Tzedek December 2021 Update

Greetings from Tzedek! This month, we have updates to share on three things: the Winter Coat Drive with Byrd Barr Place, follow up from the film screening and multifaith discussion on “Since I Been Down,” and plans for a new course on the “Torah of Color.”

Winter Coat Drive Now through December 17

This winter, Tzedek and the Social Action Committee are supporting Byrd Barr Place with a warm winter coat drive. Byrd Barr Place is a Black-led organization based in the Central District, uplifting families and individuals in the local community with essential safety net services including a food bank, housing and energy assistance, and more. At the same time, Byrd Barr Place uses this deep knowledge of community to work on systemic change -- both helping residents survive and thrive in the moment and helping Black Washingtonians attain intergenerational well-being.

Byrd Barr Place greatly appreciated CBS members’ generosity when they requested last year’s coat drive, and they are excited we offered to do it again. You can participate in several different ways:

1. Make a donation of any amount, and we will buy coats on your behalf! Visit https://givebutter.com/tzedakah and choose "Winter Coat Drive" from the dropdown menu.
2. Purchase new coats. We invite you to purchase men's, women's, and kids' coats that are warm, waterproof, oversized for fitting over layers of clothing (for adults, that means sizes L, XL, and XXL are preferred) -- and it's super important that the coats have substantial pockets, because some of the folks who will receive the coats are experiencing homelessness and need the pockets to carry their possessions. At the same time, fashion can make people feel good, so we invite you to purchase coats that have style and function. If ordering online, ship to Congregation Beth Shalom, Attention: Winter Coat Drive, 6800 35th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115.
3. Donate clean, "newish" coats you already have. (Please see #2 for a description of what types of coats we seek.) Drop them off at the collection box in the CBS lobby during regular weekday office hours.

The coat drive runs through December 17th, but no need to wait until the end. The weather is already getting cold. We'll be sure to deliver coats to Byrd Barr Place in several batches as we receive them. Byrd Barr Place will give out the adults' coats directly and work with the World School to ensure that children who do not have homes receive the kids' coats.

Since I Been Down – Continuing the Dialogue on Mass Incarceration

Across the Seattle region, more than 700 people registered to watch Gilda Sheppard’s powerful film, “Since I Been Down” and over 220 folks joined an online multifaith discussion afterwards. So great to see many CBS folks in the Zoom room! One of the highlights of the evening was Dr. Sheppard’s live interview with Kimonti Carter, whose story of incarceration and transformation is the centerpiece of the film. Kimonti told us that essential to our work together is our belief that people can change. Truly, Kimonti himself is an incredibly inspiring example of the change that is possible in a human being. Now, it is our turn to change.

The Black and Jewish clergy group’s goal in showing “Since I Been Down” was to create a multifaith community of action devoted to examining the equity, efficacy, and humanity of our incarceration system. They have put together resources:

• A list of key actions that individuals can take to create a more humane justice system: https://tinyurl.com/sinceibeendown
• Survey to improve future events, stay in touch, and continue to work together to create change: http://sibd.us/surveyoct24
• Social media channels for updates about Since I Been Down:  https://www.facebook.com/sinceibeendown/ and https://www.instagram.com/sinceibeendown/

Torah of Color Course

We are working on the details for the Torah of Color course that is part of the Ignition grant that CBS and Tzedek received from the Jewish Federation of Seattle earlier in 2021. While the plans are still in their infancy, the goal is to offer this class in 2022 in a way that connects our modern day anti-racism practice to a grounding in Torah learning. We are in conversation with a Black Jewish educator who would create a custom curriculum, with the perspectives of our community in mind. In addition to speaking with the Tzedek team about our goals, this includes welcoming input from Jews of Color.

If you identify as someone who is Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC) and Jewish, and you would like to share your perspectives with the educator, please contact Melani.