Tisha B'Av  Rememberance

Rosh Kodesh
"Tammuz"
June 13th

Father's Day
June 20th

Rabbi
Kadmiel Lewi
June 28th

Fast of
Tammuz
June 29th

Rosh Kodesh
"Av"
July 12

Tisha B'Av
Fast
July 20

Ashirah
Naphtali
July 30th

The Meaning of Tisha B’Av to Us:
A Black Rabbi’s Perspective

Rabbi Sholomo Ben Levy

    For Black Jews the meaning of Tisha B’Av is never far away.  It is not merely a remote holiday commemorating the destruction of the temple in 586 BC and 70 AD. The fact that the temple was destroyed on the same day—the 9^th of  Av—suggest that it was not an accident. Just as lightening does not strike the same spot twice, calamity does not follow a people by coincidence. For us, destruction,  captivity, and the loss of our ancestral heritage has been a recurring and defining experience.

    The reason a permanent homeland with one unified temple has been so important to the Jewish people is because for most of our history we have been nomadic, differentiated from within, and segregated from without. From the time that G-d told Abram to “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house” (Gen 12:1) we have been a people in search of a home and new set of family relations. The very word “Hebrew” עברי  in it most basic definition connotes this transitory and peripatetic  trait.
                                                                                                            (Read article)

Rabbi W.A. Matthew Award Nominees

On Sunday we will present awards to distinguished members of our community. As I looked at the list of nominees in the youth categories, I was struck by how many of these bright, beautiful, and intelligent young people come from black families who have been practicing Judaism for generations. When they are asked, “Are you Jewish? Did you convert? Is your mother Jewish?” they can respond patiently “ I was born Jewish and Judaism has deep roots in my family.” Celeste Jackson and Y’hoshua Murray, described below, are two of our stars this year (nomination form).

Celeste Jackson
Brains, Heart, Faith

Celeste Jackson is the daughter of the late Dr. William  and Gladys Jackson and the granddaughter of Mother Anna Levy. Her family has been an important part of the Israelite community since their days with Chief Rabbi W.A. Matthew. In May of 2010, Celeste graduated with honors from Duke University with a B.A. in Political Science. She received the prestigious Duke University Mary McLeod Bethune Award for Writing. She currently works for a law firm in New York City called Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP. And, if Celeste hasn’t  soared high enough yet, she is studying to get a private pilot’s license.
   Judaism has always been an important part of her life and it will remain so. In addition to her other accolades, Celeste received the Dorot Fellowship to study for a year in Israel. The stated goal of the Dorot Fellowship is to “enliven the American Jewish landscape by seeding the community with a cadre of outstanding young lay leaders who will create new forms, and reinvigorate existing forms, of Jewish expression.” With her background and engaging spirit Celeste will certainly have a lot to contribute to the future of Judaism. (read her bio)

Y'hoshua Murray
Scholar, Athlete, Israelite

Y’hoshua R. Murray: Scholar, Gentlemen, Great Athlete…and an Israelite, too! Well, of course, he is the son of Rabbi Y’hoshua Melchizedek Lewi.  When I asked the rabbi “does your son use his Hebraic name Y’hoshua or the anglicized Joshua?” he said, “its Y’hoshua, just like me.” Although he was raised in Pennsylvania with his mother, Y’hoshua was ceremonially initiated into this community (and into Bnai Yisrael) on the eighth day of his birth and has proudly lived with the responsibility that comes with his name.  Y’hoshua amassed a stellar record of accomplishment during his four years at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. In the classroom, on the football field, and through his civic associations, Y’hoshua exhibits the best of what it means to be an Israelite.

   Yhoshua’s academic accomplishments at Edinboro include being named to the Dean’s List every semester.  He is the recipient of the Marjorie F. Hummell Scholarship and the Edinboro Student Government Student Association Scholarship.  His athletic achievements include Edinboro University Scholar Athlete for the spring semesters of 2007, 2008, and 2009, ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American Fall 2008 and Edinboro University Offensive player of the year for 2009. (read his bio)

Summer Tutoring Registration

"EDUCATE THE GENERATION TO ELEVATE THE NATION"

Prof. Y'sudah Yehudah and the excellent teaching staff of the LAMAD Task Force encourage you to enroll your children for free summer tutoring.  They provide basic skills training and college preparation programs. Additional qualified teachers are welcome. (Register Now) 

Black Jews at the White House

^“The stone which the builders rejected is become the chief cornerstone. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:22-23  There was a time when Black Jews were not welcomed in the halls of power.  Those days are gone forever!  Today, Rabbi Shmuel Funnye travels the world meeting heads of state in Israel, Africa, and America.  Most recently he and Miriam went to the Whitehouse to visit his cousin, Michelle, and her husband, Barack, for their Hanukkah Party.  President Obama told the story of Hanukkah himself and explained to the assembled guests how much this celebration of freedom means to him. Rabbi Funnye, who attended a similar ceremony at the Whitehouse with President George W. Bush said the difference was “President Obama understands the Israelite Community because he has family members who are Black and Jewish. President Obama understands us because he understands the struggles of people who are marginalized because of their identity.” (Read full article)

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