“Our news-gathering team is committed to presenting a more comprehensive and diverse image of Judaism in the U.S.,” said Rabbi Rishon, Editor-In-Chief of the Tribe Herald.
NEW YORK (PRWEB) August 27, 2020
The Tribe Herald today formally announced the launch of its digital news platform dedicated to the unique concerns of Jews of Color and, more generally, People of Color (POC). The original TribeHerald newsletter amassed nearly 1,000 unique signups in its first three weeks of distribution. Its content and new original articles went live on TribeHerald.com on Juneteenth (June 19) 2020. The soft launch of the fully-functioning site coincided with the commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.
Editor-In-Chief Rabbi Shais Rishon will lead The Tribe Herald news division. Together with Co-Founder Yitz Jordan, they’ve put together a talented team of journalists, columnists, and contributors who will deliver breaking news stories, commentary, and analysis reflecting the true racial and ethnic diversity of modern Judaism.
That team includes Abbie Yamamoto, who obtained her Ph.D. in Japanese and Korean literature. Yamamoto specializes in cross-cultural group dynamics and fostering greater understanding between diverse individuals. Also, Jessica Brenner is a lifelong writer, who has contributed to several Jewish news outlets--with a focus on Jewish culture, parenting, and education
“Our news-gathering team is committed to presenting a more comprehensive and diverse image of Judaism in the U.S.,” said Rabbi Rishon, Editor-In-Chief of the Tribe Herald. “For too long, the Jewish mainstream press has presented just one image of our community, overlooking Jews of Color as they battle for acceptance and prosperity. The demographics of the Jewish community has changed, the way we consume media has changed. As our community charts a new course, our news team wants to tell the stories that haven’t received the attention they deserve -- in an accurate, fair, and objective manner.
The fight for acceptance was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Tribe Herald. In the U.S. alone, Jews of Color are severely undercounted. Between antiquated ethnic classifications in surveys and no new attempts to accurately count the U.S. Jewish community, the publicly reported number lacks credibility. For example, a social scientist based at the University of Miami opposed findings that 12% of American Jews are Jews of Color. He authored an article shared in various Jewish media platforms that the 12 percent number is too high, and the actual number is six percent nationwide.
“Jews of Color are ostracized every day, persecuted for their religious beliefs and skin color,” said Co-Founder Yitz Jordan. “Mainstream academics and media deny the actual number of Jews of Color in the U.S. is over 15 percent. That’s over one million Jews of Color in the U.S. When you won’t accept our numbers, how likely would you tell our stories? That’s why TribeHerald is necessary.”
The launch of the news platform is the first in a multi-tiered plan to grow the Tribe Herald concept. The Tribe Herald was originally conceived as a Jewish Community Center for Jews of Color specifically. Jordan told the New York Jewish Press in a January 2020 interview, “The new JCC would give local Jews of color a home they have never had before, Jordan said — a place in which they would be perfectly comfortable studying and practicing their Judaism without feeling the need to explain themselves or defend their presence.”
Initiatives going forward will include the development of an app, a focus on women’s empowerment and leadership, advocacy for the LGBTQ community called TribeQ, and workshops and immersive in-person experiences at a co-working and event space to open in New York City. Those live events have been placed on hold during the coronavirus pandemic. The organization has also launched Tribe Avenue, an e-commerce shop featuring apparel and fine jewelry.
To learn more about the TribeHerald’s upcoming initiatives, connect on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
