Dear BWC Community, 

Enrolling my children in Shule is what initially brought me to Boston Workers Circle in the early 2000’s. Shule appealed to my family because, not only was it a non-issue that we were a queer family, we were also looking for a Jewish home where our kids were not taught that “Jews were the chosen people” to the exclusion of others, and where discussions of Israel included the understanding that freedom, equality, and justice were as important for Palestinians as for Jews.

My family experienced this alignment with values and more from BWC’s Shule. Our children organized protests, toured Jewish NYC, visited the Roxbury mosque, and had very meaningful b’nai mitzvah (celebrations). Though it was sometimes hard to convince my kids to spend Sunday mornings in a classroom, both children credit their BWC experience with having a profound impact on the values and beliefs they hold as adults.

Later, after my membership had lapsed, I wanted to work with a Jewish community to oppose the policies of the first Trump administration, and that brought me back to BWC. 

It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you’ve been a BWC Member. It’s never too late to renew your membership.

Shortly after Trump took office in 2017, he signed a series of executive orders we called the Muslim Ban, and this is what ultimately reconnected me to Boston Workers Circle. I wanted to join with other Jews to express my outrage and my support of my Muslim neighbors, and I was able to do this by participating in BWC’s Jewish-Muslim Solidarity Committee.

My involvement grew over time, and I was a Board member when we adopted BWC’s Israel/Palestine Principles, and then I joined the newly reconstituted Israel/Palestine Committee. I have even “returned” to Shule, helping to update the curriculum so that an understanding of diasporism, of antisemitism, and our Israel/Palestine principles are fully embedded. My involvement with BWC has allowed me to show up with all of myself while being in solidarity with others. I have learned an immeasurable amount from our discussions and grown from the connections, hard work, and love our community fosters.

Please join me in this community by renewing or joining as a Boston Workers Circle member today. Whether you’re looking for a secular place for your kids to connect with their Jewish culture or you’re trying to join in the fight for justice, BWC is the place for you.

With thanks,
Michelle Golden
BWC Member