By Barrett Holman Leak
WASHINGTON. D.C. — When you are busy doing the work of tikkun olam (repairing our broken world), time passes quickly. Often it seems like there is not enough time. For me, it seems there is not enough time to center African American Jews and connect the African American and American Jewish communities. We eat together and have racial justice dialogue. This work, done through Playing Together Project, is my servant leadership. To my surprise, someone has been watching this outside of San Diego.
I’ve been quietly organizing these dinners (and other events) for almost four years. So, I was surprised to get an invitation to go to Washington D.C. as a Jew of Color (JOC) in leadership. The Union for Reform Judaism movement through the Religious Action Center is hosting the Consultation on Conscience, and I get to be part of it, bringing my leadership experience to a national setting where it can be shared with Reform Jews across the USA as a tool for doing justice.
Thus, I took a last-minute red-eye flight out of sunny, warm San Diego, bundled in a winter coat against a chilling 37°F greeting.
On Friday, I got to meet with Jewish leaders from the URJ, Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ), many other JOC leaders like me, rabbis, congregational leaders, lay leaders, and academics.
We came together with dinner, an Erev Shabbat service and a dessert oneg resounding with prayer, song, teaching and preaching, and conversations throughout the hotel.
We are prepping to do some lobbying on Capitol Hill on Monday on Israel, voting rights, immigration, healthcare and more. We will also learn how to bring effective racial and social justice action steps and training for organizing to our local congregations.
I go to sleep exhausted, but excited to be refreshed by being here with the URJ and RAC. I am refreshed by being affirmed in doing this justice work. When I get back to San Diego. I will be able to approach it with renewed energy. Shavua Tov!