The Contest Judges

Spotlight an inspiring partnership between African Americans and Jewish Americans that positively impacted society. Bring to life the dynamic collaboration and draw lessons from it.

1. The “Jewish Heritage of America” curriculum on page 41 spotlights one of the most famous examples of the African American/Jewish partnership: the civil rights efforts championed by Martin Luther King Jr. with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel at his side. Page 47 also mentions philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, who partnered with Booker T. Washington to build a network of over 5,000 schools in African American communities.

2. The African American and Jewish communities have a deep history of collaborating on civil rights efforts. For example, learn about the founders of the NAACP. Or look up the story of civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. Or research the story of how Bayard Rustin (organizer of the 1963 March on Washington) stood up for Jews in 1967.

3. Music is another prominent area where African Americans and Jewish Americans have done pioneering work together. Jazz music, for example, is filled with stories of creative collaboration. Look up why jazz icon Louis Armstrong wore a Jewish star necklace.

4. In some cases, prominent African Americans have themselves been Jewish, like legendary singer Sammy Davis, Jr. or Rashida Jones. The memoir “The Color of Water” by James McBride portrays one family example. Research “African Americans Jews” to explore this theme.

5. Whatever partnership you choose to spotlight, bring it to life. Explore what challenges and opportunities brought the individuals together, as well as how they developed a dynamic partnership. Don’t forget to analyze what lasting lessons and inspiration we can take from the example.

Create an artwork celebrating the  partnership between the African American and Jewish communities. Options include composing a song or poem, designing a painting or mock-up for a street mural, or producing a video clip.

1. Works of art reflect the spirit and soul of the creator, so with this prompt definitely unleash your creativity and be open to thinking outside the box. That being said, outstanding entries will need to resonate with popular audiences. The goal is to create a work of art that will educate and inspire others.

2. Browse the “Jewish Heritage of America” curriculum for inspiration.  Whatever you choose, bring the scene to life. Try to capture its energy and main themes.

3. If you write a song, upload both the music and lyrics – ideally with a recording. You can do this as a sound file or make a music video. If you make a painting, upload a digital photo of it. If you have an idea for a street mural, you can actually make one in your neighborhood (which would be amazing) but it is likely much easier simply to create a mock-up design for what the mural would look like. If you can, describe where specifically you would like to place the mural. If you make a video clip, be creative and concise – remember the time limit is two minutes.

Propose concrete ways that African Americans and Jewish Americans can counter rising antisemitism and racism and promote appreciation for the historical partnership between these communities. Analyze the challenge and present an innovative plan.

1. Antisemitism and racism are age-old forms of bigotry and intolerance that have unfortunately surged in American society in recent years. This prompt asks you to consider how African Americans and Jewish Americans can work together and  take conscientious action in response. Your entry should identify a particular aspect of contemporary antisemitism and explain how your proposed response could make a positive impact.

2. The “Jewish Heritage of America” curriculum includes several sections on antisemitism. Page 11 tells the story of how President George Washington addressed it. Part 2, beginning on page 22, explores the legacy of the Holocaust. Part 4, beginning on page 60, examines the recent surge in antisemitism, including at American schools targeting Jewish students. See page 67 for examples of Americans, both Jewish and non-Jewish, tackling the problem. Examples like Tiffany Haddish, Anila Ali, and Ritchie Torres might help inspire your entry.

3.  Another source of inspiration may be the Civil Rights Movement and the Soviet Jewry Movement, both of which are explored in the curriculum (see pages 33 and 41). What lessons might be drawn from these successful movements, where Jews and non-Jews mobilized together to overcome bigotry? Look also at the example of Holocaust Survivor and Nobel Peace Laureate Elie Wiesel, profiled on page 50, and how he worked to raise consciousness about antisemitism.

4. Consider how antisemitism and racism are often symptoms of larger problems in society. Related, consider how tackling antisemitism and racism are the responsibility of Americans of all backgrounds. Think about the larger issues at stake, and also the positive impact for American society of standing up to this hate.

5. An outstanding entry won’t simply describe the problem, it will also offer potential solutions. It will not simply offer generalities or abstract denunciations of antisemitism and racism, but also provide creative ideas for taking action. Outside-the-box thinking and a can-do attitude are encouraged.

Profile a Jewish person who made an important positive contribution to America. Explore how their Jewish identity (and if relevant, immigrant identity) shaped their work.

1. If you don’t immediately have an individual in mind, the “Jewish Heritage of America” curriculum includes numerous examples of Jews who shaped American society and culture. For example, see the remarkable story of Emma Lazarus (pg. 15) and her iconic poem redefining the Statue of Liberty as a welcoming beacon for immigrants seeking a better life. Indeed, many prominent American Jews were themselves immigrants or the children of immigrants, so perhaps consider how the immigrant experience might have shaped their journey.

2. The curriculum’s third section (beginning on page 41) profiles many outstanding American Jews from politics, to business, to academia, to arts and culture. Explore how Jonas Salk discovered a transformative vaccine for polio; how Leonard Bernstein shaped modern American music; or how Sergeant Christopher Celiz earned the Medal of Honor.

