WSSN Stories

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. 

I will not be silent on the issues of racial hatred, violence, and prejudice. I am speaking out publicly in support of the recent call by billionaire African American business leader and philanthropist, Robert F. Smith, to stand up against the resurgence of racism and antisemitism in America.

Blacks and Jews in the United States have had a long history and tradition of working together and sacrificing together for freedom, justice, equality, and equity. Lest we forget that we have marched together for over a century. We have shared blood together. And we have died together for the cause of freedom in the Civil Rights Movement.

Both of our communities today increasingly are the targets of violent hatred, ignorant stereotypes, and a demonic supremacist ideology. Racism and antisemitism are twin evils that cannot be ignored or trivialized.

In a recent full page paid advertisement in The New York Times, Robert F. Smith affirmed, “At a time when racism and antisemitism are on the rise, I am determined to partner with leaders from all faiths to recognize ‘Fifteen Days of Light’. We are unifying to celebrate Chanukah and Kwanzaa together and encourage communities nationwide to join us in our support for one another.”

“Fifteen Days of Light” is a timely national opportunity to do what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. prophetically defined as the development and establishment of a “Beloved Community.” Dr. King envisioned that this would be a nationwide multiracial community where there would be no racism, no antisemitism, and no hatred toward anyone. All people, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or faith would live together with mutual respect and unconditional love for all.

As we prepare to go into 2023, disunity between Blacks and Jews is ahistorical and counterproductive. We cannot afford to be nonchalant or indifferent. Smith’s statement to encourage participation in acts of remembrance across the nation celebrating both Chanukah and Kwanzaa together over a 15-day period this month reminded me of the need to reaffirm the solidarity between Blacks and Jews.

I attended the historic 1963 March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his eloquent and transcendent “I Have a Dream” speech. I recall the strong advocacy from Jewish leaders like Arnold Aronson of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights that supported Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the NAACP, and other civil rights organizations at the March on Washington.

That day I also remember hearing from a dynamic young freedom fighter named John Lewis who emphasized the urgency for racial equality. Then there was a young Jewish folk singer named Bob Dylan who performed at the March a haunting song he wrote about the tragic assassination of civil rights leader Medgar Evers in Mississippi.

On that sunny day in August of 1963 in Washington there were other freedom movement speakers that included a number of prominent Jewish voices from across the country, including the outspoken Rabbi Joachim Prinz, who spoke about “the shame and disgrace of inequality and injustice” facing the Black community.

Later that year in November 1963 Dr. King joined with theologian Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel at the United Synagogue of America’s Golden Jubilee Convention in New York City. King and Heschel pledged to work together to end racism and antisemitism. In 1965 when Dr. King, John Lewis, Hosea Williams and other civil rights leaders marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, the historic Selma to Montgomery March, for voting rights, Rabbi Heschel was there marching shoulder to shoulder in solidarity.

The Black community and the Jewish community share a long, shared history of struggle and fighting for civil rights – from August and Henrietta Bondi’s home in Kansas being used as a stop on the Underground Railroad to Jewish organizations participating in the protests following the murder of George Floyd and the acceleration of the Black Lives Matter movement.

According to recent national law enforcement data, today there has been an unprecedented increase in hate crimes targeted against Black and Jewish communities. According to the Anti-Defamation League, 2021 was the highest year on record for documented reports of harassment, vandalism and violence directed against Jews since the organization began tracking incidents in 1979.Thus far in 2022 the incidents of antisemitism have not declined but have steadily increased.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) has documented a constant increase in racially motivated attacks on Black people throughout the United States during the past decade. All forms of racism and antisemitism should always be challenged relentlessly. Dr. King said it best, “We must all learn to live together as brothers, or we will all perish together as fools.”

Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Vista Equity Partners, Chairman, Carnegie Hall, is taking the right stand at the right time. Smith stated in the ad, “Michael Eric Dyson recently wrote that ‘…African Americans and Jews are passengers on the same ship facing the ferocious headwinds of bigotry and hatred.’ It is time to put aside differences and shift our focus to the shared values that bring all Americans together as God’s children.”

