During the Civil Rights movement Blacks and Jews worked together to transform the country. Jews made up two-thirds of the whites who travelled south to join the Freedom Rides and helped register Blacks to vote. The murder of Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney—two young Jews and a young Black civil rights worker—symbolized the historic bonds between these two groups. But these days, as both anti-Semitism and racism are on the rise, Blacks and Jews are often on opposite sides, clashing over Israel, affirmative action and anti-Semitic statements made by leaders of Black Lives Matter. Can this alliance be saved?  And what do the tensions between Blacks and Jews mean for American politics, and for the future—and safety—of both groups. 

Jonathan Kaufman is a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter and editor whose book, BROKEN ALLIANCE: THE TURBULENT TIMES BETWEEN BLACKS AND JEWS IN AMERICA won the National Jewish Book Award and the American Jewish Committee “Present Tense” award. Kaufman has also appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show, served as a consultant on “Eyes on the Prize” television series, and spoken  at Black churches in Boston, Chicago and Atlanta. He is currently a professor and director of the School of Journalism  at Northeastern University in Boston where he teaches the history of Black-Jewish relations to a new generation of students.

There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event. For more information, contact Program Director Ilene Tatro at itatro@cbisd.org.

CSP Partners: Beth Israel (San Diego, CA), Brotherhood Synagogue (Gramercy Park, NYC), Congregation Beth Shalom (Seattle, WA), Congregation B’nai Tzedek (Fountain Valley, CA), Congregation B’nai Israel (Tustin, CA), Jewish Collaborative of Orange County, CA, Shomrei Torah Synagogue (San Fernando Valley, CA), Temple Bat Yahm (Newport Beach, CA), Temple Beth El of South Orange County (Aliso Viejo, CA), Temple Beth Emet (Anaheim, CA), Temple Beth Ohr (La Mirada, CA), Temple Beth Tikvah (Fullerton, CA), Temple Beth Shalom (Needham, MA), Temple Beth Sholom (Santa Ana, CA), Temple Emanuel (Newton, MA), Town & Village Synagogue (NYC, NY), University Synagogue (Irvine, CA), Valley Beth Shalom (Encino, CA) & Walnut Street Synagogue (Chelsea, MA)