I am sending this letter with mixed emotions. It is inarguable that the black community has suffered. What happened to George Lloyd was horrific and cannot be justified. There have been all too many instances of awful aggression against the black community. As someone who works at an inner city social services organization, I see firsthand some of the difficult conditions and challenges that are endured.

On a familial and communal level, we must be proactive in the fight against racism and uproot it where it presents itself. Congregation Keter Torah ran a Zoom event to address and foster the need for interracial solidarity and should be commended for this. It is incumbent upon all of us to take these strides. That being said, we must be careful who we join with in the fight to end racism. I was disappointed that some of my fellow Jewish community members chose to walk in a march last week that was organized by Black Lives Matter (“BLM”). While I do not doubt the purity of intention of those that marched, it is clear that they did not do their homework to realize what group they were providing support to. Aside from any questions as to the appropriateness of attending this march on Shabbos (a question better left for our rabbinic leaders), it is completely inappropriate to lend credence to a group that seeks to defund the police and partners with groups such as Antifa and Free Palestine. One needs only to look at what is taking place in Seattle to understand what happens when police enforcement is removed. The movement has gone much farther than a reaction to yet another horrendous murder of an innocent black person. It has been co-opted by forces seeking anarchy and a complete destruction of the American way of life (which we as Jews should not overlook).

There is no doubt that on all too many occasions, bad cops have taken out their racist aggression on innocent black people.No excuses can be made and common sense changes MUST be made within the police forces in this country. We however must play a role in bringing positive change which can only come through the realization that while black lives more than matter, BLM cannot and must not be a partner to make that change.