The call to action is: “Join us this holiday season at public events from Los Angeles to New York, or in your own home, to light the Eight Nights of the Chanukah Menorah followed immediately by the Seven Nights of Kwanzaa and the Kinara. Post your own photos of Black and Jewish friends, neighbors and colleagues coming together to #lightthecandles.”

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and is Executive Producer/Host of The Chavis Chronicles on PBS TV stations throughout the U.S. and can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Sonya Aadam is Chief Executive Officer of California Black Women’s Health Project. Founded in 1992, the organization says its mission is to improve the health of California’s 1.2 million Black women and girls through advocacy, education, outreach and policy change.
A South Los Angeles native, Aadam’s work includes mentoring and preparing women to navigate a healthcare system that has notoriously underserved Black women.

California Black Media asked Aadam to reflect on the past year and share her plans for 2023.
With the work you do advocating for African Americans in California, what was your biggest accomplishment in 2022?

In 2022, we lift up the four-year extension of our Sisters Mentally Mobilized Advocate Training Program among our biggest accomplishments.

The program has been successful in building a cadre of Black mental health advocates and activists in key regions of the state and we are so excited to continue the program through another four years of funding from the California Dept. of Public Health.

What did you find most challenging over the past year?

Persistent limitations in funding for our work remains our greatest challenge because it means lower wages for existing staff, difficulty attracting new staff, and constant pressure to do more with less.

Our dedicated team could make considerably more in salary elsewhere, but they are willing to sacrifice higher earnings because they believe deeply in the work that we do to uplift better health and wellness for Black women, girls, families, and communities.

As the CEO of this organization, this lack of sufficient resources is a major source of stress.

What are you most looking forward to in 2023?

2023 presents a great opportunity for expanded power building in the Black community in California to advocate for health equity, reparations, and continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

At California Black Women’s Health Project, collaboration is a guiding value and is absolutely necessary for our work to address health disparities, build community capacity, and empower our Sisters statewide to guard their health and wellness.

What’s the biggest challenge Black Californians will face next year?

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the health and wellness of Black Californians. We consistently

worry about the ongoing mental and emotional strain, what we refer to as “Post-COVID-Stress-Disorder”.

The fallout of the pandemic and ongoing challenges in securing recovery funding and support will challenge us and require organizations like ours to work harder, go deeper, and fight harder to fill gaps and advocate for mental health and other services.

What’s your wish for this holiday season?

Black culture, the loving spirit of Christmas, and the New Year transition give me so much joy during the Holiday season. This year my Holiday wish is for a period of respite and peace, especially for those of us who work in community service. I also wish for a COVID-free Holiday season for us all.

By Lou K Coleman-Yeboah

Take heed! Be on your guard! Things that will appear to be good, will not be good at all. Because the Antichrist is here, and not yet here. Not yet here in its consummation, but already here in significant fulfillments. Be on guard! Be alert! Because it won’t be long now before this evil and ruthless man will be ruling this world. [2 Thessalonians 2:3, 6-7, 9]. He is “already” here, and he is “not yet” here. [1 John 4:3]. In fact, John goes so far as to say: “You have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come” [1 John 2:18]. This is a call to live a sober life of alertness and faithfulness. Your mind should be girded for action [1 Peter 1:13]. You should put on the whole armor of God [Ephesians 6:13–18]. This is all the more urgent, for you to know how late it is; time is running out. [Romans 13:11]. A massive deception is coming. All we see taking place is moving the world right into the final conflict and deception. I’m not just blowing smoke here or coming up with some fun theory. What I am telling you is the absolute truth of God – it is not fiction, not fantasy, not a myth– this is straight from the Word of God. Might you be awake.  Might you be alert. Might you be ready. Because I tell you, it is almost showtime. A cataclysmic event will soon take place that will change the world. Take heed! Be on guard! Watch and pray!

