The NAACP is currently leading an 860-mile march from Selma, AL to Washington, D.C., calling it “America’s Journey for Justice.” Along the way, they will rally for four issues relating to racial justice, calling out: “our lives, our votes, our jobs, and our schools matter.”
Moved by the Reform Jewish community’s historical commitment to Civil Rights, Rabbi Seth Limmer, former faculty dean for Eisner and Crane Lake Camps, mobilized Reform rabbis and leaders to join with the NAACP on this march. He writes, “Inspired by the image of Dr. King and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel on the bridge [in Selma], I wanted to find a way to make sure the Reform Jewish community shared the entire distance of this journey. Compelled by the legacy of our Rabbi Eisendrath, I thought it would be powerful if our Torah scroll didn’t just appear in DC for the final rally, but accompanied us the entire 860-mile journey.” As Jews, we recognize that all humans are created B’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God, and demand equal rights for all.
At Crane Lake, we are inspired by our movement’s commitment to justice. Upper Bonim, our 7th
grade unit, has been learning in Limud all summer about different ways to repair the world through philanthropy, service, and now through advocacy and action. After learning about several different social justice issues with representatives from Mazon and the RAC, Upper Bonim voted to mobilize our entire camp around the issues of racial injustice.
Yesterday Upper Bonim led our camp in Crane Lake’s own Journey for Justice in solidarity
with the leaders of the Reform movement and the NAACP. Our entire camp marched 860 steps, one for each mile of the journey from Selma to DC. Alongside their handmade posters and
banner, campers carried our Crane Lake Torah as a symbol of the Jewish values that move us to action. The march finished with a rally that educated camp about the issue and what can be done to advance equality and justice.
When Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marched in Selma, he said that he felt that his feet were praying. At Crane Lake we pray with our feet for a more just society and equal rights for all.
To learn more about America’s Journey for Justice and the Reform Movement’s involvement, please visit: http://blogs.rj.org/rac/2015/07/24/praying-feet-americas-journey-justice/
To hear more from our staff and faculty check out this video: https://vimeo.com/135752532
By Sarah Lauing, Director of Jewish Life