Mourning Black Lives and Police Violencea JFREJ ritual toolkit

Introduction

This toolkit is an offering of prayer, ritual, and action for mourning Black lives lost to police violence and racism. It is structured after the following Jewish phases of mourning, acknowledging the natural course of grief and bereavement:

Shiva The first seven days following the burial of the deceasedShloshim The first thirty days following the burial of the deceasedYahrzeit The anniversary of the deceasedYizkor A moment to remember the deceased during Jewish Holidays

COVER: YEHI ZICHRAM BARUCH / MAY THEIR MEMORY BE A BLESSING CALLIGRAPHY BY ARIELLE TONKIN

2

REBECCA KATZ

The intention of this toolkit is to provide both immediate support for the bereaved as well as sustained practices to honor the memory of Black Lives lost through suggested offerings of prayer, ritual, and action. The prayers and rituals listed are offerings for Jewish communities to incorporate into their communal prayer services. Please adapt these offerings in ways that are most meaningful for your community.

PRAY

ER

RITU

AL

ACT

ION

El M

aleh

Rah

amim

with

the i

nclu

sion

of n

ames

of

Blac

k pe

ople

lost

to ra

cism

(App

endi

x 1)

Kad

dish

with

the i

nclu

sion

of n

ames

of B

lack

lives

we

mou

rn (A

ppen

dix

2)

Ligh

t a Y

ahrz

eit ca

ndle

in yo

ur h

ome a

nd/o

r com

mun

al pr

ayer

spac

es.

Kriy

ah is

a ph

ysica

l em

bodi

men

t of m

ourn

ing

by

tear

ing

ribbo

n or

clot

hing

. Tea

r a cl

oth

when

thes

e tra

gedi

es o

ccur

at an

appr

opria

te sp

ace i

n se

rvice

s, pe

rhap

s bef

ore r

eciti

ng K

addi

sh o

r El M

aleh

Rah

amim

.

Mak

e a S

hiva

call

to B

lack

fam

ilies

and

com

mun

ities

in

mou

rnin

g. Fi

nd o

ut w

here

to se

nd fo

od to

or m

ake

dona

tions

for f

ood

to b

e deli

vere

d to

the f

amili

es in

m

ourn

ing.

Org

aniz

e a 7

-day

fund

raisi

ng d

rive f

or b

ail f

unds

and

mut

ual a

id fu

nds.

SH

IVA

3

Psalm

23

(App

endi

x 3)

El M

aleh

Rah

amim

with

the i

nclu

sion

of n

ames

of B

lack

peop

le ki

lled

by p

olice

/lost

to ra

cism

(App

endi

x 1)

Kad

dish

with

the i

nclu

sion

of n

ames

of B

lack

lives

we

mou

rn (A

ppen

dix

2)

Ligh

t a Y

ahrz

eit ca

ndle

in yo

ur co

mm

unal

pray

er sp

ace.

Hos

t a d

ay o

f lea

rnin

g in

mem

ory

of th

e Blac

k liv

es w

e m

ourn

. Sha

re st

orie

s of t

he p

eopl

e who

hav

e die

d to

ill

umin

ate t

heir

hum

anity

. We o

ften

lose

sigh

t of t

he li

ves

and

storie

s beh

ind

the n

ames

.

PRAY

ER

RITU

AL

ACT

ION

SHLO

SHIM

4

Psalm

23

(App

endi

x 3)

El M

aleh

Rah

amim

with

the i

nclu

sion

of n

ames

of B

lack

peop

le ki

lled

by p

olice

/lost

to ra

cism

(App

endi

x 1)

Kad

dish

with

the i

nclu

sion

of n

ames

of B

lack

lives

we

mou

rn (A

ppen

dix

2)

Une

tane

h Tok

ef fo

r Blac

k Li

ves (

Appe

ndix

4)

Ligh

t a Y

ahrz

eit ca

ndle

in yo

ur co

mm

unal

pray

er sp

ace.

Cre

ate a

calen

dar o

f Yah

rzei

t dat

es to

hon

or B

lack

lives

lost.

(S

ee A

ppen

dix

5 for

a lis

t of d

ates)

Org

aniz

e a m

emor

ial d

ay b

y vo

lunt

eerin

g or

fund

raisi

ng

a driv

e for

bai

l fun

ds an

d m

utua

l aid

fund

s (or

oth

er

appr

opria

te fu

nds).

PRAY

ER

RITU

AL

ACT

ION

YAH

RZ

EIT

PRAY

ER

RITU

AL

ACT

ION

El M

aleh

Rah

amim

with

the i

nclu

sion

of n

ames

of

Blac

k pe

ople

lost

to ra

cism

(App

endi

x 1)

Kad

dish

with

the i

nclu

sion

of n

ames

of B

lack

lives

we m

ourn

(App

endi

x 2)

Une

tane

h To

kef f

or B

lack

Live

s (Ap

pend

ix 4

)

Ligh

t a Y

ahrz

eit ca

ndle

in yo

ur h

ome a

nd/o

r co

mm

unal

pray

er sp

aces

.