“For, he came near where I stood, and when he came, I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, understand, [daughter] of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end. [Daniel 8:17]. He said, listen, and I will tell you what will take place later in the period of wrath, for it refers to the appointed time of the end. [Daniel 8:19].  So, as the year end and the new year begin, do not be deceived. Take heed! Be on your guard because the Book of [Revelation 13] prophesied of two ‘beast’ powers, [nations] which would be the main end time kingdoms to deceive the world into receiving the mark of the beast. Those two beast powers are the very ones causing the troubles behind the scenes and then they will come in front stage to appear as ‘saviors’ to bring ‘peace.’ [Daniel 7:23; Revelation 13] but it is all part of the deception to gain control over the world. Do not be deceived. Nothing in your life will remain the same. Wake up! Pay attention! Be vigilant in watchfulness as Gideons army of 300 men described in [Judges 7:1-7].

What I say to you, I say to everyone, “Be on the alert, stay awake and be continually cautions. [Mark 13:37]. If you don’t recognize this, then you are unprepared for what is to come. The news is full of Bible prophecy fulfilling events now, and there can be no doubt that we are living in the last days. Don’t wait until it’s too late to escape the snare. Be vigilant and pray!

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” [1 Thessalonians 5:3].

ATLANTA, GA—- Pittsburgh Yards, a mission-driven entrepreneurial development on the southside of Atlanta, is a community of more than 140 Black-owned and run businesses and organizations that is community-inspired. Its mission is simple – to serve as a catalyst to spur economic equity, job growth and entrepreneurship to benefit area residents and entrepreneurs throughout Atlanta for future generations. Situated in the historic Black neighborhood of Pittsburgh with a rich history (352 University Avenue), Phase I of Pittsburgh Yards was completed in 2020 and included James Bridges Field, the infrastructure for the pad sites for future development, and The Nia Building, which serves as the development’s nerve center and hub. Named after one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa – Nia means purpose in the African language of Swahili. The word “purpose” defines the mission of Pittsburgh Yards as a place to create unprecedented opportunities for the community and beyond. What happens at Pittsburgh Yards and through the businesses there personifies the principles of Kwanzaa throughout the year.

As Pittsburgh Yards delivers against its purpose and mission and encourages mission-driven businesses and organizations to join and become coworking members or tenants, many of the businesses bring the seven principles of Kwanzaa to life. Here are just a few:

Umoja (Unity) – Stakeholders within the community came together in 2017 through numerous community meetings and work groups to engage in creating the spirit of Pittsburgh Yards, from the actual name to the art from local artists throughout The Nia Building. The space was designed for collective productivity and as an enjoyable place to work and collaborate with a vibrant group of like- minded entrepreneurs and businesses. As Pittsburgh Yards evolves and grows, husband and wife team, Anthony and Sharon Pope, principles of Atelier 7 Architects, LLC, are at the center of designing the ten shipping container retail spaces for the future Container Courtyard that will be situated adjacent to an access point to Atlanta BeltLine’s Southside Trail.

Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) – Born in Atlanta, Mary-Pat Hector is a graduate of Spelman College and a current graduate student at Georgia State University. She began community organizing at the age of 12 years old. At the age of 18, she was one of the youngest community leaders to advise President Barack Obama on criminal justice reform in the oval office. By the age of 19, she became the youngest woman and person of color to run for public office in the state of Georgia, losing by only 22 votes. She is the founder of Equity for All, an organization that develops that develops successful get-out-the-vote programs for partners across the South. Hector finds inspiration in this quote by Coretta Scott King: “Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won. You earn it and win it in every generation.”

Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) – Our Village United, the collaborative partner and organization that leads the programming and curates community culture for Pittsburgh Yards, is grounded in the core belief that by serving the whole business, the entire community prospers economically and holistically. Through their work, they support the growth of Black solopreneurs and microbusinesses by delivering targeted technical assistance and shared professional services that not only focus on the health of the business but also the health of the business owner to empower and elevate small businesses to grow and scale.

