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Rabbi Barry H. Block

Rabbi Barry H. Block

Rabbi Barry H. Block is rabbi of Congregation B'nai Israel in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the editor of "The Mussar Torah Commentary" and "The Social Justice Torah Commentary."

Charlotte Seeleman Shlenker (1838-1920), the author's great-great-grandmother, was the daughter of Magdalena Gugenheim Seeleman, who showed up in the 1860 Louisiana slave census (left) as having owned a 29-year-old woman. Charlotte's husband, Isaac, offered a "girl" for sale in an advertisement dated April 10, 1861. (Photos/JTA-Courtesy Barry Block)
Posted inUncategorized

My Jewish ancestors owned slaves. Here’s what I’m doing about it.

Rabbi Barry H. Block by Rabbi Barry H. Block and JTA December 13, 2021December 13, 2021

In “The Social Justice Torah Commentary,” Rabbi Brian Stoller describes a turtle-shaped dinner bell that his great-grandmother used to summon a Black butler to attend to her needs at the […]

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