by Jill Finkelstein
Link Roundup: Tragedy and Race Relations
Welcome to this week’s installment of Lilith’s Link Roundup. Each week we post Jewish and feminist highlights from around the web. If there’s anything you want to be sure we know about, email us or leave a message in the comments section below.
This past week was filled with deep sadness in the Jewish community following the loss of beloved singer/songwriter, Debbie Friedman, and the tragic shooting in Tuscon, Arizona that left 6 people dead and 14 injured, including U.S. Representative, Gabrielle Giffords. Despite being left in critical condition, Giffords is making remarkable progress towards recovery. [NY Times]
Sarah Palin took some heat this week after she released a video accusing journalists and pundits of manufacturing “blood libel” in response to the Tuscon shooting. The term “blood libel,” which has been used to describe false claims that Jews murdered Christian babies in order to use their blood for religious rituals. These accusations date back to medieval times and have been used to justify the persecution of Jews throughout history. [NPR]
Wednesday, January 12th, marked the 1-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake that left Haiti in ruins. UN Women released a short documentary highlighting the spike in violence against Haitian women over the past year, as the country works hard to rebuild. [Youtube]
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, JTA reporter, Sue Fishkoff interviewed the prominent rabbinical supporters of the Civil Rights Movement. The rabbis recalled the historic day when they marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and reflected on the hardships they endured to fight for justice. [JTA]
Last week, it was announced that a new edition of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that replaces the “n-word” with “slave” would hit shelves next month. In response, Marjorie Ingall took to her column to discuss the challenges of talking to your children about racial slurs. [Tablet Magazine]
Lilith contributor, Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, criticized NY Jewish Week writer Jonathan Mark today for his comparison of Debbie Friedman’s sexuality to the sexual misconduct committed Shlomo Carlebach. [Jewschool]