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) – Malika Redmond is CEO and co-founder of Women Engaged, an initiative that uses a creative, hands-on learning approach to advancing Black women’s human rights, youth empowerment and civic engagement efforts in Georgia, offering leadership development opportunities, public policy advocacy, and year-round non-partisan voter engagement campaigns. She solicited the talents of Amber Lawson, the president/CEO of Aspire Construction & Design to design and build out her office space at Pittsburgh Yards. Aspire is a commercial design-build general contractor providing entrepreneurs like Malika and Women Engaged a one stop shop for design and construction services. She launched Aspire to provide opportunities for under-represented demographics in the architecture and construction industry. Her real passion is imagining the possibilities of a space – building something different than what was there yesterday, and doing that for other entrepreneurs, especially women entrepreneurs.

Nia (Purpose) – Reggie Hammond, CEO of Your Crescendo, empowers individuals, teams, leaders and organizations to connect their work to their purpose. This includes coaching, strategic planning, high performing team building and placement services – all centered in purpose.

Kuumba (Creativity) – There’s no shortage of creativity at Pittsburgh Yards. In addition to having an artist studio, there’s an inspirational, art-centered environment in which to work. From coworking member, Thomas Gray, CEO of Zwenty 58 Entertainment, the creator of Adult Game Nights games, to Destiny Brewton, CEO of A House Called Hue, which is more than a high-quality embroidery company, but also a business that has become an incubator for local creatives in the community, thus developing more artists in Atlanta. And then there’s Sharon Brooks Hodge, CEO and managing partner of Phenomenal Media Productions, a company that creates multimedia content relevant to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Black businesses. It includes content development and traditional media, new media, social media, and corporate communications.

Imani (Faith) – “Chin up champ, you’ve got this!” is the quote Danielle Walker, CEO and founder of BLKGTV Network LLC, has used to motivate herself, even before she was an entrepreneur in the business of helping independent filmmakers maximize their revenue growth through viewership by providing a controlled environment for them to host their content. Although she’s had her business for 9 years under the parent company YJLM LLC, BLKGTV Network was founded in 2021. According to Walker, being a part of the community has elevated her confidence in her ability to grow her company to its fullest potential.

“Pittsburgh Yards is motivating and inspiring because you are in a building with like- minded individuals — all working towards one real goal and that’s to be the change we want to see,” said Walker. “Pittsburgh Yards is a movement. It represents hope.”

You can explore more businesses by going to the 2022 Pittsburgh Yards Gift & Giving Guide.
More information about becoming a Pittsburgh Yards coworking member or tenant can be found at PittsburghYards.com or by visiting the community in person and taking a tour on the second Thursday of every month at 11:30 a.m. or at 2:30 p.m. at 352 University Avenue in Atlanta. Contact Pittsburgh Yards via email at info@pittsburghyards.com or by phone at 470-890-5030.

MORE PHOTOS of Pittsburgh Yards and business owners mentioned in this story can be found here. SIDEBAR: To Expand the Economy, Invest in Black Businesses – Make it a New Year’s Resolution

During the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, wealth and access to capital inequities were exposed as having a significant impact on Black communities and Black-owned businesses, becoming national news. Despite the systemic-based challenges the pandemic brought to light, it also inspired many to pivot, grow and spurred the creation of new Black-owned businesses, showing resilience to change. A leading public policy organization, the Brookings Institute, reported there are 7,539 Black-owned businesses in Metro Atlanta that create approximately 6 jobs on average per firm. Supporting Black entrepreneurs and helping them grow and gain access to the tools needed to scale their businesses is an essential component to rectifying the inequity that exists. The institute issued a report supporting this concept, “To Expand the Economy, Invest in Black Businesses.” Unique to the Pittsburgh Yards ecosystem is the strategic technical support offered to coworking members and business tenants offered by Our Village United.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Marc Philpart was named executive director of the California Black Freedom Fund in April 2022.

The five-year $100 million fund is an initiative to ensure that Black power-building and movement-based organizations have the sustained investments and resources they need to eradicate systemic and institutional racism.

