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In today’s briefing: Forward investigation leads to removal of Nazi memorial, California gives $15 million to shuttered synagogue, the best Yiddish coffee receipt and much more.

OUR LEAD STORY 👇

PHOTO: CANDACE BOND

Largest study ever of Jews of color reports widespread discrimination

American Jews of color say their racial and ethnic identities shape their Jewishness in important, positive ways, but that they also face bigotry in settings where white Jews predominate, according to a new study, the largest-ever of this group. The more than 1,100 people in the survey, which is being published Thursday, describe other Jews presuming they are converts, asking intrusive questions about their backgrounds, and mistaking them for nannies and synagogue security guards.

Why it matters: Called “Beyond the Count,” the study captures the experiences of more than 1,100 of Jews of color active in Jewish life and provides a trove of data that its sponsors hope will help Jewish leaders create more welcoming synagogues, schools and other organizations.

By the numbers: Eight in 10 of the respondents said they have experienced discrimination in Jewish settings and three quarters agreed that “others have made assumptions about me based on my skin tone.”

Putting it in context: Previous studies of Jews of color have largely sought to define the size of the population, a matter of intense debate – estimates have ranged from 6% to 15% of the 5.8 million Jews in the U.S. This one avoids that controversy and instead aims to create a fuller portrait of the community. Read the story >

Robin Washington, our editor-at-large, reflected on the study through the lens of his own experience (He has been mistaken for baseball great Rod Carew.) “But it isn’t all j’accuse or woe is me,” he notes. More than half of those surveyed “agreed they have felt a sense of belonging among white Jews,” according to the report. Three quarters said that working for justice and equality – Tikkun Olam – is the most important expression of Jewish identity. Read the story >

ALSO IN THE FORWARD ✡️

Belgian town removes Nazi monument after Forward investigation: Journalist Lev Golinkin spent six months documenting 320 monuments or street names honoring Nazi collaborators in 16 countries across the world. Now we can cross one of those off the list. Spurred by our article, which was published in January, the Belgian town of Zedelgem has decided to rename a local square and statue that honored Nazis. “If Zedelgem removes their whitewashing of Holocaust perpetrators,” Golinkin said Wednesday, “it’d be the first successful reversal of the disturbing surge of Holocaust revisionism spreading across Europe.” Read the story >

Plus: Watch a video of Golinkin discussing the investigation >

Why did California just give a 106-year-old synagogue $15 million?: The Breed Street Shul – at 18,000 square feet – was the largest Orthodox congregation west of Chicago when it was built in 1915 in the Boyle Heights neighborhood in East Los Angeles. But it was abandoned for years, vandalized and battered by an earthquake, then the subject of an intense legal fight. Now, the infusion of state funds will help turn the long-shuttered property into a multipurpose social service, cultural and events space – including an exhibit focused on the synagogue’s unique history and the neighborhood’s diverse ethnic heritage. Read the story >

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6 THINGS AMERICAN JEWS ARE TALKING ABOUT 🎭

BEANIE FELDSTEIN IS STEPPING INTO THE ROLE MADE FAMOUS BY BARBRA STREISAND. (GETTY IMAGES)

1. After a series of high-profile revelations about sexual misconduct, the Reform movement has initiated three separate independent investigations into how it deals with allegations of abuse. The decision comes on the heels of our reporting that Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman, who headed the movement’s rabbinic seminary, faced relatively light discipline for behavior that was later determined to have been sexually predatory. (JTA, Forward)

2. Beanie Feldstein has been cast as the lead in a Broadway revival of “Funny Girl” – the role that helped launch the career of Barbra Streisand. “The first time I played Fanny Brice was at my third birthday party in a head-to-toe leopard print outfit my mom made for me,” Feldstein said. “So, it’s safe to say that stepping into this iconic role, on Broadway and not in my family’s backyard, is truly my lifelong dream come true.” The first performances are expected in the spring. In the meantime, Feldstein will be portraying Monica Lewinsky in “Impeachment: American Crime Story” which premieres next month on FX and Hulu. (Deadline)

3. A group of 34 Jewish teenagers got stuck in the middle of nowhere when their bus broke down during a two-week tour of Colorado. To their rescue came a minister and dozens of members of a small church, who took them back to town, served them dinner and waited with them for a replacement bus to show up. The minister’s sermon the following Sunday was all about the blessings of helping others in need. (St. Louis Jewish Light)

4. An Orthodox plumber in Brooklyn was violently attacked over what appears to be a parking dispute. Video of the incident shows a shirtless man slapping the white-bearded plumber, who wore a black yarmulke, and knocking him to the ground. Police are investigating. “Attacks against our Jewish brothers and sisters cannot be tolerated anywhere in our city,” said Eric Adams, the presumptive next mayor of New York City. “This assailant must be brought to justice.” (Hamodia)

5. The Violins of Hope exhibit and concert series in Virginia features more than 60 restored violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. “You come across old instruments quite a bit in your life,” said concert master Daisuke Yamamoto. “But to be able to hold and play this kind of specific history I think is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” (WTVR)

6. A majority of younger Americans are looking to tarot cards and fortune tellers for spirituality, according to a new survey. So called “divination practices” were popular among 62% of Jewish Gen Z, a generation characterized as spiritual explorers. “Tarot, crystals, and fortune telling is especially popular because of social media frankly, and especially TikTok,” said one of the respondents. (Religion News Service)

Mazal tov: To Mayim Bialik – neuroscientist, actress and Jewish mom – who has been tapped to be the new co-host of ‘Jeopardy!’ As we say in Yiddish, we’re “shepping nachas,” which Bialik translated for us in this video as part of the Forward’s gala last fall. (Save the date: This year’s virtual gala is Oct. 20!)

What else we’re reading, TV edition: A conversation with the reality show contestant who just wants to unite the Jewish people … The Jewish history of ‘Jeopardy’ … ‘Fauda’ meets ‘Shtisel’ meets ‘Srugim’ meets ‘Unorthodox.’ I’d watch that.

NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎧

This week on “A Bintel Brief,” our Jewish advice podcast, hosts Ginna Green and Lynn Harris address the fear of reentry after pandemic separation from friends and communities. Plus, our archivist, Chana Pollack, brings a classic Bintel question to round out the discussion. Listen now >

PHOTO OF THE DAY ☕️

Speaking of Chana, she dug up another gem from our archives the other day: A circa 1940s receipt for 14 cups of coffee for the Forward writer’s union, at 20 cents per. “And I am led to believe the Forward paid for them,” she told me. “But, was there cake? Was there decaf? I wonder what they discussed.” One thing we can tell from this photo is that they gave a 35% tip, really taking to heart our newspaper’s socialist roots.

Chana and I were trying to figure out who signed the receipt – S. Kamet? Z. Kornblit? But Zisl K., a playwright, novelist and regular contributor to the Forverts, died in 1928. Maybe he pre-paid? If you have any info, shoot us an email and let us know. (Here’s a resource that may be helpful.) A sheynem dank!

ON THE CALENDAR 🗓

FOUR OF THE VICTIMS: DAVID BERGELSON, PERETZ MARKISH, LEIB KVITKO AND SOLOMON LOZOVSKY.

🕯On this day in history: Thirteen Soviet Jews were executed on Aug. 12, 1952 in what has become known as the “Night of the Murdered Poets.” The victims – five of whom were Yiddish writers – were part of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee and accused of espionage and treason. In 1955, the Soviet Supreme Court ruled that there was “no substance to the charges.” My colleague, Talya Zax, wrote about the legacy of the massacre.

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