Brandeis Hillel
Dec. 2, 2021
Racial Justice Plan
“We believe that God created each of us, regardless of colour, class, culture or creed, in (God's) image. If we look down on other people because of their race, then we are demeaning God's image and failing to respect 'kavod ha-briyot,' human dignity.
— Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"l
Brandeis Hillel is committed to diversity and inclusion. Our mission, vision and values of "kevod ha-briyot" (human dignity) and "tikkun olam" (repairing a broken world) call on us to deepen and sustain our values by:
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Inspiring and supporting students to work towards racial justice in partnership with peers and campus partners, from a place of shared humanity and Jewish values as we work towards repairing our world.
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Educating the campus about the diversity of the Jewish community, including Jews of color and Jews who are Mizrachi, Sephardic, Bucharian, Yemenite, Beta Israel / Hymanot, Abayudaya, Ashkenazi and others.
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Celebrating the diverse Jewish student community on campus as part of our overall commitment to including every Jewish student.
We have set the following next steps to support students and promote respect of the full spectrum of diversity on campus:
Partnership and Representation
Building authentic and sustained relationships with campus communities and university departments that serve people of color and partnering on programs in our shared interests. Working with organizations like Bechol Lashon enables us to bring speakers and educators to campus to talk about the experiences of Jews of color; partnership with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the student leaders of Brandeis Bridges empowers peer-to-peer dialogue and learning. We also prioritize featuring Hillel International programs geared towards Jews of color and uplifting the experiences of Jews of color. We will also continue to pursue opportunities for greater inclusion and representation of all kinds among the speakers and educators we bring to campus.
Professional Development
As a part of our onboarding process, all Hillel staff members receive diversity, equity and inclusion training through Hillel International. All staff are encouraged to continue this learning through additional professional-development opportunities offered by Hillel International and the university.
Student Leadership Education
We include DEI training, whether through the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion or off-campus organizations for all student leaders at the start of their term. We encourage student leaders to participate in Hillel International's ongoing racial justice initiatives offered through the Hillel@Home platform. We also offer trips to Israel, staffed by Hillel educators, for students of all backgrounds that give students the opportunity to engage in volunteerism and learn about conflict resolution, diversity and pluralism.