On December 13th, the fund announced $1 million in general operating support to be distributed to five Black power-building organizations in Los Angeles. This is the fund’s fifth round of grants to date, with a total of approximately $26 million in investments that are building Black power across the state. Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN), Dignity & Power Now, Students Deserve, The Hub at LA Black Worker Center, and Youth Justice Coalition were recipients of the funding to supercharge their organizing efforts in 2023 and beyond.

California Black Media asked Philpart to reflect on the past year and share his plans for 2023.

With the work you do advocating for African Americans in California, what was your biggest accomplishment in 2022?

The California Black Freedom Fund is a five-year, $100 million initiative to ensure that Black power-building and movement-based organizations have the sustained investments and resources they need to eradicate systemic and institutional racism.

The first state-based fund of its kind, the California Black Freedom Fund prioritizes investments in the courageous and visionary grassroots advocates and community leaders who are transforming our cities, our state — and our world.

In 2022, across three rounds of grants, the California Black Freedom Fund invested approximately $11.8M in Black led power building organizations and networks across California.

What did you find most challenging over the past year?

Part of our work is to organize and educate the philanthropic sector on the giving gap and needs facing Black power building organizations in California.

Philanthropy has a shared opportunity and responsibility to marshal our resources in order to tackle systemic racism and anti-Blackness in communities across California.

We believe that private and corporate philanthropy has a huge opportunity to prioritize building the power and capacity of Black-led organizations as a strategic imperative.

I look forward to working with philanthropic leaders throughout California in the next year and beyond on this goal.

What are you most looking forward to in 2023?

We are excited to develop programs that can support the advocacy, research, and programming needs of Black power building organizations throughout California. By creating and accelerating a new statewide ecosystem of Black-led organizations confronting racism and anti-Blackness, this fund aims to affect the culture, policy and systems changes necessary to realize equity and justice in California.

What’s the biggest challenge Black Californians will face next year?

Our communities must prepare for a mass civic engagement effort that will dramatically expand the Black electorate in the 2024 election. Black power building organizations will need to advocate for new laws, educate and register voters, and innovate new approaches to voter turnout.

What’s your wish for this holiday season?

My one wish is that people keep ever present the threat that Black communities face with so much injustice in the world and give to Black led power building organizations in their communities or to the California Black Freedom Fund to support the critical work happening throughout the state. You can donate to CBFF here.

“It’s a dream to be working with Cantu to help uplift the next generation of women who are on their own unique and powerful journeys to building their bright futures,” Sparks shares.

STAMFORD, CONN— Award-winning hair care brand, Cantu Beauty, has announced Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum singer/songwriter Jordin Sparks as the brand’s ambassador. As a longtime fan of the brand’s hydrating conditioning treatments and styling gels, Sparks is joining forces with Cantu to help shine a spotlight on the brand’s community initiatives that give back to young women all over the world, specifically with the brand’s partnership with global nonprofit, Women Empowering Nations.

“It’s a dream to be working with Cantu to help uplift the next generation of women who are on their own unique and powerful journeys to building their bright futures,” Sparks shares. “Beyond the products, Cantu really does so much for the community specifically for women empowerment in which I am super passionate about.”

Sparks officially kicked off the partnership last month as she made a surprise virtual visit to the final 11 young women who were awarded a spot in the Cantu GLOW Global Fellowship, a four-month hands-on experience in the beauty industry with Women Empowering Nations. The fellowship concluded with a capstone and group travel seminar to Accra, Ghana this month where each young woman was immersed in four areas within the beauty industry — consumer, concept, commercial, and campaign — allowing them to experience a beauty campaign from concept to shelf.

“We’re so honored to have Jordin Sparks join the Cantu Crew as our brand ambassador,” says Dametria Kinsley, Cantu’s Global Vice President of Marketing. “She has been a pillar in Black and Brown communities for years through her own philanthropic efforts and we’re excited to join forces to extend additional resources to women all around the world.”

The Cantu GLOW Global Fellowship is just one of Cantu Beauty’s commitments to elevate their communities through bespoke events, programming, and both financial and intellectual resources. This year, the brand continued a multi-year relationship with nonprofit Gyrl Wonder, to support Black and Latina communities by nurturing the next generation of female leaders from curl to toe. Additionally, the brand celebrated its second year of Cantu Elevate, the brand-owned entrepreneurship accelerator program for Black female-led businesses in partnership with BrainTrust Founders Studio.

