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Y OUR H EAR T H AS
A S T OR Y T O T ELL.

Festival
Of Rights

RABBI ALANA ALPERT
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

We’re here to listen.

The chanukiah was lit at the
Festival of Rights.

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n Dec. 26, nearly 150 Jews
and allies joined together
for Detroit Jews for
Justice’s second annual Festival of
Rights.
At Red Door Digital, a commu-
nity space in Detroit’s North End,
people gathered for live music,
political education and, of course,
latkes. It was an opportunity for
those who have been working
hard to celebrate accomplish-
ments and introduce friends to
this powerful community.
In addition to our regular cam-
paign and solidarity work, we
announced two new projects: a
series of learning opportunities
around the anniversary of 1967
and a caucus for Jews of color.
Leaders facilitated stations
where folks could learn about
some of the organization’s core
issues, like regional transit and
water justice.
We were joined by friends from
the Motor City Freedom Riders,
the Ecology Center and the
People’s Water Board.
Traditional and less traditional
Chanukah songs, like Peter, Paul
& Mary’s “Light One Candle,” were
especially resonant. I shared some
reflections on the history and
meaning of Chanukah and what
it can teach us at this moment in
the history of our country.
Chanukah means “dedica-
tion.” It gives us an opportunity
each year to rededicate ourselves
to struggles for justice. At the
Festival of Rights, new and old
leaders committed to stretching
ourselves in the coming year — to
show up for learning, for action,
for play and for the nitty-gritty.
As the song goes: Kol echad hu
or katan, v’kulanu or eitan — Each
of us is a small light, all of us are a
great light. •

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January 12 • 2017

jn

Rabbi Alana Alpert is director of Detroit
Jews for Justice. For information, visit
www.detroitjewsforjustice.org.

