JFREJ Ritual Toolkit for Mourning Black Lives and Police Violence

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 deceased. Shloshim - The first 30 days following the burial of the deceased. Yahrzeit - The anniversary of the deceased. Yizkor - A moment to remember the deceased during Jewish Holidays.

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.

Shiva - What does it look like to sit shiva with another community? Shiva Prayers 1. El Maleh Rahamim with the inclusion of names of Black people lost to racism See end of this document for full text. 2. This Kaddish (with the inclusion of names of Black lives we mourn) See end of this document for full text.

Shiva Rituals 1. Light a Yahrzeit candle in your home and/or communal prayer spaces. 2. Kriyah is a physical embodiment of mourning by tearing ribbon or clothing. Tear a cloth when these tragedies occur at an appropriate space in services, perhaps before reciting Kaddish or El Maleh Rahamim. Shiva Actions 1. Make a Shiva call to Black families and communities in mourning. Find out where to send food to or make donations for food to be delivered to the families in mourning.

2. Organize a 7-day fundraising drive for bail funds and mutual aid funds.

Shloshim - Traditionally shloshim is marked by a day of learning in memory of the deceased.

Shloshim Prayers: 1. Psalm 23 2. El Maleh Rahamim for the Black people killed by police (and/or with the inclusion of names of individual Black people lost to racism). See end of this document for full text. 3. This Kaddish (with the inclusion of names of Black lives we mourn) See end of this document for full text.

Shloshim Rituals: 1. Light a Yahrzeit candle in your communal prayer space.

Shloshim Action: 1. Host a day of learning in memory of the Black lives we mourn. Share stories of the people who have died to illuminate their humanity. We often lose sight of the lives and stories behind the names. See Shloshim Action listed at the end of this document offering brief descriptions of Black lives we mourn.

Yahrzeit

Yahrzeit Prayers: 1. Psalm 23 2. El Maleh Rahamim with the inclusion of names of Black people lost to racism See end of this document for full text. 3. This Kaddish (with the inclusion of names of Black lives we mourn) See end of this document for full text.

4. Unetaneh Tokef for Black Lives Yahrzeit Rituals: 1. Light Yahrzeit candles in communal prayer spaces.

Yahrzeit Actions 1. Create a calendar of Yahrzeit dates to honor Black lives lost. See end of document for a list of dates. 2. Organize a memorial day by volunteering or fundraising a drive for bail funds and mutual aid funds (or other appropriate funds).

Yizkor

Yizkor Prayers: 1. El Maleh Rahamim with the inclusion of names of Black people lost to racism a. See end of this document for full text. 2. This Kaddish (with the inclusion of names of Black lives we mourn) a. See end of this document for full text. 3. Unetaneh Tokef for Black Lives Yizkor Actions 1. In tradition with pledging tzedakah in the Yizkor prayers, consider making a donation to organizations in memory of Black Lives.

Prayers

#SayTheirNames: Suggested Prayers to include in Synagogue / prayer services

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 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 על משכבותיהם. ונאמר אמן

Kaddish with the inclusion of names of Black people lost to racism

Kaddish to honor those we’ve lost: #SayTheirNames

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:

Yitgadal v’yitkadash George Floyd 3

sh’mei raba Breonna Taylor B’alma di v’ra chirutei Tony McDade v’yamlich malchutei, Jamel Floyd b’chayeichon uv’yomeichon Sandra Bland uv’chayei d’chol beit Yisrael, Eric Garner baagala uviz’man kariv. Philando Castile V’im’ru: Michael Brown Amen.

Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach, Bettie Jones l’alam ul’almei almaya. Tamir Rice Yitbarach v’yishtabach Akiya Gurley v’yitpaar v’yitromam v’yitnasei, Mary Truxillo v’yit’hadar v’yitaleh Tyree Crawford v’yit’halal India Kager sh’mei d’Kud’sha Lamontez Jones B’rich Hu, Billy Ray Davis l’eila min kol birchata v’shirata, Janet Wilson tushb’chata v’nechemata, Victor Manuel Larosa daamiran b’alma. Alteria Woods V’imru: Alton Sterling Amen.

Y’hei sh’lama Atatiana Jefferson raba min sh’maya, Akia Gurley v’chayim aleinu Walter Scott v’al kol Yisrael. Demarcus Semer V’imru: Natasha McKenna Amen. ֶעוֹשׂה ָשׁלוֹם ִבּ ְמ ָרוֹמיו הוּא יֲַע ֶשׂה ָשׁלוֹם ָעֵלינוּ וְַעל ָכּל יִ ְשָׂרֵאל .וְִא ְמרוּ: ֵאָמן

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.Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba.

