Winter 2026

For generations, the Black-Jewish alliance served as the backbone of American progress toward becoming a more perfect union. Black American dedication to justice for all coupled with Jewish commitment to tikkun olam sparked the formation of the NAACP, won critical courtroom victories, energized the civil rights movement and forged what Van Jones calls “the double helix of hope.”

The fraying of that alliance has jeopardized the efforts of both communities, as well as the entire nation, animating Jones to imagine a renewed covenant between Black leaders, Jewish leaders and leaders who are both Black and Jewish.

As we mark Black History Month, we are proud that the CNN host, political analyst and world-class activist joins our Friday night service to discuss what we have built together, the importance of partnership in these perilous times and his work as founder of the EXODUS Leadership Forum.

A graduate of Yale Law School and dedicated change maker, Van Jones has worked across political divides on criminal justice reform and clean energy solutions. He served as Special Advisor for Green Jobs in the Obama White House and helped pass both the Green Jobs Act and the FIRST STEP Act. A CNN host, Emmy Award–winning producer and three-time New York Times bestselling author, Jones founded Dream Machine Innovation Lab and launched RAPPORT.com. His full bio is available here.