In the Shadow of Race: Jews, Latinos, and Immigrant Politics in the United States Book

After reading Pres. Obama's first book, I began seriously considering getting more politically active, so I considered it an act of Divine Guidance when I came across this book on my library shelves - a guidebook for Orthodox Jewish activists. However, as soon as my husband saw it, he warned me to take it with a grain of salt. Rabbi Avi Weiss is controversial in Orthodox circles, but I don't want to get bogged down in a discussion as to why. I agree with him on some things and will stay away because of others. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have plenty to teach me.

Rabbi Weiss defines activism as "doing something for another," which is pretty broad. He discusses many different demonstrations he has orchestrated over the years - some for Israel, some for Soviet Jewry, and some about Holocaust memorials - and while he convinced me that demonstrations really do make a difference, I really can't see attending any. Prayer vigils are one thing, but jumping fences in protest? I think I'd rather "do for another" by serving meals to the poor and hungry.

My favorite point in the book was that one of the dangers of activism sometimes loses its human face. I considered myself an activist in high school and college, attending plenty of meetings and demonstrations, but it was all about "the cause" and rarely about helping people. The best thing I ever did as an activist was wash pots in a homeless shelter for elderly women. I wish I'd done more of that in my youth.

Rabbi Weiss had many other good points: Jews should protest racism at all times, family should come before activism, and Jews should not demand less for themselves than they would for anyone else. If it's wrong to displace Arabs from their homes, it's wrong to displace Jews from theirs. But I agree with the other GoodReads user who reviewed this book: it was weak on the "how to" end of activism. Luckily, that reviewer cited another book, so that's what I'll look into next. But for a Jew, this book has the advantage of describing "our" causes and mixing in plenty of divrei Torah. Just read it with a grain of salt. Rabbi Weiss is NOT the Agudah.