasidic communities today. Many Yiddish phrases and words have even been absorbed by American English (bagel, glitch, klutz). Sign up to test your knowledge and see how many Yiddish words you recognize.

 

  • Visit The Jewish Museum. Located in New York City, the Jewish Museum hosts an amazing collection dedicated to the intersection of art and Jewish culture. Their newest exhibit, “Modern Look,” showcases the contributions of Jewish artists to the glamour of mid century, visual media. The museum is now open for in-person visits with timed ticket entry, but you can also peruse their collection and past virtual events online.

 

  • Follow Jwitter A list of some of the most influential Jewish leaders, writers, artists, activists, and organizations on Twitter. Listen in on cutting edge conversations around Jewish life and current events.

 

  • Register for ShavuotLIVE 2021 This month hosts a little-known holiday in the Jewish calendar, Shavuot, in which participants stay up all night to indulge in a love of learning and dairy products. This digital festival, held by Jewish Live, is FREE and features exciting presenters from a variety of fields and continents!

 

  • Educate Yourself About Antisemitism. Antisemitism a complicated and evolving concern, and it shows up for Jews in all social and political circles. For a 5-minute read, see “An Ally’s Guide to Antisemitism” by What the F Magazine. For a more in-depth understanding, check out “Understanding Antisemitism” from Jews For Racial & Economic Justice.

 

DONATE

  • Jews For Racial & Economic Justice is the home for Jewish New Yorkers to organize alongside their neighbors and allies to fight for a New York where every community has the freedom, opportunity, and resources to thrive. Current campaigns include organizing against antisemitism, ending police violence, and making home care affordable and available to those who need it.

 

  • Footsteps is the only organization in the United States providing comprehensive services to people who have chosen to leave their ultra-Orthodox communities and begin new lives. Based in New York, Footsteps provides a range of services, including social and emotional support, educational and career guidance, workshops and social activities, and access to resources.

 

  • Be’chol Lashon (Hebrew for “in every language”) strengthens Jewish identity by raising awareness about the ethnic, racial and cultural diversity of Jewish identity and experience. Be’chol Lashon brings the historic Jewish commitment to civil rights and racial justice forward into the 21st century by providing research, educational programing, and resources to the Jewish community.

 

DOWNLOAD

 

  • Watch “Art and Artists on Being Black and Jewish”, in which a dynamic group of North American artists who identify as Black and Jewish come together for an unparalleled conversation on art and identity. As a jumping off point for a lively dialogue, each artist shares projects that explore the intersection of Jewishness and Blackness through film, photography, music, and performance, including an original piece by the talented Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russel.

 

  • Read writer, poet, and performer Caroline Rothstein reflect on how Jewish intergenerational trauma has shaped her response to the pandemic. In this piece, Caroline draws on interviews with psychology experts and family members to consider a question many Jews wrestle with: how do we move from surviving to thriving?

 

  • Alma.com, the media platform that describes itself as Jewish, feminist, and full of chutzpah. After launching in 2017, Alma has become a go-to for all things fresh in the Jewish world. The site manages to balance a bubble-gum-sweet pop culture section, with compelling personal stories from emerging writers, and thoughtful analysis on Jewish current political events.

 

Thank you,
DEI Council