For more details on Cantu Beauty’s community initiatives or to join the Cantu Crew, follow @cantubeauty on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or visit them at cantubeauty.com.

By Lou K Coleman-Yeboah

Something is about to happen. Alert the people of impending danger. Cry out like a mother who has lost her child. Blow the Shofar! Chaos and crisis are breeding grounds for revolution, the rise of despotic leaders, and totalitarian governments. The Great Reset: Think about COVID-19, the lockdowns, the economic crashes, the mandatory mask wearing, the race riots, ANTIFA, ID2020, Bill Gates, the Document of Human Fraternity, Chrislam, ponder for a moment on all of it. When you have wrapped your head around all those things, now wrap your head around this. Everything we have been experiencing, it is all part of the Great Reset, and it is all driving towards the same outcome. That is, the resetting of the entire world to prepare us for the arrival of Antichrist. That’s how close we are to seeing him step out of the shadows and onto the world stage. Everything that has been happening in the world over the last two years are different arms of the same beast, and The Beast, who is on his way right now, and will be the crown jewel in the ungodly crown of evil. Blow the Shofar!

We are not living in ordinary times. We are nearing the end of an age—the end of a civilization. As Franklin Delano Roosevelt spoke in the midst of the Great Depression: “This generation… has a rendezvous with destiny.” Our entire life is about to change. Events will unfold soon to destroy the way of life as we have known it. We must take the means of escape God has provided – before the throne of grace and pray for grace in time of need; in other words before we fall. Blow the Shofar!

For “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not yet seen, moved with fear.” [Genesis 6:3]. Pray and ask God to speak to your heart as I speak to your mind because our world is rapidly approaching the time prophesied in the Bible where it will be joined together as one. The recent development of centrally controlled digital currencies and the growing overreach of governments into people’s personal lives is part of the veiled scheme. Blow the Shofar!

Listen, God gave us [Revelation 13] to sharpen our minds, and spiritual senses, warning us before the curtains of deception are pulled fully closed. So be warned. Stay alert! We are in the end time already and the stage is set for all the things that were written about the last days to happen.

When he receives this power, the devil will demand a one-world government be formed. Lucifer will set himself up as King of kings and Lord of lords and no one can stop him. He will demand everyone who refuses to worship him be put to death. To make his dominion complete, the devil will abolish and outlaw the religions and governments of the world. There will be one faith, one Lord, and one baptism. At this time, the 144,000 will announce an inflammatory third message to counter this global development. Awake from your slumber! Massive deception and danger is lurking around the corner. Blow the Shofar!

The agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. The torture was so great that, during those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. [Revelation 9:5-6].

By Solomon O. Smith | California Black Media

Hanukkah, one of the most visible holidays of the Jewish faith, is right around the corner.

As much as the public may be aware of Hanukah, many Californians don’t understand the basics of this holiday, which will be celebrated by millions around the world for eight days beginning the evening of Sunday, Dec. 18 and ending the evening of Monday, December 26.

Origins of Hanukah

Hanukkah began with a war and a miracle, according to Rabbi Isaiah Rothstein, a rabbinic scholar and Black Jewish leader in the Jewish Equity, Diversity & Inclusion program of the Jewish Federation of North America, or JEDI.

It marks the freeing of Judea by the Jewish freedom fighters called the Maccabee over the Assyrian-Greek occupiers more than 2,300 years ago. After recapturing the Holy Temple in Jerusalem which had been desecrated by the occupiers, the freedom fighters searched for oil to light the Temple menorah as part of the rededication of the temple. They found a single day’s worth of fuel, but it miraculously burned for eight days before being resupplied.

“So, there’s a combination of things in the holiday, which is really celebrating that the oil lasted longer, and also the War of the few against the many,” said Rothstein “And then, the over the last 15 or 20 years, many other themes have come into being, like light over darkness.”

