Black-Jewish alliance isn’t nostalgia. We need it to defend democracy - opinion

At the 2026 Atlanta Summit for Black Pastors and Rabbis, 100 leaders signed a Sacred Covenant to renew the Black-Jewish alliance against antisemitism and racism. The author argues the partnership is a living commitment, not nostalgia, and highlights ongoing collaboration on voting rights, criminal justice reform, and mutual aid amid contemporary crises.

At the 2026 Atlanta Summit for Black Pastors and Rabbis, 100 rabbis, Black American clergy, Black Jewish leaders, scholars, and activists signed a Sacred Covenant to renew the Black-Jewish alliance against antisemitism and racism. The author, Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, argues the partnership is a living commitment, not nostalgia. He highlights ongoing collaboration on voting rights, criminal justice reform, and mutual aid, citing the arson attack on Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Black community's response. The article traces the alliance's history to the civil rights movement, noting the drafting of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in the RAC's building. Pesner emphasizes that democracy is at stake and that the alliance must continue through partnership with Black-led organizations.