Jewish Federations of North America are proud to commemorate Juneteenth, which marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two-and-a-half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday. Click here for a poignant Juneteenth d'var torah from Jewish Federation's Stacey Aviva Flint that was published in Times of Israel. Click here for a resource about Juneteenth and Freedom.
As Rabbi Isaiah Rothstein, Jewish Federations of North America Rabbinic Scholar and Public Affairs Advisor said, “Today as Americans, and more specifically as Black Americans, we should all be blessed to honor and commemorate this phase of American history and hope that we can continue the important work today, so that we can continue to help those still seeking full freedom in all forms."
Through the Jewish equity, diversity and inclusion initiative (JEDI), Jewish Federations support the Jewish communal ecosystem by creating a culture of belonging for all Jews and their loved ones and by providing education, engagement and empowerment programs.
Learn more at jewishtogether.org/racialjustice.