In the wake of October 7th and amidst intense fear following the election, deep divides have fractured the Jewish community, straining even the closest relationships. This class, led by a seasoned social worker and Jewish educator, offers tools for fostering meaningful connection across these differences. Using ancient and contemporary texts, participants will explore Jewish wisdom and modern practices to navigate brave conversations—or find peace in choosing separation when necessary. The session will provide guidance on honoring personal values and relationships, even when the stakes feel impossibly high. This will be highly interactive!

Emilia Diamant is a teen educator, social worker, reluctant organizer, proud Bostonian, dog mom and Beyhive member. For almost 20 years, she's taught on power and justice, whiteness, pop culture, feminism, and the arts across the U.S. and abroad. Emilia earned a degree in Informal Urban Education from NYU and a Master’s in Social Work from UNC-Chapel Hill. 

As Chief Program Officer at Avodah, Emilia oversees programs empowering Jewish leaders to drive meaningful change. She has taught in Boston, New York, North Carolina, Costa Rica, Italy, Israel, and Ukraine, working with learners of all ages, from pre-K to adults. Emilia especially passionate about engaging teenagers in exploring their racial, ethnic, and religious identities and turning that exploration into action.

Emilia is also proud to be a first-generation member of Tzedek Lab, a network working to mobilize the Jewish community against racism, antisemitism, and white supremacy, and I currently serve as the Treasurer at Boston Workers Circle.

Through Dimensions Educational Consulting, Emilia directs projects that empower white women+ to lead on racial equity and foster meaningful, cross-racial relationships centered on the experiences of Black women.

Based in Boston on the sovereign land of the Pawtucket and Massachusett people, Emilia is a student of critical race theory and emergent strategy, striving to follow the leadership of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and leaders of color. She is a white woman of Iranian and Ashkenazi Jewish descent, and her family includes Holocaust survivors and fierce political resisters.