Our time in this world is brief. Each hour, each day is a gift—and our task is to use that time with purpose and love.

I am a rabbi.

I became a rabbi for the same reason my father did—and for the same reason my grandfather, a Yiddish poet and underground activist in Nazi Germany, dedicated his life to Jewish survival and dignity. It’s a sacred inheritance: to do my part in securing the future of the Jewish people.

I am a teacher.

I’ll continue teaching Judaism at Queens University Charlotte and supporting Jewish life on campus, where I am honored to serve as the Sklut Professor of Jewish Studies. I’m proud of what we built at the Stan Greenspon Holocaust and Social Justice Education Center over the past nine years and will be cheering on their talented team as they go forward with their mission. 

I am a bridge builder.

My life’s work has been grounded in fighting antisemitism and racism. That commitment began when I played as a child in the home of Kivie Kaplan—the Jewish president of the NAACP during the last nine years of his life and the first nine of mine. It continued through sermon exchanges between Black churches and synagogues during my 18 years at Temple Beth El, and more recently through the creation of the Charlotte Black/Jewish Alliance since 2020. 

Today, I am dedicating more of my time and heart to supporting Black/Jewish alliances across the country. I’ve taken on the role of Executive Director of Spill the Honey. Our mission is to be the national hub producing arts and educational content that empowers the Black-Jewish alliance today in combating antisemitism and racism.

Aboriginal activist Lilla Watson once said, “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you’re coming here because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” That is the spirit that guides me.

So who will I be walking with?

With Dr. Shari Rogers, award-winning producer and president of Spill the Honey.

With Dr. Ben Chavis, civil rights leader, pastor, Duke University professor, president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, and new chair of Spill the Honey.

With gifted educators and talented artists. And with all of you who wish to live your Judaism, your African American identity, your religious or moral commitments, in a way that builds real relationships—and reminds us all that we are not alone.

You can help us bring the stories and spirit of the Black/Jewish alliance to teachers, leaders, and communities around the country. Programs are already in motion for Boston, Los Angeles, Charlotte, and more. Stay tuned.

Let’s walk this journey together.