3. The person you profile does not need to be a celebrity. Look up Ralph Baer, who fled the Nazis and invented the video-game; human rights pioneer Robert Bernstein; or philanthropist Rebecca Gratz.

4. Whomever you choose to profile, don’t just present facts but tell a story and bring the individual to life. Consider the defining moments and values that drove them, as well as how they made an impact that benefited American society as a whole. Maybe begin with a dramatic moment in their life story, or explore how your own life has been impacted by the individual’s work and legacy.

Spotlight an inspiring partnership between African Americans and Jewish Americans that positively impacted society. Bring to life the dynamic collaboration and draw lessons from it.

1. The “Jewish Heritage of America” curriculum on page 41 spotlights one of the most famous examples of Black-Jewish partnership: the civil rights efforts championed by Martin Luther King Jr. with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel at his side. Page 47 also mentions philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, who partnered with Booker T. Washington to build a network of over 5,000 schools in African American communities.

2. Blacks and Jews have a deep history of collaborating on civil rights efforts. For example, learn about the founders of the NAACP. Or look up the story of civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. Or research the story of how Bayard Rustin (organizer of the 1963 March on Washington) stood up for Jews in 1967.

3. Music is another prominent area where African Americans and Jewish Americans have done pioneering work together. Jazz music, for example, is filled with stories of creative collaboration. Look up why jazz icon Louis Armstrong wore a Jewish star necklace.

4. In some cases, prominent African Americans have themselves been Jewish, like legendary singer Sammy Davis, Jr. or Rashida Jones. The memoir “The Color of Water” by James McBride portrays one family example. Research “African Americans Jews” to explore this theme.

5. Whatever partnership you choose to spotlight, bring it to life. Explore what challenges and opportunities brought the individuals together, as well as how they developed a dynamic partnership. Don’t forget to analyze what lasting lessons and inspiration we can take from the example.

Create an artwork celebrating Jewish American Heritage. Options include composing a song or poem, designing a painting or mock-up for a street mural, and producing a video clip.

1. Works of art reflect the spirit and soul of the creator, so with this prompt definitely unleash your creativity and be open to thinking outside the box. That being said, outstanding entries will need to resonate with popular audiences. The goal is to create a work of art that will educate and inspire others.

2. You might consider focusing on a particularly dramatic incident from the American Jewish experience. Browse the “Jewish Heritage of America” curriculum for inspiration. Perhaps select a scene from early American history or a modern moment. Whatever you choose, bring the scene to life. Try to capture its energy and main themes.

3. Inspiration might also come from looking at the suggestions from the other three prompts. You could choose to focus on an outstanding individual, a Black-Jewish partnership, or the struggle to stop antisemitic bigotry.

4. If you write a song, upload both the music and lyrics – ideally with a recording. You can do this as a sound file or make a music video. If you make a painting, upload a digital photo of it. If you have an idea for a street mural, you can actually make one in your neighborhood (which would be amazing) but it is likely much easier simply to create a mock-up design for what the mural would look like. If you can, describe where specifically you would like to place the mural. If you make a video clip, be creative and concise – remember the time limit is two minutes.

Propose concrete ways Americans can counter rising antisemitism and promote appreciation for Jewish American heritage. Analyze the challenge and present an innovative plan.

1. Antisemitism is an age-old form of bigotry and intolerance that has unfortunately surged in American society in recent years. This prompt asks you to consider how Americans of all backgrounds can take conscientious action in response. Your entry should identify a particular aspect of contemporary antisemitism and explain how your proposed response could make a positive impact.

2. The “Jewish Heritage of America” curriculum includes several sections on antisemitism. Page 11 tells the story of how President George Washington addressed it. Part 2, beginning on page 22, explores the legacy of the Holocaust. Part 4, beginning on page 60, examines the recent surge in antisemitism, including at American schools targeting Jewish students. See page 67 for examples of Americans, both Jewish and non-Jewish, tackling the problem. Examples like Tiffany Haddish, Anila Ali, and Richie Torres might help inspire your entry.

3.  Another source of inspiration may be the Civil Rights Movement and the Soviet Jewry Movement, both of which are explored in the curriculum (see pages 33 and 41). What lessons might be drawn from these successful movements, where Jews and non-Jews mobilized together to overcome bigotry? Look also at the example of Holocaust Survivor and Nobel Peace Laureate Elie Wiesel, profiled on page 50, and how he worked to raise consciousness about antisemitism.

4. Consider how antisemitism doesn’t only impact Jews but is often a symptom of larger problems in society. Related, consider how tackling antisemitism is not just a responsibility for Jews but for Americans of all backgrounds. Think about the larger issues at stake, and also the positive impact for American society of standing up to antisemitism while celebrating Jewish American heritage.

5. An outstanding entry won’t simply describe the problem, it will also offer potential solutions. It will not simply offer generalities or abstract denunciations of antisemitism, but also provide creative ideas for taking action. Outside-the-box thinking and a can-do attitude are encouraged.