By Jacqueline Roderick
Tomorrow, June 19, marks the first time that Juneteenth will be observed as a federal holiday.
The date — a portmanteau of the words “June” and “nineteenth” — marks the day in 1865 in which enslaved people in Texas were informed of the Emancipation Proclamation, and thus their freedom from slavery.
While the Emancipation Proclamation, an official decree by President Lincoln to end slavery, was put into place in 1863, the majority of enslaved people either remained unaware, uninformed by their enslavers, or still living in the Confederacy at the time.
This meant that millions of people who were now supposedly free under the law remained enslaved for weeks, months and even years. The news of emancipation was especially long awaited for those in Galveston, Texas, where the holiday originated in 1866. It has since been celebrated by Texans and African-Americans all over the country.
“I encourage residents to use this moment to reflect on the unfathomable journey of Black people in America and explore ways that you can make true emancipation a reality for all marginalized communities,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, who closed city offices on June 18 in observance of Juneteenth.
Maryland government agencies and offices are also closed today. “This is an important step forward for our country,” Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement about Juneteenth. “Maryland is proud to support this legislation, and observe this new national holiday.”
If you would like to commemorate this holiday through a Jewish lens, here are nine events that you and your family can attend or stream online.
Juneteenth Through the Eyes of Jews of Color: Sharing Stories and Perspectives
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism presented “Juneteenth Through the Eyes of Jews of Color: Sharing Stories and Perspectives,” an event in which four Jewish guest speakers of color shared their thoughts on the holiday and what it means to both them and the Jewish community.
This event was held on Thursday, June 17, at 8 p.m. and is online here.
Juneteenth in the Park
Tonight, June 18, at 7 p.m., the Baltimore Hakhel group will present “A Celebration of Juneteenth and Shabbat” family potluck dinner at F. Scott Fitzgerald Park in Bolton Hill. Attendees are asked to bring meals and beverages to share. Music, poems and raps will be performed. For information, click here.
Juneteenth Kabbalat Shabbat
Join the organization Be’chol Lashon for a Juneteenth Kabbalat Shabbat, in which a variety of hosts — including Rabbi Sandra Lawson, Rabbi Isaiah J. Rothstein, Robin Washington and others — will lead services and present a celebration of Juneteenth.
Listen to music, join in prayer and learn the history of Juneteenth all while attending Shabbat services.
The event is online and registration is free. It will be held on Friday, June 18, at 5 p.m. For information, click here.
Juneteenth Havdalah with Maya Wiley
This year, Juneteenth falls on a Saturday, and you can partake in a Juneteenth havdalah service led by Jews for Racial & Economic Justice and their The Jewish Vote initiative. The event will be attended by Maya Wiley, a candidate for New York City mayor endorsed by The Jewish Vote.
This in-person event is on Saturday, June 19, at Grand Army Plaza on Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn, New York, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET. You can RSVP here.
Kol Or Jews of Color Caucus Juneteenth Havdalah
Not in New York City, or just prefer something virtual? There’s also this virtual Juneteenth havdalah sponsored by the Chicago-based Kol Or Jews of Color Caucus of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs.
This annual event “connects the Jewish struggle for freedom with the Juneteenth holiday that commemorates the abolition of slavery in the United States,” according to the JCUA.
The event takes place on Saturday, June 19, and will start at 8 p.m. Registration can be found here.
Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue Juneteenth Havdalah
Another virtual Juneteenth havdalah option is being hosted by the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue based in Detroit and the non-profit volunteer organization Repair the World. There will be a discussion on both the importance and history of Juneteenth.
The event will begin on Saturday, June 19, at 8 p.m. ET and you can register for it here.
Juneteenth Tikkun
The Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation is hosting a Juneteenth Tikkun, in which Torah study is done continuously throughout the night until morning services. It’s a larger part of the anti-racist work the congregation has been doing since the murder of George Floyd, and the event aims to address “the complexity and urgency of this moment.”
This event starts Friday, June 18, at 8:30 p.m. and concludes at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning. While registration for the in-person event is closed, you can stream the entire Tikkun on their Youtube channel.
Shabbat Service Honoring Juneteenth featuring special guest Jerald Walker
Temple Emanu-El in New York City is hosting Shabbat services on Friday with special guest Jerald Walker, an award-winning author and creative writing professor at Emerson College. Attend services and learn more about what it means to honor Juneteenth.
This event is held on Friday, June 18, at 6 p.m. ET, and will be held both in person and online. You must register online to attend in person services with this link. You can livestream the event directly from their website.
Juneteenth in Baltimore
On Tuesday, June 29, at 7 p.m., the Jewish Museum of Maryland will join other local arts and cultural organizations for a community reading of selections from the new anthology “Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619 to 2019” (One World) edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain. The goal of the event is to deepen understanding of the history of the holiday and explore its contemporary significance.
This program will stream live on the JMM’s Facebook page.
This event is presented in partnership with the American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore Center Stage, the Baltimore Museum of Industry, the Enoch Pratt Free Library, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore, the Peale Center for Baltimore History and Architecture, and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture.
Looking for additional resources?
For more resources about Juneteenth — including ways to discuss the holiday with your family — be sure to check out this page on the Anti-Defamation League’s web site.
This article originally appeared on Kveller and was provided by the JTA global Jewish news source. Jmore staff contributed to this report.
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