The Kulanu "All of us" Program and Congregation Beth Elohim
Kulanu is a Hebrew word meaning "all of us".
It takes all of us to address antisemitism, discrimination, and hate speech. That’s why Congregation Beth Elohim, along with over a hundred other synagogues across the country, has joined the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Kulanu initiative.
The program is focused on combatting antisemitism though advocacy, community engagement, and education.
ADL’s mission for the past century has been “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all." Today ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact.
In initially joining the Kulanu initiative in 2022 and recommitting for 2023, Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE) has committed to:
- Form a working group that oversees Kulanu programming in your community in partnership with a professional or clergy liaison. At CBE: Our working group is led by Sarah Coletti, Bob Ferrara, and Sue Wachter. We are reachable at kulanu@bethelohim.org. Rabbi David is our clergy liaison.
- Promote reporting of antisemitic and bias incidents to ADL. At CBE: The Beth Elohim Security Team has developed the reporting protocol described below on this page.
- Implement two programs or initiatives, one of which engages an external audience beyond your synagogue community. At CBE: Our first program was a Brotherhood Breakfast with Rabbi Ron Fish of ADL on December 18 of 2022. On March 27. 2023, we also sponsored a conversation with local parents and Acton-Boxborough School administrators on how to respond to incidents at school. And on October 15, 2023, we organized a Walk Against Hate that included 40 co-sponsors and over 500 walkers. Additional programs are being planned for 2024.
- Participate in Kulanu webinars. At CBE: Members of the Kulanu organizing team have participated in multiple Kulanu seminars and, when a seminar is open to the wider public, shared registration information with the wider CBE community via the Star-Lite.
- Engage in a community of practice for at least two meetings. At CBE: Members of the working group regularly attend these sessions along with other local synagogues.
- Share impact at the end of the program. At CBE: We will develop a summary at the end of the formal program and also strive to continue our activities afterward.
How you can participate
The Kulanu working group meets regularly. If you wish to join the working group or simply get more information about our activities, please email kulanu@bethelohim.org. To learn about upcoming events, check Star-Lite or Na'aseh News.
How to report antisemitic incidents or hate speech
To report an antisemitic or hate speech incident directed towards Congregation Beth Elohim members or property, CBE members can respond by logging into Beth Elohim portal and then going to Security - Incident Report Form under the Members tab. This form is only available once a member of CBE is logged in.
Non-members can email security@bethelohim.org with incident details and the CBE security team will enter the report into the Beth Elohim system.
Once confirmed, the incident report will be forwarded to the Anti-Defamation League.
For incidents elsewhere in the community, people can contact kulanu@bethelohim.org or any member of the Kulanu working group. We can offer support and assistance in determining an appropriate response. Witnesses may also choose to report an incident directly to the Anti-Defamation League at https://www.adl.org/report-incident.
CBE Events
CBE events are open to the public.
Congregation Beth Elohim sponsored events:
- Walk Against Hate
Sunday, October 15, 2023 This event included 40 sponsoring organizations and well over 500 walkers. The Walk was mentioned on Channel 5 and in this article in Jewish Boston. You can find a photo gallery of the event here. For more details, see www.bethelohim.org/walk.
- Confronting Anti-Semitism In Our Schools
Monday, March 27, 2023. Around 60 students, parents, school staff, and concerned CBE congregants gathered Monday night to discuss with school and town officials the antisemitism experienced by CBE children.
- Brotherhood/CBE Kulanu Initiative Breakfast with Rabbi Ron Fish
Sunday, December 18, 2022 Rabbi Fish, East Division Director of Antisemitism Education and Advocacy for the Anti Defamation League, spoke to a full Social Hall and more attending via Zoom about antisemitism, in the world and especially on campuses. At the end of his talk, he recommended the follow resources:
1. Antisemitism Uncovered : A Guide to Old Myths in a New Era
2. Think.Plan.Act. : for Jewish students on campus to respond to antisemitism.
3. Hate Uncycled - Inclusive Campuses Challenging Bias and Hate
Additional Resource
“How to Talk with Your Preteen and Teen Grandchildren about Antisemitism”, a video by journalist Mark Oppenheimer hosted by the Jewish Grandparents’ Network.