Social justice

Remembering Stonewall to Protest Racial Injustice

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51 years feels like an eternity.

In 1969, astronauts landed on the moon and the earliest version of the Internet popped up. For queer folks and allies during June, we also remember the Stonewall Riots, the linchpin of the modern-day LGBTQ Rights movement arguably began.

Before the Stonewall Riots, actions coded as queer were criminal offenses; if your clothes or demeanor were seen as too different from the typical Christian heterosexual person, you would be arrested. Being outed as queer could get you fired. By the end of the 1960s, several covert gay/lesbian clubs popped up around the country. The police routinely raided and arrested patrons of underground gay bars, and LGBTQ people had had enough.

On the night of June 28th, 1969, undercover cops tried to raid the Stonewall Inn, but those in the bar – especially trans people of color – refused to go. More police came, and a riot broke out. Some say bricks were thrown, others say drink glasses and rocks, but this was the breaking point. A mob of queer people shouted “gay power” and sang, causing the world to wake up and look towards this small bar in the middle of New York’s Greenwich Village.

That was an extremely shortened version of the full story (I’m reading Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets by Gayle E. Pitman). It was a time of unrest, where the public wasn’t on the side of queer people, and things had to get loud and uncomfortable for change to come.

As a gay man, I’m in awe of what previous generations had to go through to be accepted and heard. And 51 years later, the world is waking up again, this time to police brutality and racial injustice.

No one has the luxury to remain silent anymore. It is our responsibility to stand up and support these protests calling for fair treatment and institutional change.

In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality as a mental disorder. Just this week, Merriam-Webster is amending their definition of racism to better reflect the systemic issues faced by people of color. The tides are turning, and Jews/LGBTQ people know the feeling of the world against them and the need to speak up.

In the 1960s, Rabbi Abraham Heschel stood with MLK and other Civil Rights leaders. He famously said, “When I marched in Selma, my feet were praying.” Jews remember our past, so it’s troubling to see history repeating.

To the queer folks reading this, happy Pride Month. Let us remember the riot 51 years ago that changed the world forever, and support the ones going on now.

History will remember.

Written by yours truly,

Ross Weisman, Engagement Associate at Tribe 12 

Interested in have virtual coffee with Ross? Set up a time like right now! 

Tribe 12 Fellow Spotlight: Pivot to Create Life-Saving Ventilators

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For one of our Tribe 12 Fellows, her work may be the difference between life and death.

Noga entered the Tribe 12 Fellowship with the goal of solving the problem of social isolation. She was raised on a Kibbutz (collective farming community) overlooking the Dead Sea in Israel. The Kibbutz upbringing establishes community as a high priority in life, which Noga saw was lacking in the States.

Though her passion for curing loneliness is still strong, the current pandemic necessitated a shift in her focus. In March, the public was notified to start social distancing to flatten the curve of the Covid-19 pandemic. While watching the news one night, Noga learned of the low numbers of ventilators and how doctors would have to make hard choices about resource distribution. In other words, if a patient had a lower chance of survival, they might not receive a ventilator.

Noga, the chief of staff to the CEO of a data analytics and healthcare company in the Philadelphia area, contacted her two partners at VeriTX, a startup that specializes in digital supply chain for air space and planes. VeriTX’s focus would be the best and quickest solution to the problem of how to get more ventilators into hospitals.

Collectively, Noga and her partners figured out that by leveraging existing CPAP and BiPap technology with several key innovations, they could turn a common bedside helper into a life-saving tool for those in critical condition. VeriTX quickly pivoted to form Rapid Medical Parts.

Embodying the spirit of rapid prototyping, the team sent the specifications to an engineering team in Los Angeles, who produced a working model a week later. Noga and her partners are now trying to secure investment partners so they can establish a commitment of funding to create and rapidly scale the design. At the same time, these changemakers will be bringing their prototype to the FDA for approval, a necessary first step before being able to manufacture and distribute the technology to health systems, governments, and non-profit organizations. Noga’s work is a great example of the global effort to flatten the curve and protect the lives of those most vulnerable with the tools we have at our disposal.

