We continue a period on the Jewish calendar called the Omer — the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot that our tradition observes through a practice of counting, day by day, week by week. We imbue these days with meaning by assigning a different theme to each week that encourages self-reflection and self-improvement for the betterment of the whole community. In that spirit, we’re doing a series of interviews featuring people who have made their life’s work an extension of their lives’ purpose.

This week, we dive into the fifth theme of the Omer, hod, or humility, with Alexandra Corwin and Tani Prell — co-founders of Continued Learning Group.

In this episode, Alexandra and Tani join Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann to talk about culturally sustaining pedagogy, identity, and the hard work of unpacking and unlearning white supremacy and racism. Alexandra and Tani bring personal experience as Jews of color, as well as academic and professional expertise to their work and their lives. Tune in for a conversation about humility the power of envisioning a better future for all.

Books referenced in this episode:

All About Love by Bell Hooks
Me & White Supremacy By Layla Saad
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Be sure to subscribe, rate the show and leave a review. As always, we want to hear from you.

And to stay connected, follow Mishkan Chicago on Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about us here!

About Our Guests

Alexandra Corwin (she/her) is a graduate of DePaul University with a Bachelor's in Women's and Gender Studies and African Black Diaspora Studies. She has her Master's in Education from Harvard University, and has vast experience in Jewish children’s education. She is an adjunct instructor in education at The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and serves as a board member of Chicago YIVO Society, an organization that centers Yiddish learning for Chicagoans. She is also a Board Member at Mishkan. 

Tani Prell (she/her) is the Chicago Director for 18Doors, formerly Interfaith Family, an organization empowering people in interfaith relationships — individuals, couples, families and their children—to engage in Jewish life and make Jewish choices, and encourages Jewish communities to welcome them. Tani is a former high school arts educator, synagogue education director, and fundraiser at the Art Institute of Chicago. She serves on the board of trustees for the Union for Reform Judaism, aiding in their commitments to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and in 2018 she was named one of the Jewish Federation of Chicago’s “36 Under 36.”

About Mishkan Chicago
Mishkan is a spiritual community in Chicago reclaiming Judaism’s inspiration and transformative essence. Not bound by a particular location, we create radically inclusive spaces for Jewish spiritual practice and community, engaging, educating, and empowering people across the spectrum of identity, background, age, and belief.