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RS Anti-Racism Work Group 

Centering brown and Black voices, we commit to the sustained work of anti-racism in ourselves and in our world.  God creates a single person first, for the sake of peace among humankind that one should not say to the other, “My lineage is greater than your lineage; my race is greater than your race” (Talmud). Please click here if you are an RS member and would like to participate in this group. 

POWER Interfaith Campaigns

Rodeph Shalom, as a founding member of POWER Interfaith’s network of congregations, shares in its mission statement to accept the responsibility that as people of faith, we must exercise our power to promote justice and advance the common good. This current effort grows directly out of the RS Anti-Racism Journey group’s study and commitment to action.

Education Justice Campaign:
Can you speak truth to power? Are you a parent or grandparent of a Philadelphia public school student, a school staff member, or a community resident who wants full, fair education funding in Philadelphia at last? Then RS and POWER want you now! We at RS, in alliance with POWER‘s Philadelphia’s Education Justice Team, will work to muster support for fair funding for all of Philadelphia public schools. Learn about immediate virtual actions such as one-on-one video or phone meetings, and future actions that may include writing letters, virtual public speaking, and attending virtual rallies. Through these acts, we will advocate for full fair education funding. A document will be distributed soon that we will use to strengthen our ability to confidently and knowledgeably participate in the upcoming May 18 primary to learn about district attorney and judicial candidates and their goals and priorities.

Live Free Criminal Justice Campaign:
As part of our anti-racism journey, RS congregants have had the opportunity to get involved with POWER Interfaith campaigns. One of their campaigns, “Live Free,” focuses on the justice system with teams that address Police Accountability, Ending Gun Violence, Immigration, and Ending Mass Incarceration. In the May 18 primary, Philadelphians will select candidates whose decisions play a central role in mass incarceration. Please contact Debbie Davies at deb.davies@comcast.net 

  

Please Note:

For our Discussion and Action Sessions:

Covenant for Interaction.  I will strive to…
Assume good intent
Use I statements
Take my share, and only my share, of space
Approach with curiosity assuming there’s something new to discover
Welcome discomfort in challenging ideas, diverse opinions and disagreement
Be mindful our group is multi-racial
Show respect and not shame
Ask for clarification
Not judge
Be present as an active listener
Interact in a way that honors the oneness of God and of us all


To catch up on previous readings of the RS Anti-Racism Work Group:

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

Daily Resource Learning for October

“Unlearning Racist Conditioning” podcast with Erin Trent Johnson and ABA 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge

Marra Gad, The Color of Love: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl
An experience of one Black and Jewish voice of our time.