To promote the mission of the Peretz Centre, an anti-racism framework is necessary in all aspects of Peretz initiatives, programs and events, not only with its own members but also in its public-facing and community interactions. Learning from — and with — other organizations and institutions that share an anti-racism framework would help produce greater understanding and collective initiatives towards our shared mission in Vancouver, British Columbia, and across the country.

 

We therefore recommend the following policies:

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1.1   Peretz will adopt a policy of reaching out to various organizations that are deemed by the Peretz Board to have common or overlapping goals, based on suggestions from the membership. This may include co-sponsoring speakers, films and other events; these can be located at Peretz or elsewhere and may include joint activities.

 

A survey of the membership (see Policy 2.2) should include reseeking suggestions from membership regarding events they would like to see and organizations with which they think Peretz may wish to work.

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1.2   Peretz will make a special effort to reach out to organizations that promote and protect the rights of asylum-seekers, refugees, and immigrants. This may also include endorsing principles and statements such as on Sanctuary Cities, Apartheid-free communities, We’re Better Together, and others (see Appendix for references).

 

1.3   Peretz reaffirms its commitment to decolonization, with efforts to fully respect and support Indigenous nations whose traditional and unceded territory we are located. These nations are the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh but there are many urban Indigenous People in Vancouver who have been displaced from their home nations who we also commit to working in solidarity with.

 

1.4   Peretz will adopt an anti-colonial framework, opposing ethno-nationalism that promulgates a divide-and-conquer strategy that is harmful to collective well-being and social justice. 

 

1.5   Peretz reaffirms its commitment to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion, with anti-Palestinian racism to receive special emphasis in prioritizing activities in which to participate.

 

1.6   Peretz will adopt a “big-tent” approach in deciding which organization to reach out to for specific events, including groups that may not have identical missions, as long as the group in question shares a demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and social justice. This may include groups focused on specific ethnic-religious, or racial identity groups, or have more general anti-racist objectives as part of broader mandates. (See Appendix for an ongoing list of possible organizations with which Peretz may wish to collaborate.)

 

In the context of deciding which groups to look to for co-sponsoring events, a discussion regarding what constitutes an anti-racist framework should be placed on the agenda for a workshop within the coming year. The Board may seek to form a subcommittee to organize such a workshop (see subsequent sections).

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1.7   Peretz will interact with other Jewish organizations for common activities and knowledge-sharing. This may include Jewish groups focused on specific subgroups (e.g., seniors, women, parents), or more general community programming, so long as they see Judaism within an antiracist framework.

 

The discussion alluded to in recommendation #6 is relevant in this regard as well. The Board may consider forming a separate subcommittee for working with other Jewish groups or include this in the mandate of the subcommittee or working group suggested above.

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1.8   Peretz will endeavour to apply for grants to help fund anti-racist programs and events. A wide variety of granting agencies and programs can be approached, notwithstanding that some policies of these organizations themselves may be those that Peretz may not wish to endorse (e.g., publicly funded universities, or government bodies.)