Kriy

ah is

a ph

ysica

l em

bodi

men

t of m

ourn

-in

g by

tear

ing

ribbo

n or

clot

hing

. Tea

r a c

loth

whe

n th

ese t

rage

dies

occ

ur at

an

appr

opria

te sp

ace i

n se

rvice

s, pe

rhap

s bef

ore

recit

ing

Kad

dish

or E

l Mal

eh R

aham

im.

In tr

aditi

on w

ith p

ledgi

ng tz

edak

ah in

the

Yiz

kor p

raye

rs, c

onsid

er m

akin

g a d

onat

ion

to o

rgan

izat

ions

in m

emor

y of

Blac

k Li

ves.

YIZ

KO

R

1. EL MALEH RAHAMIM with the inclusion of names of Black people lost to racism

Exalted, compassionate God, grant perfect peace in your sheltering presence, among the holy and pure, whose radiance is like the heavens, to the souls of all the Black people killed by police or by racist vigilantes: men, women, and children. May their memory be a blessing, and may they rest in paradise. God of mercy, may they find eternal shelter beneath your sheltering wings, and may their souls be bound up in the bond of life. God is their portion. May they rest in peace. And let us say: Amen.

(from Siddur Lev Shalem)

אל מלא רחמים שוכן במרומים המצא מנוחה נכונה תחת כנפי השכינה. במעלות קדושים וטהורים כזהר

הרקיע מזהערים את נשמות כל אחינו[Black people killed by police

and racist vigilantes] אנשים, נשים וטף שנטבחו ושנחנקו ושנשרפו

ושנהרגו. בגן עדן תהי מנוחתם, אנא בעל הרחמים הסתירם בסתר כנפיך לעולמים. וצרר בצרר החיים

את נשמותיהם ה’ הוא נחלתם, וינוחו בשלום עלמשכבותיהם. ונאמר אמן

Appendix:#SayTheirNames

REBECCA KATZ

suggested prayers to include in synagogue / prayer services

5

Yitgadal v’yitkadash George Floydsh’mei raba Breonna Taylor B’alma di v’ra chirutei Tony McDadev’yamlich malchutei, Jamel Floydb’chayeichon uv’yomeichon Sandra Blanduv’chayei d’chol beit Yisrael, Eric Garnerbaagala uviz’man kariv. Philando CastileV’im’ru: Michael BrownAmen.

Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach, Bettie Jonesl ’alam ul’almei almaya. Tamir RiceYitbarach v’yishtabach Akiya Gurleyv’yitpaar v’yitromam v’yitnasei, Mary Truxillov’yit’hadar v’yitaleh Tyree Crawfordv’yit’halal India Kagersh’mei d’Kud’sha Lamontez JonesB’rich Hu, Billy Ray Davisl ’eila min kol birchata v’shirata, Janet Wilsontushb’chata v’nechemata, Victor Manuel Larosadaamiran b’alma. Alteria WoodsV’imru: Alton SterlingAmen. Y’hei sh’lama Atatiana Jeffersonraba min sh’maya, Akia Gurleyv’chayim aleinu Walter Scottv’al kol Yisrael. Demarcus SemerV’imru: Natasha McKennaAmen.

Oseh shalom bimromav, Hu yaaseh shalom aleinu, v’al kol Yisrael. V ’imru: Amen.

May the one who creates peace on high bring peace to us and to all people. And we say: Amen.

עושה שלום במרומיו הוא יעשה שלום עלינו ועל כל ישראל ואמרו: אמן

This Kaddish, traditional Jewish prayer said for those who have died and to bring comfort to those in mourning, is adapted following a model that was created to uplift those lost in the Holocaust/Shoah. The Kaddish itself is in ancient Aramaic (not Hebrew) and is transliterated. As a resource, here is one well researched, but not comprehensive, list of names of numerous Black people killed by the police.

Adapt the example below for what is of most meaning in your community:

2. KADDISH with the inclusion of names of Black people lost to racism

6

SAM FIN

E

4. UNETANEH TOKEF FOR BLACK LIVESby Imani Chapman

Each day we hazard our Black lives in the Court of the White WorldWe know our worthYet the white world is judge-self-appointedWe pass before you to be counted12.5 million bodies stolen1.8 million mercifully avoided your shoresStolen shores, stolen land10.7 million arrived unsafely…times 401 years…times infinite human indignities…times 3⁄5 of a human beingWe now number 47.8 million

In the morning it is written and by curfew it is sealed• Who shall die while jogging (#AmaudArbery)• Who shall die while relaxing in the comfort of their home (#BothamJean #AtatianaJefferson)

• Who shall die while seeking help after a car crash (#JonathanFerrell #RenishaMcBride).• Who shall die while holding a cellphone (#StephonClark).

