By Miriam Gershenson
SAN DIEGO — Barrett Holman Leak has dedicated her life to being a bridge builder. With that in mind, it was no surprise that she noticed a gap between the Jewish and African American Jewish communities. Recognizing the need for connection, she decided to organize a shared Shabbat dinner.
It wasn’t long after she decided to join the Juneteenth Freedom Festival, where she felt the Jewish-Black movement deserved representation. With determination, she organized the Jewish Solidarity Tent at the festival, now a staple for the third consecutive year.
Holman Leak said the Sabian Symbol under which she was born correctly indicated the course her life would take. “The Sabian Symbols have a San Diego connection,” she said. “They were created in 1925 in Balboa Park in a collaboration by a very intuitive young woman, Elsie Wheeler, and a spiritualist minister. They gave symbolic images to all the degrees of the zodiac. The degree for the day I was born is represented by Virgo 4. The symbolic image for Virgo 4″ is ‘Black and White children playing happily together.’ It was a radical concept in 1925 and sadly, a radical concept now in many ways. But it is my personal mission, the calling upon my life: to build bridges between between people and across cultures.”
After hosting that first Shabbat dinner, the Playing Together Project was born. It is not a political movement. Its mission is to unite and center African American Jews through a shared love of movies, music, and art by leveraging common cultural experiences and a deep history of resilience. Holman Leak recognized the need for conversation about Jewish and African American solidarity and that people didn’t know how to begin. The Playing Together Project offers the perfect space to foster these discussions. The project gained momentum as people opened their doors and minds, hosting Kwanza Shabbats and setting up a tent at the Juneteenth Freedom Festival. Support comes from individuals, JCC, and the ADL, providing educational material and making a tangible difference.
“We are stronger together than apart,” says Holman Leak. This movement is not about interfaith or political ideology but rather an intercultural bond. Both communities understand what it’s like to be oppressed, with a commonality that includes Zionism. The average African American church is Zionist in outlook.
“The only people served by a divide between the two groups are White nationalists,” Holman Leak notes. Historically, both Black and Jewish communities have been targeted by White European supremacists. The Playing Together Project seeks to rekindle and strengthen an alliance that dates back to the early 20th century, when Jewish leaders played a crucial role in the NAACP’s founding and civil rights activism.
Holman Leak’s passion for this project is deeply personal. As an African American Jewish woman, she has lived in both cultures. Her upbringing was steeped in Jewish traditions—Shabbat candles, home libraries, and traditional foods—all while being part of the African American community. Her closest friends, whether Black or Jewish, shaped her understanding of solidarity and resilience.
From an early age, Holman Leak was acutely aware of racism and antisemitism. A poignant memory from her childhood remains vivid: visiting Zuckerman’s candy store and seeing the numbers tattooed on Mrs. Zuckerman’s arm. Realizing their significance, she began to cry, but Mrs. Zuckerman reassured her, saying, “It’s okay. I’m here. I survived.” This moment cemented Holman Leak’s lifelong belief in standing up for what is right.
Despite her deep Jewish identity, Holman Leak often walked through life being perceived only as a woman of African heritage. This duality fuels her commitment to uniting African American and Jewish communities in San Diego.
The Playing Together Project welcomes anyone interested in joining or supporting its mission. Visit https://togethernesssd.wordress.com/ for more information. On February 15, a new website will launch at www.playingtogether.org. You can always email them at playtogethersd@gmail.com if you would like to host or join a dinner, help with the Jewish Solidarity Tent at the Juneteenth Freedom Festival, or create educational material. Donations are also welcome which provide meals and materials.
The Playing Together Project is also bringing Dumisani Washington to San Diego from February 21-23. During his time here, there will be the first-ever Black-Jewish clergy breakfast. Additional events include:
- A lecture for students via Hillel San Diego.
- A Havdalah service at Temple Emanu-El.
- A film screening at the Hall of Nations with the House of Israel, followed by a lecture from Dumisani Washington.
- The Stand With Us Herzl Dinner, where Washington will be the keynote speaker.
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Miriam Gershenson is a freelance writer based in Escondido, California. She and Barrett Holman Leak, the subject of this article, are both freelance journalists whose articles frequently appear in San Diego Jewish World.