How We Talk About Race

Why is talking about race within the Jewish community important? Jennifer Stern Granowitz and Erin Beser speak with Benny Witkovsky, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Sociology at UW-Madison, for some background on how to talk about race in white Jewish learning spaces. Talking about this will inherently make people feel uncomfortable – so let’s get uncomfortable.

Discussion and Reflection Questions

1. What is your experience and understanding of race?

2. Do you think it is important to speak about race in the Jewish community? Why or why not?

3. Where do you see a potential opportunity to incorporate a discussion about race with your students?

4. How can we use our Jewish identities to deepen our understanding of race and racial injustice in America today?

5. A question from Benny Witkovsky: What do we do with our history? How do we use it to bring us to action today?

Resources: Anti-Racism Resources Part 1 for Families (pasyn.org)