Eight synagogues in ADL’s (Anti-Defamation League’s) Southwest Region participated in the agency’s new Kulanu program this year, and ADL is hoping more synagogues will join next year.
Kulanu, Hebrew for “all of us,” is an annual program dedicated to empowering congregations to address antisemitism and hate in their communities through education, community engagement, and advocacy.
Congregations participating this year include Beth Israel, Beth Yeshurun, Temple Sinai, Beth Shalom of the Woodlands, and Temple Beth Torah in the Houston area. Temple Beth El in San Antonio, and two synagogues in El Paso, Temple Mount Sinai and Congregation B’nai Zion, also took part.
Over 850 people from all those congregations participated in programs designed to address antisemitism, how to recognize it and combat it; to recognize white nationalism and fight it; and to create inter-ethnic and religious alliances against hate. The Kulanu program clearly struck a chord with synagogues in South Texas.
“Synagogue clergy, lay leaders, and congregants are well-aware of the rise in antisemitism, and they are justifiably worried,” said Lisa Stone, ADL Goldensohn Fellow, and the coordinator of Kulanu programs in ADL’s Southwest Region. “Kulanu is a way for synagogues and their members to address their fears by providing tools to address antisemitism and its effects on Jews here. It also empowers participants to fight other types of hate, and we can think of few higher forms of tikkun olam (which means“repairing the world”),” she added.
2023 participating rabbis have strongly endorsed Kulanu. “The Kulanu program is an important way to educate our communities about the various types of antisemitic incidents and how to respond to them effectively,” said Beth Yeshurun Associate Rabbi Steven Morgen. Congregation Beth Israel Senior Rabbi David Lyon said, “Kulanu, ‘All of Us’, is an empowering community effort that makes an impact.”
Stone said ADL hopes synagogues that participated in Kulanu this year will sign up again, and ADL would like to recruit at least 13 more synagogues in the Southwest Region.
Kulanu synagogues commit to:
- Forming a working group that oversees Kulanu programming in their community in partnership with a professional or clergy liaison.
- Promoting reporting of antisemitic and bias incidents to ADL.
- Implementing two programs or initiatives, one of which engages an external audience beyond the synagogue community.
- Participating in Kulanu webinars.
- Engaging in a community of practice for at least two meetings.
- Sharing impact at the end of the program.
Regional and national staff provide as much support and resources as requested.
ADL has great respect and gratitude for the clergy and lay leaders who gave their time, energy and creativity to bring education and support to their congregants. ADL staff look forward to working with them and more synagogue leadership in the coming year.
Synagogues can sign up for Kulanu at the following link: https://www.adl.org/apply-kulanu. The deadline is June 30, 2023. For more information, contact Lisa Stone at lstone@adl.org.