The Latest from From our Staff
Reflections on Selah
I spent the first full week of the year with 23 other Jewish people of color at a retreat in the deserts of Southern California. It was the biggest gathering of JOCs (Jews of Color) that I had ever been … Read More
Karla’s Siyyum Welcome: Blessings on Becoming
Below is the welcome that Karla Van Praag, JOIN’s Executive Director, gave at the opening of our 21st Siyyum Graduation about the theme, “Blessings on Becoming.” We were walking back from the library in April, Aitana and I, carrying a … Read More
Grieving and standing together
“The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.” (Jeremiah 8:20) We are in grief, mourning with others across the country along with the Pittsburgh Tree of Life community. We grieve the loss of 11 precious … Read More
Siyyum Graduation Opening Remarks by Executive Director, Karla Van Praag
On June 20th, our ten 2015-2016 Jewish Organizing Fellows graduated at our annual Siyyum Graduation. Below is Karla Van Praag’s (Executive Director, JOIN for Justice) opening remarks. We are in the home stretch in a season of graduations. So, because imitation … Read More
Finding flint in Flint
This post is by JOIN for Justice Executive Director Karla Van Praag. By now we’ve all heard the horrific story about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, the massive government mismanagement, the lead-poisoned children and the systemic environmental injustice of … Read More