Iranian American Jews for Racial Justice

01/28/2021

Word of the week has moved to a new night. Don’t worry, we will release something special for Shabbat! This week we ask you to join us as we reflect on the American reality of being a neighbor, the Persian abstract concept of being a neighbor, and the Jewish moral concept of being a neighbor.

01/18/2021

Many times over this summer we heard people say (and maybe we said) “I agree but I don’t agree with how they’re protesting” as a means of evading the true issue at hand. Racism and police brutality continue to plague us. As we honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. today, let us not become the new “white moderate” who sit silently while there is injustice. Let us not prioritize our comfort. We must act with the fierce urgency of now.

11/21/2020

For this week’s Shabbat we reflect on the word solidarity and what it means to not only take action but to collectively organize IAJs to create powerful change towards racial justice.

10/28/2020

Our mission is to educate, engage, and empower Iranian American Jews to strive to be allies to our Black neighbors. One way to accomplish that mission is by using our right and privilege to vote to support racial justice in our community through Action, Allyship and Policy.

The voting guide lists our voting recommendations as well as arguments for the opposing vote to give readers the entire picture for each item.

Please vote by dropping off your mail in ballot, going to an early voting site or voting in person by November 3rd!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ACxkfOopuT6-L336jewUPfa8YWKMpzWDG_NC08psgGs/edit

09/19/2020

May her memory and her legacy be for a blessing and a revolution. Thank you, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

09/18/2020

As , we are committing ourselves to charting our collective history and to confronting racism in the year 5781. Each week we will be posting a Shabbat to educate and initiate conversations surrounding racial justice. This week we will commencing with the words RACE and ETHNICITY. As we work towards racial justice, it's important for us to recognize the historical and social ambiguities around race and ethnicity as we continue the process of learning, unlearning, and relearning.

09/11/2020

We are proud to amplify the voice and the call of one of our fearless leaders, Shannon Mirshokri:

"As Iranian Jewish Americans, we are here to call out what is happening—injustice. Whether the Beverly Hills Police Department is using their power of policing and prosecution to deter residents from protesting police brutality and the unjust loss of Black lives, or if they are trying to support the multicultural community of Beverly Hills by “protecting and serving” in this capacity, we are united in our condemnation of the invoking of our community's pain and trauma in this police report. To the Black community in Los Angeles and beyond: we are your neighbors, your hamsayehs, your
schenim, and vow to stand up with you today and always."

Read the full open letter to the Beverly Hills Police Department published today in the Beverly Hills Courier here: https://bhcourier.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/091120FIssue.pdf?fbclid=IwAR18mocf0PRxy9TgLM47wVP23FrwuNhdoDyUNIWbOuBfp48K4KcPFGdnW2A

08/28/2020

A Prayer for , his family, and the soul of our country.

08/18/2020

We are looking forward to welcoming Senator Anna M. Kaplan to our IAJ for Racial Justice community this week in From Refugee to Rep: A Conversation with Senator Anna Kaplan.

Capacity is limited - please be sure to register ahead of time here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0lzNK9_dTe6BjhErKPkj1w

07/31/2020

Though civil rights leader John Lewis is no longer with us, he has left us with these powerful words to inspire and guide us. We promise to elevate and amplify them through our own words and actions.

“Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble.

When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last and that peace finally triumphed over violence, aggression and war. So I say to you, walk with the wind, brothers and sisters, and let the spirit of peace and the power of everlasting love be your guide.”

Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe.

07/22/2020

We are incredibly humbled by the overwhelming excitement in response to our upcoming virtual event, From Refugee to Rep: A Conversation with Senator Anna Kaplan.

We regret to inform you that due to changes in Senator Kaplan’s legislative schedule, we will be rescheduling this event for Wednesday, August 19, 2020 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm PST.

If you are already registered, your registration will be transferred automatically.

If you are not yet registered for the event, please register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0lzNK9_dTe6BjhErKPkj1w?fbclid=IwAR1RIMoAomPFxoIn-0lWbEOhFgHeQfHUZdcVL8CHqToTqRil0UdqZMInkXk

Please do not hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions. We look forward to hosting this important and timely conversation next month.

In Solidarity,
Iranian American Jews for Racial Justice, 30 Years After, and Iranian American Jewish Federation Leadership