B’alma di v’ra chirutei, v’yamlich malchutei, b’chayeichon uv’yomeichon uv’chayei d’chol beit Yisrael, baagala uviz’man kariv. V’im’ru: Amen.

Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach l’alam ul’almei almaya.

Yitbarach v’yishtabach v’yitpaar v’yitromam v’yitnasei, v’yit’hadar v’yitaleh v’yit’halal sh’mei d’Kud’sha B’rich Hu,

l’eila min kol birchata v’shirata, tushb’chata v’nechemata, daamiran b’alma. V’imru: Amen.

Y’hei sh’lama raba min sh’maya, v’chayim aleinu v’al kol Yisrael. V’imru: Amen.

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

Psalm 23

כ״ג

ֹ ִמְזמ֥וֹר ְלָד ֑וִד יְה ֥וָה רִֹ֝ע֗י ל֣א ֶא ְחָֽסר׃

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

ִבְּנא֣וֹת ֶ֭דּ ֶשׁא יְַרִבּיֵ֑צִני ַעל־ֵ ֖מי ְמֻנח֣וֹת יְַנ ֲהֵֽלִני׃

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

ַנְפ ִ ֥שׁי יְשׁוֵֹב֑ב יְַֽנֵ ֥חִני ְב ַמְעְגֵּלי־ֶ֝צֶ֗דק ְל ַ֣מַען ְשׁ ֽמוֹ׃

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

ֹ ַ֤גּם ִֽכּי־ֵאֵ֨לְך ְבֵּ֪גיא ַצְל ָ֡מוֶת לא־ִ֘איָ֤רא ָר֗ע ִכּי־אַ ָ ֥תּה ִע ָמִּד֑י ִשְׁב ְטָ֥ך וּ֝ ִמ ְשַׁעְנֶתָּ֗ך ֵה֣ ָמּה יְַֽנ ֲח ֻֽמִני׃

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.

ַתֲּערְֹ֬ך ְלָפַ֨ני ׀ ֻשְׁל ָח֗ן ֶ֥נֶגד צְֹרָ֑רי ִדּ ַ ֖שְּׁנ ָתּ ַב ֶ ֥שֶּׁמן רֹ֝א ִשׁ֗י כּוִֹס֥י ְרוָיָֽה׃

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

אְַ֤ך ׀ ט֤וֹב וֶָ ֣חֶסד ֭יְִרְדּפוִּני ָכּל־יְֵמ֣י ַחיָּ֑י וְ ַשְׁב ִתּ֥י ְבֵּבית־ ֝יְהוָ֗ה ְלאֶֹ֣רְך יִָֽמים׃

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.

Unetana Tokef for Black Lives: Unetaneh Tofek for Black Lives By Imani Chapman

Each day we hazard our Black lives in the Court of the White World We know our worth Yet the white world is judge-self-appointed We pass before you to be counted 12.5 million bodies stolen 1.8 million mercifully avoided your shores Stolen shores, stolen land 10.7 million arrived unsafely ...times 401 years ...times infinite human indignities ...times 3⁄5 of a human being We 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).

• 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 temper Temper already! Temper…

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

Shloshim Action

- In his neighborhood, George Floyd had a reputation as someone who had your back and was there for you when you were down. He was loved by all the employees and customers at the restaurant where he worked security, and he often stayed late to help clean up the bar. He moved to Minnesota to build a better life for himself and his 6-year-old daughter, Gianna. When she grows up, Gianna wants to be a doctor, so that she can help people. - Breonna Taylor loved to sing, cook, and play cards with her aunts. She always was the first to check on her friends. She loved her job as an EMT, and even during the stress of coronavirus she welcomed the opportunity to give back and make a difference in someone’s life. Wrote on her Facebook page, “Working in health care is so rewarding! It makes me so happy when I know I’ve made a difference in someone else’s life!"

