February 22, 2021 American Jews and Whiteness: A Complicated Conversation

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Join us for a special Hebrew College Open Circle Jewish Learning event: “Community Learning with Tema Smith – American Jews and Whiteness: A Complicated Conversation.”

Where do American Jews fit into the racial landscape of the USA? How do issues of race play themselves out inside and outside our community? Join Jewish diversity advocate, educator, and writer, Tema, for an exploration of the relationship between the Jewish community and whiteness that will prepare participants to have challenging conversations about Jews and race in America. 

About Tema Smith

Tema Smith is a diversity advocate, writer and Jewish community builder. She is currently the Director of Professional Development at 18Doors (formerly InterfaithFamily) an organization that empowers people in interfaith relationships to engage in Jewish life and make Jewish choices, and encourages Jewish communities to welcome them. Previously she was Director of Community Engagement at Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto’s oldest synagogue.

Tema is also a contributing columnist at The Forward whose writing has been published in MyJewishLearning, the Globe and Mail, and the Canadian Jewish News. Over the past ten years, Tema has worked to advance the conversation on racially diverse Judaism, working with organizations like Be’chol Lashon, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, the Miles Nadal JCC, CJPAC and conducting trainings and presentations for numerous Jewish organizations, including the Boston JCRC, the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, the Jewish Democratic Council of America, Hillel International, Limmud North America, the JCRC of Greater Washington, the Buffalo JCRC, Hadassah, the AJC, and the ADL.

Tema is also a member of the Nexus Task Force examining the issues at the nexus of Israel and Antisemitism in America hosted at the Knight Program in Media and Religion at the USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism