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Resilient Alliances: A Blueprint for Black-Jewish Collaboration in 2025 and Beyond

American Jewish Congress (AJC) Rabbi Joachim Prinz and Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) leader Martin Luther King Jr. — as well as other civil rights leaders, including a young John Lewis — meeting with US President John F. Kennedy in the Oval Office of the White House following the civil rights march on Washington DC, on Aug. 28, 1963. Photo: Library of Congress via Reuters Connect.

History shows that when two resilient communities join forces, they can achieve transformative change. The Black and Jewish communities have long been examples of this, often standing together in the face of oppression, from the Civil Rights Movement to combating prejudice in all its forms. Today, both communities face distinct yet intersecting challenges: rising antisemitism, systemic racism, and an increasingly polarized society.

In 2025, the potential for a renewed Black-Jewish alliance offers hope not just for these two communities but for a society seeking unity in a fractured world. To move forward, however, requires fresh thinking, bold actions, and a clear commitment to understanding one another.

A Shared History of Resilience

Resilience is central to both communities, shaped by their histories of survival and triumph over injustice. Black Americans have built strength through their rich traditions, creating art, music, and activism that inspire hope and drive change. Jewish Americans, similarly, have drawn resilience from tight-knit communities, education, and the ability to rebuild in the face of persecution.

During the Civil Rights Movement, these shared values fostered a partnership rooted in mutual recognition of injustice. Figures like Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel embodied this solidarity, showing what was possible when two communities worked together for justice.

Yet the world has changed since those days, and the challenges of 2025 require new strategies that acknowledge history while addressing modern complexities. 

The Need for Honest Conversations

Rebuilding this alliance begins with honest conversations about the factors that have caused divisions. Tensions surrounding issues like Israel, antisemitism in public discourse, and racism have sometimes strained relationships between the two communities. These challenges demand empathy, not avoidance.

Leaders from both communities must listen to one another with openness, recognizing that while their experiences differ, their goals for justice often align. Such dialogue should be rooted in respect and a shared commitment to confronting hate in all its forms.

Disagreements are inevitable, but they don’t have to divide. By addressing sensitive topics directly, the partnership can grow stronger, grounded in mutual understanding.

Actionable Paths to Collaboration

To move beyond symbolism, Black and Jewish communities must translate solidarity into action. Here are three innovative ways to collaborate in 2025:

  1. Education as Empowerment

Both communities have experienced erasure and misrepresentation in education. Collaborative programs can ensure that schools teach accurate histories of both Black and Jewish struggles, emphasizing moments of solidarity. Joint curricula could feature stories from the Civil Rights Movement, Jewish resistance during the Holocaust, and modern examples of allyship.

Beyond classrooms, community workshops and digital archives could preserve and share these stories. For example, an interactive online platform could highlight oral histories from Black and Jewish voices, showcasing resilience and the impact of working together.

  1. Cultural Collaborations

Art and storytelling have always been powerful tools for change. Black and Jewish creators can collaborate on projects that explore shared themes of justice, resilience, and identity. Films, music festivals, and public art installations could celebrate the unique contributions of both communities while fostering deeper connections.

Imagine a documentary that parallels the Civil Rights Movement with Jewish advocacy for Soviet Jewry or a music festival combining gospel, hip-hop, and Jewish folk traditions. These initiatives can inspire broader audiences while reinforcing the shared humanity of the two groups.

  1. Advocacy Against Hate

Both communities face rising hate crimes and online harassment. Advocacy coalitions could work together to push for stronger hate crime laws, hold tech companies accountable for combating online hate, and educate the public about the dangers of discrimination.

A joint task force could develop tools to identify and counter hate speech online, providing resources for users to challenge prejudice. By combining their influence, Black and Jewish leaders could drive systemic change, creating safer spaces both online and offline.

A Partnership for the Future

The challenges of 2025 demand a partnership that is proactive, not reactive. This renewed alliance must be built on trust, driven by shared values, and focused on practical outcomes. It must go beyond addressing immediate crises to create a lasting framework for collaboration.

True partnership doesn’t require uniformity; it requires respect. The Black-Jewish alliance of the Civil Rights era was powerful, but its success relied heavily on individual relationships. Today, the opportunity exists to create something more systemic and enduring—an alliance that involves grassroots organizers, educators, artists, and everyday people.

In a world that often feels divided, a renewed Black-Jewish partnership offers hope. By standing together, these communities can challenge hate, amplify their shared resilience, and inspire broader movements for justice and equality.

This is not just a call to action for the Black and Jewish communities but for anyone who believes in the power of unity to drive change. By collaborating in new and meaningful ways, these two resilient groups can lead the way in transforming adversity into progress — not just for themselves, but for society as a whole.