By many, the holiday is referred to as the “festival of lights” and is celebrated on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar. Because the Hebrew calendar follows the lunar cycle, the dates of Jewish holidays change from year to year according to the Gregorian calendar. As a result, the beginning of Hanukkah can range from late November to late December.

Although often compared to Christmas, Hanukkah is not one of the High Jewish Holidays, which are considered more core to the belief system. Hanukkah is closer to Thanksgiving in tone. It celebrates the rededication of oneself to God, the faith and family.

 The Celebration

The most visual part of the holiday is the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah, or “hanukkiah” in Hebrew. It holds eight candles, one for each day of the festival, and a helper candle or “shamash,” in the center which is used to light the others. It can be made of a wide range of materials and has become a symbol of the faith.

Many communities have large communal hanukkiah which are lit as part of an inclusive celebration. Washington, D.C. has a National Menorah and lighting festival, while New York claims the world’s largest Hanukkah menorah.

The tone of Hanukkah is not the same as Christmas which has traditionally become a holiday heavily focused on youth. Christmas gifts are ubiquitous in the United States and the eight days of Chanukkah have also begun to include gifts.

In other parts of the world, where Jews were persecuted a quieter less public observance took root. Many in Europe escaping Nazi persecution or Russian pogroms were raised to be cautious in their celebrations according to Rothstein.

Often the very act of displaying or lighting a hanukkiah could be dangerous. It led to the lighting of the menorah to be associated with rebellion against oppression.

Some of the concepts of the menorah and lighting its candles have even influenced other holidays like Kwanzaa, some religious and cultural observers say. For Hanukkah, each candle represents a day of the holiday; for Kwanzaa, each one stands for a life principle.

A custom associated with Hanukkah is playing games with the dreidel, a small spinning top. According to Rothstein the toy was used to fool the ruling authority and hide the study of the Torah.

Another Hanukkah custom is to give money (called Hanukkah gelt) to children. Hanukkah-themed chocolate coins wrapped in gold or silver foil are used as substitute to real money gifts.

Food is a big part of the holiday. Traditional Hanukkah recipes include foods fried in oil, to commemorate the original miracle of the oil. Fried donuts and potato pancakes or latkes are a favorite. Dairy products are also popular during Hanukkah.

The People

There are about 7.6 million persons who identify as Jewish across the country, with California containing 15%, the second highest behind New York at 21% according to the American Jewish Population Project.

There are a number of national organizations that help the public understand Judaism, including the celebration of Hanukkah.

The Jewish Federation of North America provides a range of services to the community and brings together over 300 different organizations according to Niv Elis, the communications director at the Jewish Federation of North America.

“So, the Jewish Federation we’re a system that encourages Jewish communities to flourish,” said Elis. “That’s our main thing is that we think of ourselves sometimes as the backbone of the Jewish community. We’re not the entirety of it, but we support all the different parts.”

The Jewish diaspora is widespread and crosses many borders, including race. In the United States some Black members of the faith can find it to be an isolating experience.

Robin Washington’s article for NPR about being the singular Black Jewish person left in Duluth, Minnesota is just one example. He points out that there are a lot of Black Jews.

There are at least 200,000 Black American Jews. There are biracial Jews with a Jewish parent like him. Some converted to Judaism, and some belong to Black Hebrew congregations that formed at the turn of the last century.

Rothstein and his organization are working to connect to African American members and address those feeling disconnected.

“We’re building community, like every single week,” said Rothstein. “We connect with different Black Jews and Jews of color from across the community, across the country.”

This California Black Media report was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.

On October 23, 2022, Positive Results Corporation (PRC) hosted it’s fifth Annual Purple Purse Tea Party & Gala at the beautiful Wallis Annenberg Building in Exposition Park, California.

They were honored to celebrate community partners who dedicate their lives to help heal their communities. The organization also celebrated the birthday of it’s Executive Director Kandee Lewis.

PRC would love to send out a special thank you to their guests and supporters. The organization could not do this work without them! Together, they all make the difference.