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Presciptions
​for a More Inclusive World

My Grandfather was a nazi

11/29/2021

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Overcoming the shame of family sins
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Man giving Nazi salute 1930s — IgorGolovniov/Shutterstock
Too many of us carry around sins of others. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles. We live with the shame as if it's our own, and then sometimes we even pass that trauma and shame down to our kids. This piece explains how and why we can and need to end the practice of feeling shameful for others' actions. 
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The Tough Jews Of Chanukah

11/23/2021

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Lessons in self-defense
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1920s Gangster — Ysbrand Cosijn/Shutterstock
The media over and over displays images of Jews being nerdy. Jews as accountants with pencils and calculators in their pockets. Or people who can be pushed around. People who aren’t tough enough to fight back. These repeated stereotypes affect how non-Jews perceive Jews and, frankly, how many of us Jews see ourselves. This article shows why those stereotypes are not only dangerous, they're false. 
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model for peace in the middle east

11/7/2021

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Hand holds a heart Shape UAE and Israel flag, love between two countries / Aritra Deb-Shutterstock
For decades politicians have struggled with elusive Middle East peace. But we now have the clear solution. The Abraham Accords. The uniqueness of this approach was its recognition that in order to achieve real peace, it's not about divorcing from each other. It's about cultural exchange and truly getting to know each other. Celebrating each other. It's really the answer to most of our human divisiveness. This piece breaks it down.
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you don't look jewish

9/9/2021

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We won’t achieve true justice for anyone until Jews are included in social justice
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There’s this bizarre bias, especially among the social justice left, that Jews live in their own post-racial world. Where their ethnicity and identity aren’t worth our protective efforts. Where the Jewish experience is no different than the white experience.

Forget that white Jews are just 70 years from their slaughter where they weren't white enough or that they endure more hate crimes than any other religious group despite being only 2% of the U.S. population. Half of the world's Jews and 60-65% of Israeli Jews aren't white anyway. They are Jews of color. 

This essay explores Jewish identity and why it's time to literally stop whitewashing Jewish identity.

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twelve hours in istanbul

9/9/2021

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Mark Twain once said that travel is the cure to racism
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Travel is one of my favorite things in the world. On a deeper level, it allows us the opportunity to meet and get to know people who are not the same as us. The unintentional result is that we get to undo ingrained unconscious bias we have towards others. 

This essay uses my 2021 visit to Istanbul to highlight the idea of ending racial and ethnic distancing to eradicate our deep biases.
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things that aren't the holocaust

9/5/2021

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A reflective commentary poem
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Wearing a mask
Quarantining in your home for 14 days
Having a post removed on Facebook
Someone from the other party winning an election
Getting blocked by a follower on Instagram
Eating meat
Vaccine Passports
Abortion
Background checks at gun shows
Taking a COVID test before entering an event
High gas prices
Obamacare
Critical Race Theory
The Insurrection at the Capitol
Deporting people who enter the U.S. illegally
Texas’ new abortion law
Magazine clip restrictions
Anything that’s not the Holocaust
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The Forgotten History of Black Yiddish Prayer Leaders

9/3/2021

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Blacks and Jews once modeled a path to end racial distancing
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To escape the horrific racism and systemic oppression in the South, beginning in 1916, millions of southern Blacks migrated north and west to places like Chicago, East St. Louis, Compton, Oakland and Baltimore. And to Harlem, which at the time was home to a sizable Yiddish-speaking Jewish community, also trying to make their own way in a still challenging America. Blacks and Jews were each other’s neighbors, customers, and employers.

One result of that was Black men and women becoming Jewish cantors. Cantors lead the Hebrew (and back then Yiddish) prayer songs on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays. This odd entry into Jewish religious life presented an opportunity for Jews and Blacks to get to know each other and end what I call racial and ethnic distancing. This essay explores that fascinating time in our history.
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Praying for you

8/25/2021

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When Tragedy Struck Denver’s Jewish Community
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Sadly, tragedy struck Denver's Jewish community when five criminals went on a crime spree in August, 2021 and murdered a 19 year-old student from Cleveland who was studying at Denver's premier Jewish learning institution. 

