Here’s some information from Be’chol Lashon:
Be’chol Lashon, which means “in every tongue” in Hebrew, strengthens and grows the world’s Jewish population by promoting the racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the Jewish people.
At Be’chol Lashon we imagine a global Judaism that transcends differences in geography, ethnicity, class, race, ritual practice, and beliefs. Discussions about “who-is-a-real-Jew” are replaced with celebration of the rich, multi-dimensional character of Jewish life.
Jews around the world face serious demographic challenges. Worldwide, the number of Jews is stagnant. Decimated by the Inquisition, the Holocaust, high intermarriage rates and low birth rates, Jews now comprise only 0.2% of the world’s people. There are 13-15 million Jews in the world, depending on who is counting. Be’chol Lashon believes the Jewish population, through pro-active efforts, could grow to 20 million by 2020, and 40 million by 2060.
The Jewish people is broader and more diverse that many assume. Having lived all over the world for thousands of years, they resemble the people among whom they live. Additionally, today’s globalization and technology expand both our range of choices and ways of identifying ourselves, especially for younger generations.
Be’chol Lashon estimates that 20% of America’s approximately 6 million Jews or 1,200,000 are racially and ethnically diverse, including African American, Latino/Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Sephardic (Spanish/Portuguese descent), Mizrahi (North African and Middle Eastern descent) and mixed-race.
In focusing our attention on traditional demographic models and Eastern European definitions of Jewish behavior and belonging, we miss out on the ways in which communities and individuals are Jewish in the modern world.
Be’chol Lashon celebrates two essential truths: the first, that every Jewish journey is unique and brings with it special learning and wisdom; and the second, that even with all our differences we draw from an ancient past as we build our shared global future.
Please go to www.globalJews.org for more information or to get a free copy of Y-Love’s new music DVD, “This is Unity."
Mizrahi
Pronounced: meez-RAH-khee, Origin: Hebrew for Eastern, used to describe Jews of Middle Eastern descent, such as Jews from Iraq and Syria.
Sephardic
Pronounced: seh-FAR-dik, Origin: Hebrew, describing Jews descending from the Jews of Spain.