A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me to water in places of repose;

He renews my life; He guides me in right paths as befits His name.

Though I walk through a valley of deepest darkness, I fear no harm, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.

You spread a table for me in full view of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my drink is abundant.

Only goodness and steadfast love shall pursue me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for many long years.

מזמור לדודיהוה רעי לא אחסר׃

בנאות דשא ירביצניעל־מי מנחות ינהלני׃

נפשי ישובבינחני במעגלי־צדק למען שמו׃

גם כי־אלך בגיא צלמות לא־אירא רע כי־אתה עמדי

שבטך ומשענתך המה ינחמני׃

תערך לפני שלחן נגד צררידשנת בשמן ראשי כוסי רויה׃

אך טוב וחסד ירדפוני כל־ימי חייושבתי בבית־יהוה לארך ימים׃

3. PSALM 23

7

• Who shall die while decorating for a party (#ClaudeReese).• Who shall die while leaving a party (#JordanEdwards #SeanBell)

• Who shall die while enjoying music (#JordanDavis).• Who shall die while selling music… trying to may a way outta no way (#AltonSterling).

• Who shall die while sleeping (#AiyanaJones)• Who shall die while worshipping the Lrd (#Charleston9).

• Who shall die while for a traffic violation (#SandraBland).• Who shall die while coming from the store (#MikeBrown and #TrayvonMartin).

• Who shall die while playing cops and robbers (#TamirRice).• Who shall die while lawfully carrying a weapon (#PhilandoCastile, #FreddieGray).

• Who shall die while on the shoulder of the road with car problems (#CoreyJones #TerrenceCrutcher).• Who shall die in the first hours of the new year (#OscarGrant).

• Who shall die while shopping at Walmart (#JohnCrawford).• Who shall die while cashing a check in peace (#YvonneSmallwood).• Who shall die while reading a book in their own car (#KeithScott).

• Who shall die while taking a walking with their stepfather (#CliffordGlover).• Who shall die while reaching for their wallet (#AmadouDiallo).

• Who shall die while running away (#WalterScott).• Who shall die while asking a cop a question (#RandyEvans).

• Who shall die while begging for their life, a breath (#EricGarner #GeorgeFloyd).• Who shall die by the effects of supremacy, greed, and apathy…who by beast, indeed

“But repentance, prayer and charity temper judgement’s severe decree”“But repentance, prayer and charity avert judgement’s severe decree”?But turning, connection and giving, these return us to our Gd?Whose repentance? Whose prayer? Whose charity?Temper, please temperTemper already! Temper…

For sins against Gd, the Day of Atonement brings forgiveness; for sins against one’s fellowman, the Day of Atonement brings no forgiveness till he has become reconciled with the fellowman he wronged.

“the Day of Atonement brings no forgivenesstill he has become reconciled with the fellowman he wronged.”When will you atone? How will you atone?

For you, like us, will be judged.You, like us, will return to dust.

8

Ramarley GrahamFEBRUARY 2, 2012

Amadou DialloFEBRUARY 4, 1999

Amoud AberyFEBRUARY 23, 2020

Trayvon MartinFEBRUARY 26, 2012

Brionna TaylorMARCH 13, 2020

Rekia BoydMARCH 21, 2012

Freddie GrayAPRIL 12, 2015

George FloydMAY 25, 2020

Tony McDadeMAY 27, 2020

David McAteeJUNE 4, 2020

Delrawn SmallJULY 4, 2016

Alton SterlingJULY 5, 2016

Philando CastileJULY 6, 2016

Sandra BlandJULY 15, 2013

Eric GarnerJULY 17, 2014

Michael BrownAUGUST 9, 2014

Emmett TillAUGUST 28, 1955

Eleanor BumpersOCTOBER 29, 1984

Tanisha AndersonNOVEMBER 13, 2014

Akai GurleyNOVEMBER 20, 2014

Tamir RiceNOVEMBER 22, 2014

Sean BellNOVEMBER 25, 2006

Malissa WilliamsNOVEMBER 29, 2012

5. YAHRZEIT DATES

9

LAURA WEIL

Ritual Team

This ritual was crafted by Ruben Abrahams Brosbe, Ariana Capptauber,

Ayelet Cohen, Barat Ellman, Madeleine George, Cindy Greenberg, Melanie Kern,

Ellen Lippmann, Jeremy Nicholson, Meirav Ong, and Hannah Rosner

Design Team

This booklet was designed by Samantha Fine, Elana Hubert, and Baci Weiler, with support from Tom Haviv & Rebecca Katz

June 2020 / Sivan 5780