We often hear people send "praying for you" wishes, which are always welcome, but this essay dives into why we must not forget action to accompany our prayers. This approach is fundamental to Jewish teachings. 
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Tragedy As A Tool For Empathy and Action

8/19/2021

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Don’t wait until something happens to you
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This essay explores how we can change the way we care about others’ tragedies. Change the way we practice empathy when someone else cries out in pain. Let’s give some urgency to the challenges confronted by others and their families. We can take more seriously when someone says they are being treated unfairly.

In the aftermath of a horrific criminal murder at my son's Jewish school in Denver, Colorado, it's time we start figuring out empathy. We can't afford to wait until something happens to us to start caring about others. 
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My Ex-Wife And I Put Our Egos Aside To Successfully Raise Our Kids

7/21/2021

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A stranger complimented us by saying we should teach a co-parenting class after divorce
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Well-known contemporary spiritual leader Rabbi Yosef Jacobson once remarked, “When a child gets angry with a parent and says, ‘I don’t want to speak to you ever again,’ two hours later the kid is having ice cream with them. When an adult says they won’t speak to you again, twenty years later, they’re still not invited to the wedding of their adult children.” Why? asks Rabbi Jacobson. Because children choose to be happy. Adults choose to be right.

This essay explores how we can raise beautiful children, even after divorce, while putting our adult egos aside. 
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Zionism isn't racism

6/1/2021

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Respecting Jews and Palestinians
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This essay delves into the definition of Zionism and the historical and indigenous connection of the Jewish people to Israel. ​Zionism isn’t what you think it is. It’s simply the ideology that the Jews have a right to return to their original home. The birthplace of the Jewish people. The land from which they were exiled multiple times. Before Jews ultimately spread to every corner of the world (places like Morocco, Yemen, Iraq, Russia, Germany, Poland, Spain, Brazil, Portugal), Jews were living in the land of Israel under numerous Jewish kings and other rulers.
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American, Chinese, jewish, female

5/26/2021

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The Challenges of Intersectionality
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So many people wear different hats in society, bringing with them different types of challenges and privileges. This essay breaks down the challenges of intersectionality and how we can start addressing those unique experiences. 
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The Key to Ending the Conflict in Israel and Palestine

5/18/2021

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Time for Mutual Recognition
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Israelis and Palestinians have been at each other's throats for the better part of a century. For Jews, Israel is their eternal homeland. It's the place they returned to after so many years of exile. For the Palestinians, it's the place they lived and were expelled from by the returning Jews. The problem is that Israelis reject the Palestinian love and longing for their home, and Palestinians reject the Jewish connection to the same land. This essay explores how mutual recognition is the only path for peace. 

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Anti-Semitism: The Safe Place for Bigots

5/6/2021

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The one hatred that doesn’t get canceled.
Anti-Semitism The Safe Place for Bigots
We justifiably want to cancel racism, sexism, misogyny and other forms of disturbing beliefs and behavior. Most of us want a society where hatred isn't tolerated. Sadly, though, Anti-Semitism isn't approached with the same disdain as other forms of bigotry.

​This essay explores why we need to include hatred of and bias towards Jews in our social justice efforts. ​


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The Liberation of Passover

3/25/2021

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 JEWISH LESSONS FOR COMBATTING OPPRESSION​
The Liberation of Passover Jewish Lessons for Combatting Oppression Jeffrey Kass End Racial Distancing Journal
Passover Seder Symbols/David Cohen-Shutterstock
Passover is the story of the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. From brutal oppression and harsh conditions, the Jewish people were able to cling to their identity, help their fellows and connect with allies in their journey from bondage to freedom. Jeffrey uses the lessons of the Jewish story as a blueprint for our modern race problems, borrowing from his years of learning ancient Jewish texts with renowned rabbis in Israel, New York and St. Louis.

