Now available [autographed!] on the OEC website (www.oheleidotchemdata.org/product-page...). Sign up for our newsletter! Join us this Sunday @7pmEST for the 1st of a 5-part Pesach Prep series on both our YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/channel/UChL...) & over at the OEC website! Shabbat shalom!
And see Exhibit B: our GoFundMe link, so that these bait-and-switch conversations with a shul never has to happen again. 9/9
gofund.me/2e6bc9008
2-For all those who cluck "What's the point of Ohel Eidot CHeMDaT"A? Why do African American Jews need your own space? Why do you need to be 'centered'?" in the comments, see: Exhibit A. 8/x
So two points:
1-After unsuccessfully searching for a physical venue, tomorrow's screening event/book talk will still be taking place, but moved to a virtual event. Please contact connect@eidotchemdata.org for the link if you've already purchased tickets, and apologies for the inconvenience. 7/x
They requested a link to the program so that they could possibly reconsider. A link that was provided a month earlier in an unanswered email.
6/x
Last Friday, hours before Shabbat, we were told the event could not proceed citing that they "must remain mindful of the broad range of perspectives within our membership and ensure that synagogue programming reflects the shared values, ideals, and experience of our community." 5/x
Based on that approval, the event was announced and people began purchasing tickets. 4/x
2 weeks later we approached again with the same idea and began working to make the program happen. Over the course of the following 2 weeks, we remained in active dialogue, followed the guidance we were given & created a flyer for the event which was reviewed & approved before being made public. 3/x
That email included the PBS link to the program and laid out the concept of the event. That message went unanswered. 2/x
We sent an email on Feb 9th regarding the possibility of marking Black History Month with a screening of the PBS documentary Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History, followed by a book talk of The Souls of Black Jewish Folk, continuing the conversation. 1/x
Thanks to all who have contributed so far! We're 23% funded so far, and only $1,383 away from our next milestone goal of $5,400! Feel free to donate if you haven't already, or share with your networks if you have! We're looking forward to seeing you all on the 20th!
gofund.me/2e6bc9008
Purim Sameach! Also I did a thing! With a book! Lol
Mishloach manot swag. I've been hearing about these things for literal decades. I had one today for the first time in my life. Verdict? Edmund, you are a trifling little jive trollop.
Purim Sameach. And if you haven't fulfilled your tzedaka requirement yet, feel free to donate to Ohel Eidot CHeMDaT"A and our crowdfund. Chag sameach! 6/6
(gofund.me/5badfdb92)
After all, the phrase "Arur Haman" (Cursed be Haman) and "Baruch Mordechai" (Blessed be Mordechai) both have a numerical value of 502. They are "equal". And our duty on Purim is to elevate ourselves in joy to realize that everything we endure in life is "equally" good for us. 5/x
The true mandate of Purim, then, is achieving a state of joy where one recognizes that both events--good and bad--ultimately stem from G'd for the good. 4/x
Why? The Hebrew word for wine, Yayin, has the same numerical value (gematria) as the word for secret, Sod (60). The Talmud states "When wine goes in, the secret comes out," meaning wine helps reveal the spiritual, hidden, or deeper dimensions of life, thus bringing us joy. 3/x
To be sure, whenever the Talmud talks about intoxication it's generally talking about wine specifically. "There is no true happiness without wine" Pesachim 109a tells us. 2/x
Everyone's well familiar with the injunction in Megillah 7b requiring intoxicating oneself on Purim until the phrases "cursed be Haman" and "blessed be Mordechai" are indistinguishable. But seeing how drunkenness of frequently rebuked in our tradition, that can't possibly be the literal take. 1/x
"The Souls of Black Jewish Folk" here (www.amazon.com/dp/B0GQ9P365S)
Ohel Eidot CHeMDaT"A article here (religionnews.com/2026/02/25/t...)
OEC here (www.oheleidotchemdata.org) or Crowdfund here (gofund.me/5badfdb92)
Shabbat Shalom gang! #BlackandJewishAmerica #InterwovenHistoryPBS
It's been 8 yrs "Ariel Samson: Freelance Rabbi," my 1st novel. Now I'm back with "The Souls of Black Jewish Folk," my 1st "serious" sociological work about African-American Jewry. Hoping you all enjoy it, especially anyone who's discovered me from the PBS documentary.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0GQ9P365S
Thanks!!
And if you want to learn more about OEC (www.oheleidotchemdata.org) or donate and share our crowdfund to your networks (gofund.me/5badfdb92), go forth! More news later today! 2/2
Such an honor to be covered in this article with Rabbi Dr Koach Baruch Frazier and Kehillat Sankofa! Check out the full article here (religionnews.com/2026/02/25/t...) 1/2
Don't worry gang. I'm waiting for the link to drop just as much as you are...lol
"The Souls of Black Jewish Folk" goes on sale on tomorrow, and check out Ohel Eidot CHeMDaT"A [www.oheleidotchemdata.org] or donate: www.gofundme.com/f/ohel-eidot..https://www.gofundme.com/f/ohel-eidot-chemdata-an-africanamerican-synagogue?attribution_id=sl:31dff176-572b-443b-8146-a3627a5400cf 2/2
We've made it! Tonight is the last two episodes of
hashtag
#BlackandJewishAmerica
hashtag
#InterwovenHistoryPBS! Thanks so much for coming along for the rise and hoping to tonight on PBS.org.
1/2
Alright, some of you said you wanted to donate but were unsure how to. Others wanted to know what we're planning. Yet others were interested in donating but don't have a Venmo. Hopefully this satisfies all the asks, and clarifies more of our plans. Click through to find out more! gofund.me/5badfdb92
Our first services are on Feb 27-28, Parashat Tetzaveh/Shabbat Zakhor!
Tickets are still currently on sale for this month's inaugural Shabbat services, or donate if you can www.venmo.com/u/oecdc
If you tuned in to #BlackandJewishAmerica #InterwovenHistoryPBS last week, thanks so much! Hoping to see you for the rest, starting tonight on PBS.org. If you're interested in more, check out a historic African American synagogue first: www.oheleidotchemdata.org 1/2
