Beyond Jewish Racial Justice Activism: Can Jewish Tradition Guide Us in Times of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter?

The novel coronavirus crisis exposed deep racial inequalities in the United States. People of color are disproportionately affected by the pandemic and its economic impact. These social inequalities, paired with anti-Black racist violence by the police, led to a series of racial justice protests under the umbrella of Black Lives Matter. Many Jews participated and supported these anti-racist efforts. But can Jewish tradition guide us in tackling racist injustices in the twenty-first century? This article will present some dilemmas surrounding traditional Jewish teachings and whether they can help address racial justice today.