- Tony McDade was a self-proclaimed chef and was learning to cook vegetarian food. He liked to play basketball and box. His family remembers his beautiful singing voice, his “hidden talent.” Despite the challenges he had faced, he was committed to bettering himself and his life. - David McAtee was known as a pillar of his community. He ran YaYa’s BBQ, a popular food cart in the West End, and was working to build a brick-and-mortar restaurant in his neighborhood. David was known for offering free meals to police officers and community members in need. He would often donate his time, food, and skill to community events across the district. - Ahmaud Arbery wanted to be an electrician. He attended South Georgia Technical College for about a year and a half, but when money got tight for the family he left college to help support his mother and siblings. He would always help out around the house, whether moving heavy furniture or fixing electrical outlets. He was loving and encouraging to his friends, a “hype man” who would give a playful nudge to freestyle rap lyrics or to do high intensity workouts at the gym. He had always been an athlete, and played football from his flag football team at six years old to his high school football team at Brunswick High School. - Alton Sterling was working hard to build a better life for himself after his release from prison. He was working part-time as a cook, and also loved to cook for the other men in his transitional housing, especially rice and beans. He sold CDs as an entrepreneurial gig, and was known in the community as “the CD Man.” Alton spent all his free time with his five children; he was committed to bettering their lives as a family. - Philando Castile was beloved at the elementary school where he was the cafeteria supervisor. He memorized the names of the 500 children he served every day, along with all of their food allergies. He would even tutor students in math. He is remembered by students, parents, and colleagues as a role model who transformed their school cafeteria into a positive and cheerful community space. - Sandra Bland was outspoken about police brutality and the treatment of Black people in America. Sandra was planning to begin a job as a student ambassador at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M, a historically black state university in a largely rural part of southeast Texas. Friends and family say she was excited and looking forward to this next stage in her life. She told her mother, “Now I know what my purpose is. My purpose is to go back to Texas. My purpose is to stop all social injustice in the South.” - Everyone in the neighborhood knew Freddie Gray. He made the old-timers and the young kids of Gilmor Homes laugh with his off-key singing and perpetual smile. His friends remember him as loyal, warm, and kind-hearted. He visited his mom every day. His girlfriend remembers, “Every time you saw him, you just smiled, because you knew you were going to have a good day.” - Eric Garner was known as “Big E” in his neighborhood, a congenial giant with a generous gesture or a calming word. He worked for the city parks department, and in his spare time practiced photography near the Staten Island Ferry. He was a father of six. His daughter Erica remembers his pride

in being Black; together, they watched movies like Do the Right Thing and speeches by Malcom X and Martin Luther King Jr. - At 12, Tamir Rice was the youngest of his three siblings, and loved to be with them. Tamir loved sports, video games, cartoons, big stuffed animals, cheese pizza, and salad with “just cheese” and ranch dressing. He loved the arts, and the process of creative self-expression brought him joy. - Michael Brown graduated from Normandy High School, and was a week away from starting college in pursuit of a career as an HVAC engineer. He liked to rap and to toss a football with his friends in the parking lot of his grandmother’s apartment building. Mike’s father remembers, when there was “any problem going on, any situation, there wasn’t nothing that he couldn’t solve. He could bring people together.” - At nine years old, Trayvon Martin saved his father’s life when he pulled him out of a house fire. As a teenager, he wanted to be a pilot or an aircraft mechanic, a career he pursued at the George T. Baker Aviation School. He hoped to attend the University of Miami Florida or Florida A&M after he graduated. He would often babysit for his little cousins, and loved to bake them cookies or take them to Chuck E. Cheese. - Ramarley Graham was born and raised in the Bronx and was a high school student at the Young Scholars Academy of The Bronx where he aspired to travel the world and become a veterinarian. - Mohammed Bah a 28-year-old immigrant from Guinea, who worked as a cab driver and had been a student at Borough of Manhattan Community College. - Described by his mother as “shy, smart, sensitive, Amadou Diallo was Guinean immigrant born to part of a historic Fulbe trading family. According to his mother, he dreamed of being a teacher and was excited about starting college. He loved to read and enjoyed soccer and basketball. Having grown up in 3 countries and visited several others before coming to the United States, Amadou was well-rounded and spoke 5 languages. - Sean Bell enjoyed baseball and acting as a child. His plan was to become an electrician. He was engaged to marry Nicole Poultre with a wedding scheduled for November 26, 2006 and was celebrating with his friends at a Bachelors’ Party the night before, the night he was shot.

Yahrzeit Actions

Yahrzeit dates for calendar:

Emmett Till—August 28, 1955

Eleanor Bumpers—October 29, 1984

Amadou Diallo—February 4, 1999

Sean Bell—November 25, 2006

Ramarley Graham—February 2, 2012

Trayvon Martin—February 26, 2012

Rekia Boyd—March 21, 2012

Malissa Williams—November 29, 2012

Sandra Bland—July 15, 2013

Eric Garner—July 17, 2014

Michael Brown—August 9, 2014

Tanisha Anderson—November 13, 2014

Akai Gurley--November 20, 2014

Tamir Rice—November 22, 2014

Freddie Gray—April 12, 2015

Delrawn Small-- July 4, 2016

Alton Sterling—July 5, 2016

Philando Castile—July 6, 2016

Amoud Abery—February 23, 2020

Brionna Taylor—March 13, 2020

George Floyd—May 25, 2020

Tony McDade—May 27, 2020

David McAtee—June 4, 2020