In a powerful message, a joint letter was signed by over 600 multiracial Jewish denominations, organizations, and synagogues, representing over half of all Jewish people in America.
Text of the letter:
We are Jewish organizations and synagogues from across the racial and political spectrum; from different streams of Judaism; whose members trace their lineage from countries around the world.
We speak with one voice when we say, unequivocally: Black Lives Matter.
We support the Black-led movement in this country that is calling for accountability and transparency from the government and law enforcement. We know that freedom and safety for any of us depends on the freedom and safety of all of us.
There are politicians and political movements in this country who build power by deliberately manufacturing fear to divide us against each other. All too often, 
antisemitism is at the center of these manufactured divisions.
There is a long history to these attempts: during the Southern Freedom Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, conspiracy theories were used by white supremacists attempting to delegitimize the extraordinary organizing of Black activists. Billboards were erected smearing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a communist, signs and flyers claiming that “communist Jews” were masterminding the civil rights movement were common, and pro-segregation organizations like the John Birch Society popularized these lies.
Black Lives Matter, the recent uprisings across the globe in the wake of the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and so many others, and the decades of political organizing across the country that have led to this moment are movements led by and for Black people. We see through any attempt to suggest otherwise by pointing fingers, scapegoating, or using antisemitic dogwhistles.
As Jews, we know how dangerous this is: when politicians target Jewish people and blame us for problems, it leads directly to violence against us. When Black movements are undermined, it leads to more violence against Black people, including Black Jews.
Antisemitism is part of the same machinery those politicians use to blame Black and brown people, people who are immigrants, people who are Muslim, and more. But whether they generate division and fear based on our religion, our skin color, or how long we’ve been here, their goal is to keep us from working together to win the things we all need to survive and thrive.
When Jewish people join together with our neighbors across racial and religious differences, as we have in the past, we can protect each other and build the future of freedom and safety we all deserve.
Jewish tradition teaches us that justice is not something that will be bestowed upon us, it is something that we need to pursue, and that the pursuit is itself sacred work. We’ll show up for each other every time one of us is targeted because of our differences, and reject any effort to use fear to divide us against each other.
The Black Lives Matter movement is the current day Civil Rights movement in this country, and it is our best chance at equity and justice. By supporting this movement, we can build a country that fulfills the promise of freedom, unity, and safety for all of us, no exceptions.
Click here to see the signers of the letter.
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Like so many DV headlines, this headline, as written, is cr*p. Closer to the truth is below:
The problem is, most Jews today are not “represented” in the sense implied here — by denominations, organizations, and synagogues — even if they are members. And, as I’ve said many times, get two Jews in a room, get three opinions. While I’m sure the Rabbi at the center in Davis signed or would sign this letter, everyone’s views would not be “represented”, though in the context of this headline and above statement, they would be “represented“. This is a key distinction.
A huge diversity of political views exist at the Davis congregation, most especially because it is the only large gathering place for religious Jews in Yolo County. Elsewhere with larger Jewish populations, religious Jews can gather as per their beliefs. And then of course there are the mass of Jews who, although we feel our Jewish-ness in our soul and in our blood, do not attend any formal gathering place.
• Did the majority of Jews in America sign this letter as the headlines implies? Poppycøck.
• Are the majority of Jews “represented” by the signers of this letter? To paraphrase Bill Clinton: That depends on what the meaning of the word “represents”, represents.
The headline was the same one they used. Maybe you can reframe your comment in the future to address points rather than criticize things like headlines.
In terms of your substantive point – the organizations that signed onto to the letter represent a majority of Jews in this country. Somehow you seem to have interpreted majority meaning 50 percent plus one to mean something else.
Then I blame “they”, and you for passing it on uncorrected.
Headlines matter. Oftentimes, however unfortunate for reality, many people only glance the media and take in the headline, possibly believing it. Yet when one digs in, the headline may be false or not a real representation of the story.
I will not say that you missed my point. More correctly, you cannot conceive of my point, because in your world, my point does not exist.
Full agreement with Alan, both counts… no faith based system is ‘monolithic’ with the possible exceptions of some “cults” within them…
Alan speaks from one perspective… same is true in the Catholic Church (yeah, a ‘heresy’), and also true in most Protestant denominations… we do not cede our views to the hierarchy… and neither Jews nor Protestants have much of a ‘hierarchy’…
A secular example, David… if Reisig signed an appeal/petition for the death penalty to continue (or be increased), or recommended harsher sentencing for any crime… citing he was an elected official in Yolo County, and therefore represents the folk in Yolo County, would your headline read:
Majority of Yolo County Citizens Sign Full Page Death Penalty/ Increased Incarceration Ad
I think, but not sure I’ve captured my agreement with Alan’s points… Alan, feel free to correct me…
You’re on the same path, WM
I agree with Alan as well. This was not an “article”–it’s not clear to me, but it appears to be a paid ad. That the letter was published is important, but the misrepresentational headline detracts from the message.
BTW, this was published June 25–not exactly “fresh” news.
https://medium.com/@jewishorgssayblacklivesmatter/majority-of-american-jews-in-full-page-new-york-times-ad-unequivocally-black-lives-matter-60ae44e7c305
The older (and wiser?) I become, the less-likely I do so. (Not limited to the Vanguard.)
Actually, that goes for reporting, as well. 😉
Not sure if any news organization has the “influence” that it once held, due to decentralization of “news” (brought about by technology). (And of course, blogs never did. At least, I hope not.)
Though I would have to say “unequivocally” that black lives matter.
Don’t know anyone who would disagree with that, unless they read more into it.
Careful. Best not to dance in that dance hall. Lots of eggshells on the floor.
I was looking at it as a “binary” choice. 😉
And/or claymores… or ‘bouncing betties’… one, you step on, you’re toast… the other, you can step on, but ‘good luck’ when you try to take your foot off…
Ron O
The problem is that some give that statement lip service, but then act as those lives matter less than others’. If one believes that BLM is true, then act like it.