On Thursday, September 8, 2022, Care Café was present to witness the celebration of Latin and Jewish culture through art. The event was co-sponsored by Philos Project’s Nosotros Initiative and The Rabbi Arthur Schneier Program for International Affairs. Attendees were able to congregate and converse around art with exhibits from Latino artists such as Juan Leonardo Bravo and Deivy Pérez; a musical performance by Yehonatan Elazar de Mota’s Jazzphardic ensemble, fusing Sephardic melodies and Latin jazz; and Latin-Kosher food. The evening was whimsical and lively, giving way to moving speeches from leaders in both the Latin and Jewish communities. As concerns over antisemitic attacks in America and the state of Israel grow, Nosotros was a space where students, thought leaders and community members were able to congregate in support of our connection to Israel. In tandem, the Philos Project’s Nosotros Initiative and The Rabbi Arthur Schnieier Program for International Affairs were able to engage the audience on the importance of unifying the Latino and Jewish communities. We were tasked with remembering and preserving the contributions of the Israelis to the Latino community across the Americas and the Caribbean. Director of the Philos Project, Jesse Rojo’s, mantra as outlined in the Nosotros Initiative, “Two Plus Two Equals Four,” rings true as we reflect on the oppression that both groups have experienced in this country. Despite their differences, the Jewish community has a strategic ally in Latin America, which will carry both groups forward in the future of America. A special thanks to Sen. Robert Jackson and Matthew Levy, Esq., his counsel and legislative director, who shared in the festivities and supported this significant initiative. To learn more about our partners and their programs, please visit Philos Project’s Nosotros Initiative and The Rabbi Arthur Schneier Program for International Affairs.

A sample of the art at Nosotros