Social Responsibility

Juneteenth Learning and Dialogue: Black and Jewish America

Name: Juneteenth Learning and Dialogue: Black and Jewish America
Start: 2026-06-18T19:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-06-18T21:00:00-04:00
Location: Edlavitch DCJCC

Adults (18+)

Date : Thursday, Jun 18

Time : 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Location : Edlavitch DCJCC
1529 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC

Come together for an evening of learning, reflecting, and conversation as we view an episode of the documentary series Black and Jewish America, then hear from a panel about the experiences of Black Jews in the United States.

Join the EDCJCC, WETA, and the DC Jewish community for an evening of learning, reflection, and conversation. The program will begin with a screening of episode three of Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s documentary series Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History. This powerful series traces the complex relationship between Black and Jewish Americans — a history shaped by both solidarity and tension — while exploring the challenges and enduring promise of that connection.

Following the screening, hear from a panel of Jews of Color from the DMV region, including Rabbi Shais Rishon and Chess Jakobs, as they reflect on the series and discuss how it addresses and represents the experiences of Black Jews in the United States. Panelists will also explore the importance of strengthening interfaith partnerships in this moment and discuss the role community members can play in supporting local Jewish organizations of color already engaged in interfaith solidarity work.

Tickets are $15, with proceeds going directly toward supporting the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center and the cost of hosting community programming. The ticket fee is not in exchange for viewing any film content. This event includes drinks and light desserts (Kosher options available).

We want everyone who would like to join us to be able to participate, so please reach out to Mira Smith at msmith@edcjcc.org if the ticket cost presents a barrier.

This event is presented in partnership with the JCRC of Greater Washington.

About the Panel:

Sara Brenner, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Foundation in Greater Washington, DC, is a thought leader, strategic thinker, community builder, and multi-faceted social entrepreneur. With $400 million in assets, Sara directly the Foundation to support donors and community members in advancing a vibrant Jewish future and thriving world. Alongside the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s leadership, Sara is spearheading the InSolidarity initiative designed to fight hate and extremism in all forms by strengthening relationships and solidarity work happening across Greater Washington’s religious, racial, and ethnic groups. With a career spanning decades in social change and philanthropy, Sara serves as an philanthropic advisor, executive coach, orator, educator and writer on topics that relate to leadership, effective philanthropy, advancing democracy, and fighting antisemitism and racism. She is a guest lecturer at Georgetown University and George Mason University.

Chess Jakobs is a Black and Jewish American writer and environmental social scientist whose debut play “The American Five”, commissioned and produced by Ford’s Theatre, won the Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play in 2026. In addition to being a Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commission playwright, Chess is a playwright in Theater J’s Expanding the Cannon Initiative. Chess’s literary work has been featured in Bechol Lashon’s Jewish& (Nice Jewish Non-Boys), Peace & Riot Magazine (Sum of Steps), and their creative work includes productions at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Olney Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, as well as on and off Broadway. Chess is on the Board of Advisors for DC Climate Week, on the voting committee of the DC Environmental Film Festival, and the founder of The Better Trace Project – an organization on a mission to improve men’s health through environmental stewardship and climate action.

Joshua Maxey is the Executive Director of Bet Mishpachah, Washington, DC’s LGBTQ+ synagogue. A passionate advocate for belonging and inclusion, Josh is dedicated to creating spaces where LGBTQ+ Jews, Jews of Color, and other historically marginalized members of the Jewish community can thrive. Josh serves on the boards of the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center, Washington Hebrew Congregation, and the The Forward Association, and is a member of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Community Leadership Council. Through his professional and volunteer leadership, he works to strengthen Jewish communal life, advance equity and belonging, and foster vibrant, connected communities.

Rabbi Shais Rishon, known by his pen name MaNishtana, is an Orthodox African-American rabbi, author, educator, and thought leader whose work sits at the intersection of faith, race, and Jewish identity. Blending sharp scholarship with cultural fluency, he challenges assumptions about what—and who—constitutes the Jewish experience. Rabbi Rishon is the author of Ariel Samson: Freelance Rabbi” a 2018 Jewish Book Council Awards finalist for Debut Fiction; The Souls of Black Jewish Folk released in February of 2026; and the upcoming B’Esh Sh’chorah/In Black Fire, the first Torah commentary written by an Eidot CHeMDaT”A Jew, and his essays, lectures, media appearances, and sermons have redefined conversations on inclusion and authenticity within contemporary Judaism. He is also the founder of Ohel Eidot Chemdata, the first modern-orthodox synagogue centering African American (Eidot CHeMDaT”A) Jews headquartered in our nation’s capital. Through his writing, storytelling, teaching, and lecturing Rabbi Rishon continues to expand the canvas of Jewish life, illuminating its diverse voices and sacred possibilities.