Friday, November 22nd
Shalom Chevre!
We all know that November contains the holiday of Thanksgiving and the origin narratives around the founding of this amazing country. Part of that history, however, includes the many injustices that have been inflicted upon the various Native American communities in the United States.
As a community which cares about justice, we will be joined by the Reverend Dr J.R. Norwood, an activist for the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation of New Jersey on Shabbat ‘Hodu’ or ‘Gratitude’ Shabbat November 22nd @7pm. Please remember to sign up for the potluck (email rabbibnaijacob@gmail.com with what you plan to bring and any ingredients that might be potential allergens), and get ready to connect in musical davening, community, and in learning from Reverend Dr. Norwood about the history of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe and how we can support this community in our own state.
About The Rev. J. R. Norwood, PhD:
The Rev. Dr. J.R. Norwood is the Principal Justice of the Tribal Supreme Court of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation, for which he has also served as a Councilman for over fifteen years. He is the Co-Chair of the Task Force on Federal Acknowledgment of the National Congress of American Indians and the General Secretary of the Alliance of Colonial Era Tribes. Dr. Norwood is the senior minister to the Nanticoke-Lenape Tribal Christian Prayer Circle Ministry and has served for over twenty-seven years as the pastor of the Ujima Village Christian Church of Ewing, NJ, a non-tribal urban congregation. He has represented his tribe at the national and international level and has written about and lectured on tribal history, culture, religion, and current concerns.
Also keep an eye out for REUNION SHABBAT: THE MIRACLE OF LIGHTS (The weekend of December 20-22nd). If you grew up at Bnai Jacob, this will be a Hannukah-themed Shabbat and partay to reunite with old friends, and for new Bnai Jacobians and ol’ Bnai Jacobians to celebrate together 🙂
Looking forward to being with everyone!
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Blessings 🙂 R’B