Steven Rosenberg is the Principal of the Team GSD and the author of the book, Make Bold Things Happen: Inspirational Stories From Sports, Business And Life

The post Resilient Alliances: A Blueprint for Black-Jewish Collaboration in 2025 and Beyond first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Israel Says Missile Launched by Yemen’s Houthis ‘Most Likely’ Intercepted

Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi addresses followers via a video link at the al-Shaab Mosque, formerly al-Saleh Mosque, in Sanaa, Yemen, Feb. 6, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

The Israeli army said on Saturday that a missile fired from Yemen towards Israeli territory had been “most likely successfully intercepted,” while Yemen’s Houthi forces claimed responsibility for the launch.

Israel has threatened Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement – which has been attacking Israel in what it says is solidarity with Gaza – with a naval and air blockade if its attacks on Israel persist.

The Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group was responsible for Saturday’s attack, adding that it fired a missile towards the southern Israeli city of Beersheba.

Since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis, who control most of Yemen, have been firing at Israel and at shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade.

Most of the dozens of missiles and drones they have launched have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes.

The post Israel Says Missile Launched by Yemen’s Houthis ‘Most Likely’ Intercepted first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Iran Holds Funeral for Commanders and Scientists Killed in War with Israel

People attend the funeral procession of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 28, 2025. Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Large crowds of mourners dressed in black lined streets in Iran’s capital Tehran as the country held a funeral on Saturday for top military commanders, nuclear scientists and some of the civilians killed during this month’s aerial war with Israel.

At least 16 scientists and 10 senior commanders were among those mourned at the funeral, according to state media, including armed forces chief Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guards commander General Hossein Salami, and Guards Aerospace Force chief General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.

Their coffins were driven into Tehran’s Azadi Square adorned with their photos and national flags, as crowds waved flags and some reached out to touch the caskets and throw rose petals onto them. State-run Press TV showed an image of ballistic missiles on display.

Mass prayers were later held in the square.

State TV said the funeral, dubbed the “procession of the Martyrs of Power,” was held for a total of 60 people killed in the war, including four women and four children.

In attendance were President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior figures including Ali Shamkhani, who was seriously wounded during the conflict and is an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as Khamenei’s son Mojtaba.

“Today, Iranians, through heroic resistance against two regimes armed with nuclear weapons, protected their honor and dignity, and look to the future prouder, more dignified, and more resolute than ever,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who also attended the funeral, said in a Telegram post.

There was no immediate statement from Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since the conflict began. In past funerals, he led prayers over the coffins of senior commanders ahead of public ceremonies broadcast on state television.

Israel launched the air war on June 13, attacking Iranian nuclear facilities and killing top military commanders as well as civilians in the worst blow to the Islamic Republic since the 1980s war with Iraq.

Iran retaliated with barrages of missiles on Israeli military sites, infrastructure and cities. The United States entered the war on June 22 with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

TRUMP THREAT

Israel, the only Middle Eastern country widely believed to have nuclear weapons, said it aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons.

Iran denies having a nuclear weapons program. The U.N. nuclear watchdog has said it has “no credible indication” of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran.

Bagheri, Salami and Hajizadeh were killed on June 13, the first day of the war. Bagheri was being buried at the Behesht Zahra cemetery outside Tehran mid-afternoon on Saturday. Salami and Hajizadeh were due to be buried on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would consider bombing Iran again, while Khamenei, who has appeared in two pre-recorded video messages since the start of the war, has said Iran would respond to any future US attack by striking US military bases in the Middle East.

A senior Israeli military official said on Friday that Israel had delivered a “major blow” to Iran’s nuclear project. On Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said in a statement that Israel and the US “failed to achieve their stated objectives” in the war.

According to Iranian health ministry figures, 610 people were killed on the Iranian side in the war before a ceasefire went into effect on Tuesday. More than 4,700 were injured.

Activist news agency HRANA put the number of killed at 974, including 387 civilians.

Israel’s health ministry said 28 were killed in Israel and 3,238 injured.

The post Iran Holds Funeral for Commanders and Scientists Killed in War with Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Pro-Palestinian Rapper Leads ‘Death to the IDF’ Chant at English Music festival

Revellers dance as Avril Lavigne performs on the Other Stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 30, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

i24 NewsChants of “death to the IDF” were heard during the English Glastonbury music festival on Saturday ahead of the appearance of the pro-Palestinian Irish rappers Kneecap.

One half of punk duo based Bob Vylan (who both use aliases to protect their privacy) shouted out during a section of their show “Death to the IDF” – the Israeli military. Videos posted on X (formerly Twitter) show the crowd responding to and repeating the cheer.

This comes after officials had petitioned the music festival to drop the band. The rap duo also expressed support for the following act, Kneecap, who the BCC refused to show live after one of its members, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – better known by stage name Mo Chara – was charged with a terror offense.

The post Pro-Palestinian Rapper Leads ‘Death to the IDF’ Chant at English Music festival first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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