Multicultural Intergenerational Jewish Journal

My Hebrew name is Eliana bat Avram v’Sara. Eliana, daughter of Abraham and Sara. It means ‘G-d has answered’ or ‘My G-d has answered.’ I chose this name because I have been searching for spiritual fulfillment since I was a young adult. Through Judaism and G-d, I found an answer, although that was just the beginning of my spiritual journey.

As a young person I always questioned basic Judeo-Christian teachings but was redirected toward more ‘appropriate’ behavior by conventional Christian religious teachers. I was raised just outside of Cleveland, Ohio, and attended school in an integrated community. I was not raised as Jewish but chose to become Jewish as an adult.

There were very few Jewish and Black kids from elementary to high school. However, there was much racial tension such as bullying and name calling. As one of the few Black students in my town, I suppose it was natural for me to befriend Jewish students as we had more in common, especially as two marginalized groups, neither really liked by others. This was not my first exposure to understanding what it felt like to be Jewish and what Jewish people had in common with Black people. But it was certainly a negative experience for too long. I wanted more and so I sought to learn what I could.

My earliest teachers about Judaism and Israel were my parents. They were both members of the Greatest Generation, two people whose experiences during the Great Depression and World War II shaped the values of resilience, patriotism, and a strong work ethic. My father and his three brothers fought in World War II. They were young and chose to enlist. My parents married after the war; he was 26 years old, and she was 19.

My father fought and risked his life to fight racism, antisemitism, Hitler and the Third Reich. Amid the fighting, he learned about the Holocaust, the extermination of more than six million Jews. He fought until the end of the war and was present at the liberation of some of the concentration camps. He never said much about the details, and in retrospect, I am sure it was because of the devastation he saw. He was among the many Black Soldiers liberating the camps, giving people back their freedom. He saw many horrors that could never be unseen.

As a proud Black American, he fought hard for the country he loved, even when it did not always love him back. He and my mother soldiered on and raised three girls during the Civil Rights movement. So, we grew up hearing stories about the liberation of the Jews, the destruction of the Third Reich, and all that came after the war ended.

My parents taught us about the establishment of the State of Israel, a place where displaced Jews could go and create a place to live and start a new life. My parents were enamored with the energy and enthusiasm of the people who survived the war and immigrated to Israel. This is where I first learned what a group of committed individuals could accomplish by using their gifts for something greater than themselves.

When my father ran for public office, he was elected with the support of Blacks and Jews. He was the first Black mayor in Ohio since Reconstruction. I witnessed the birth of a Black-Jewish coalition. From then on, I was hooked. My parents always took us to the Settlement House in the city so that we were taught our Black history and culture. I continued to seek out Judaism to satisfy my soul.

After college I found a Conservative rabbi to provide me with weekly instruction. We debated, disagreed, challenged and interpreted Torah and the Talmud for several years until he felt I was ready to go before a Beit Din to finalize my conversion. I immersed myself in the mikvah as a symbol of immersing myself in the Torah. I chose a Conservative conversion so that my child would have the ‘right of return’ because I was her Jewish mother. To this day I continue to immerse myself in Torah through weekly teaching with other women.

While my story is not unique, there was still something missing. I did not always feel welcome when I entered Jewish spaces. There was always an overriding sentiment that all Jews were Caucasian or white. Like many Jews who are not white, we all have our stories and we often feel ‘othered’ among Jews. Some years back, I went to a Saturday service on my own and sat in the back. A lady sat next to me and asked me if I was there "for the love of a man." I thought she was joking, but she was serious. I shook my head and turned away.

I have had many experiences where I was the only Black Jew in the room, but I am starting to see change. Since the tragedy of October 7, 2023, Jews of all backgrounds have organized in many ways, and I've been able to find and connect with other Black Jews who are as passionate about Israel and the Jewish people as I am. It's these connections that define and uplift who I am today.

I have been lucky enough to find many of these connections through Zioness, a pro-Israel progressive organization that is equipping Jews and allies to fight for social justice in the United States as proud Zionists. I joined the second cohort of Zahav as part of Zioness. My eyes have been opened wide to greater possibilities through Zioness, and my participation in the cohort of Black Jews from all over the country, and in some cases, the world, has brought me enormous spiritual and emotional satisfaction. The curriculum is superb, but the best part is the diverse life and religious experiences of the people who have participated. Zahav brought this gathering of Black Jews together for intentional growth and greater purpose.

To walk into a space where people already understand who I am without question is where I have found a home. My Black Jewish family just got bigger, these are my people, and this is my tribe. Zahav created the foundation from which to grow and strengthen my commitment to Judaism: Zahav and Zioness.