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Emulating Einstein

3/16/2021

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AN ANTI-RACIST MODEL FOR WHITE PEOPLE. BE MORE LIKE ALBERT
Emulating Einstein An Anti-Racist Model for White People Be more like Albert Jeffrey Kass End Racial Distancing Journal
Image: Muhammad suryanto/Shutterstock
Albert Einstein is of course known as arguably the greatest scientist of all time, but what most of us don’t know was Einstein’s work towards a more inclusive world. Einstein worked tirelessly to eradicate racism and unjust systems. He used his position of power to speak out in support of his Black and Brown fellow citizens. He wrote for publications advocating significant change. He befriended and treated as equals many Black men. Einstein was even known to go for walks in Black neighborhoods to do some of his best thinking. Einstein was an original anti-racist. Author Jeffrey Kass shares Einstein’s beautiful life and actions as a guide for us today. This particular essay was read over 4,000 times and shared by major online influencers. It’s a must read. ​

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Stop Leaving Jews Out Social Justice Efforts:

2/22/2021

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DESPITE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF ANTI-JEWISH HATE, UNIVERSITIES OMIT JEWS AND ANTI-SEMITISM FROM VIRTUALLY EVERY ETHNIC STUDIES PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY
​Stop Leaving Jews Out Social Justice Efforts Despite thousands of years of anti-Jewish hate, universities omit Jews and anti-Semitism from virtually every ethnic studies program in the country Jeffrey Kass End Racial Distancing Journal
Typical Yard Sign Fighting Hatred


Most people view Jews as a privileged group. Not needing of any defending. Or including in social justice circles. But the truth is, anti-Semitism remains one of the world’s top vehicles of hate and the main driver, along with hatred of Black people, of white supremacists. Race activist Jeffrey Kass advocates for including Jews in social justice efforts and to raise more voices against the oldest and still growing disease. Anti-Semitism.

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Gifts In Ugly Wrapping Paper Are Still Gifts

12/16/2020

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TIME TO CELEBRATE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Gifts In Ugly Wrapping Paper Are Still Gifts Time to Celebrate Peace in The Middle East Jeffrey Kass End Racial Distancing Journal
Ugly Plain Gift Wrap
​Lovers of peace and justice have a tough time assigning anything good to Donald Trump. By any standard, he stoked the flames of hatred, gave renewed voice to white supremacists and disrespected so many groups it was hard to keep track. From Charlottesville good people on both sides to Mexican rapists, nobody fighting for social justice respects Trump. So when 45 helped procure multiple peace agreements in the Middle East, many on the left remained silent. Author and activist Jeffrey Kass reminds us in this essay that the peace agreements he helped secure among Israel, UAE, Dubai and Morocco are good, regardless of the wrapping paper they came in. That anytime you bring former enemies to peace and normalization it’s a good thing.

This essay is a must read for people wanting intellectual honesty. Lovers of peace and justice have a tough time assigning anything good to Donald Trump. By any standard, he stoked the flames of hatred, gave renewed voice to white supremacists and disrespected so many groups it was hard to keep track. From Charlottesville good people on both sides to Mexican rapists, nobody fighting for social justice respects Trump. So when 45 helped procure multiple peace agreements in the Middle East, many on the left remained silent.

​Author and activist Jeffrey Kass reminds us in this essay that the peace agreements he helped secure among Israel, UAE, Dubai and Morocco are good, regardless of the wrapping paper they came in. That anytime you bring former enemies to peace and normalization it’s a good thing. This essay is a must read for people wanting intellectual honesty. 

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It’s Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Chanukah

11/30/2020

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THE FAILED AMERICAN MELTING POT EXPERIMENT
It’s Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Chanukah The Failed American Melting Pot Experiment
The story of Chanukah has nothing to do with gifts. It’s the story of the Jewish nation in the land of Israel living at the hands of Macedonian rulers. But unlike other abusers of the Jews, these rulers just wanted the Jews to assimilate. To blend in. To become part of the majority. This essay uses the backdrop of the Chanukah story as a guide for us not using the idea of us all melting into one type to achieve national success Author Jeffrey Kass advocates instead we appreciate and celebrate our own and others’ differences rather than melt them away.

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Zionism, Racism, and Colonialism

10/1/2020

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DEFAMATION AND DISTRACTION
Zionism, Racism, and Colonialism Defamation and Distraction
Too often people, particularly on the far left, are so quick to lump the Jews and Israel in with every colonial conquest the world has seen. They do this in the stated name of advocating for Palestinians. This essay dives into why this is counter-productive and actually doesn’t help the Palestinian cause. Author and activist Jeffrey Kass reminds us that the Jews have a 3,000 year connection to the land of Israel and didn’t colonialize anything. Recognizing rather than canceling the Jewish indigenous connection to that land will allow us to practice intellectual honesty and then actually address where the Jewish state has failed the Palestinians. ​

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  • Home
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