The Rabbi in the Streets: Rabbi Susan Talve reflects on Black Lives Matter and her career in Jewish social justice

Rabbi Susan Talve is the founding rabbi of Central Reform Congregation, the only Jewish Congregation located within the city limits of St. Louis. When other congregations were leaving the city for the suburbs, Rabbis Susan joined with a small group to keep a vibrant presence in the city to be on the front line of fighting the racism and poverty plaguing the urban center.

During the conversation, she refers to her relationship with choreographer and social activist Katherine Dunham who made her home in East St. Louis. In 1992, the then 82-year-old Dunham staged a hunger strike  to protest the US Government’s denial of asylum to Haitian boat people.  Rabbi Talve describes her interaction with Dunham at that time.   

Rabbi Talve discusses her congregation providing sanctuary to protesters during a 2017 demonstration. Here is coverage in St. Louis Jewish Light: Central Reform Congregation of St. Louis provides shelter during protests.

Rabbi Talve discusses her involvement in the movement to close the Medium Security Institution, commonly known in St. Louis as “The Workhouse” , a jail housed in a decaying building whose inmates are often held there because they cannot pay bail. The St. Louis Board of Alderman voted recently to close The Workhouse later this year.

As Rabbi Talve discusses, she and Central Reform Congregation commissioned an artist to create a mosaic floor inspired by mosaic floors found by archeologists in ancient synagogues in Israel. See the artwork here and read more about it here.

December 9, 2015, Rabbi Talve was a guest of President Obama at the White House Hanukkah Reception, along with Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin. Click here to watch her remarks and blessings.
 

For questions and comments, email Rabbi Ed Bernstein at [e-mail].

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