barrettAmerican life has been very challenging lately and it seems there’s a new chaotic thing happening every day. But when we get to Friday, my heart lifts. I made it to the end of the week. I clean and organize and prepare to rest. I prepare to let Shabbat take care of me as I take care to observe Shabbat. This past Friday was no different.
This past week was Martin Luther King Week and it kicks off celebrations and remembrances of Black history and African American heritage in the United States of America that will last through February. I had arranged a small Playing Together Shabbat dinner at a friend’s home for 10 of us. The aroma of challah filled the air, mingling with the subtle scents of spices. Candles flickered on the counter in front of the window, casting a warm, inviting glow on our faces that reflected the beautiful tapestry of humanity. This wasn’t just any Shabbat dinner; it was a sacred gathering designed to weave together the vibrant threads of Black, Brown, and Jewish experiences, uniting individuals over shared history and a collective hope for a more just future.
We were mixed group, about half Jewish. Six of us were from a communities thadoesn’t know much about Judaism or Jews but was in the crossfire of a lot of anger about antisemitism lately. I reached out and invited them to share a Shabbat meal and some conversation. I wanted to build a bridge.
We used some ice breakers and conversation starters as part of our dinner. The conversation was slow, hesitant and a bit superficial at first. Then we seemed to hit our stride and begin talking from our hearts…sometimes laughing. I shared about the intersection in which I live as a an American Jew of Color (JOC), and about the multifaceted identities within the Jewish community itself. My Jewish friend and I both shared some of our experiences as Jews in America. Our guests recalled their experiences as Black and Brown people in this country. Sometimes we shook our heads, atother times we laughed. And we talked about how we could back to a place of walking wth each other again – because we must.
We had entered into Shabbat and I was more at peace than I had been all week. This Shabbat dinner became a living bridge. As we shared stories of struggle and triumph, we discovered common ground in the fight for dignity and liberation. We could see parallels in the yearning for a safe home, the right to self-determination, and the freedom to express one’s identity without
Civil rights history isn’t just a lesson; it’s a mirror reflecting our interconnectedness.
Playing Together Shabbats are always beautiful gatherings. Over bites of delicious food, and sips of various beverages, conversations flow, not just about history, but about the present and the future. What does racial justice mean today? The amazing body of work of Rob Reiner in championing racial justice and living Jewish values before he was murdered in the last month. How can we build a world where all are truly free? How do we cross seemingly uncrossable divides? The answers begin to emerge, not as pronouncements, but as shared understandings forged in the warmth of community and the light of shared purpose.
These Shabbat dinners are more than a meal; they a declaration. It’s a declaration that our liberation is bound together, that our histories, though distinct, are deeply intertwined, and that our future is brightest when we stand, learn, and grow together. It’s a testament to the power of audacious hospitality, where colorism, racism, sexism and more do not prevent any voice from being heard. Every experience is honored. Every heart is opened to the possibility of a more unified and equitable world.
The evening ended with more love nad understanding than it began with and I was glad for it. Are you interested in being part of a Playing Together Shabbat event? Stay tuned for our next invitation and be sure to register. We look forward to your presence!