We are incredibly proud to see our Fellows use their skills for the betterment of the community. At the end of the day, we are nothing without each other. Contact Noga at noga@veritx.com if you can help with this life-saving work.

Volunteer Opportunities During COVID-19

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Looking for a way to make a tangible impact during this wild and unpredictable time in history? There are plenty of volunteering opportunities, some for those who feel comfortable safely volunteering in person and some that are entirely virtual or via phone. We’ll update this as we go!

Repair the World Philadelphia mobilizes people to take action grounded in Jewish values to pursue a more just world, igniting a lifelong commitment to service. They have an extensive resource for virtual volunteering opportunities here. 

SNJ Jewish Family & Children’s Service: Jewish Family & Children’s Service will be accepting “drop & go” food donations outside of the Route 70 Family Assistance Program office next Friday, April 3, between 10:00 am– 12:00 pm. The address is 1309 West Route 70, Cherry Hill. JFCS is also managing a “Shop and Drop” food shopping and delivery program staffed by volunteers. The form to enroll can be found on the JFCS website here.

Philabundance: Host or participate in a fun and interactive virtual food drive. Could be a good alternative to a birthday party!

Mitzvah Food Program: Deliver pre-packed bags of food and emergency supplies. Drivers are needed from the Mitzvah Food Pantry sites in Center City, Main Line and Northeast Philadelphia. Deliveries generally take less than two hours. If you have questions and are interested in helping out in April and/or in the future, especially during this time when lifesaving food packages are at risk of not being delivered, please contact Phil Holtje at pholtje@jewishphilly.org, 215-832-0815 or sign up to volunteer here.

KleinLife: KleinLife Home Delivered Meals program is an essential need for 700 homebound seniors. To help deliver these pre-cooked meals, contact John Eskate, jeskate@kleinlife.org, to coordinate a specific time each Tuesday to pick up and deliver. In the loading dock, you will be given gloves, meals packed in freezer bags, and a delivery route. After delivery, emptied freezer bags should be returned to Kleinlife. To volunteer, please contact John Eskate at jeskate@kleinlife.org.

Jewish Relief Agency: Deliver pre-packed boxes of food and emergency supplies to individuals across the region. Visit the JRA website to RSVP for a specific time and sign up for a route or email volunteering@jewishrelief.org.

Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia: JFGP is seeking volunteers to make regular friendly phone calls to check in with a local senior citizen in our Jewish community. Fill out this form to be matched with an isolated community member.

South Philly Shtiebel WhatsApp: Support fellow South Philly residents with logistical or errand support by joining the Shtiebel Support WhatsApp Group.

Keneseth Israel: Fundraiser for families in Cheltenham here! 

Broad Street Ministry(BSM) is a community dedicated to alleviating the pains of hunger and homelessness in Philadelphia. Their Breaking Bread program gives nutritious meals to anyone who needs it while also providing a mailing address, clothing, personal care items, and other services for individuals who are underserved. In response to COVID-19, BSM has stopped its volunteer shifts, though they are in need of additional items to provide life-sustaining services to vulnerable populations. You can donate to BSM through their Amazon Wishlist or fundraiser. 

Bethesda Project: is a local organization addressing homelessness in Center City. They have 14 different locations ranging from emergency shelter to permanent supportive housing, serving over 1,500 men and women every year. While we have suspended on-site volunteering, there are still ways to help out! This includes: Making a meal at home following USDA Guidelines at www.foodsafety.gov/keep-food-safe/4-steps-to-food-safety. Contact Jeffrey Isaacson at jisaacson@bethesdaproject.org, or call 513-280-2236
Project Home: We know that you care as much as we do about how the pandemic is impacting our collective work to end homelessness and alleviate poverty in Philadelphia. We also know that you want to help now more than ever before. Click here for ways you can help immediately while keeping yourself safe.