Hamilton’s Anti-Racism Journey: From Selma to BLM

July 26, 2020, 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm

In 1965, Beth Jacob’s Rabbi Eugene Weiner organized a group of Hamilton clergy to join Martin Luther King Jr.’s demonstration in Selma, Alabama.
Join us for a discussion remembering this event and its ongoing significance, with special guests Michaele-Sue Goldblatt, Ramona Karpetz Matthews and Lyla Miklos.

For Zoom login information, please contact shira@bethjacobsynagogue.ca

Michaele-Sue Goldblatt, like her sister, Wendy Schneider, grew up in Hamilton, attended Beth Jacob ‘forever’ and even remembers the Hunter St. Shul! Her parents Marvin & Lillian, and her grandparents, Frank and Dolly, and THEIR parents, were devoted to the Hamilton Jewish Community and Beth Jacob. Michaele-Sue is on the Board of her current synagogue, Am Shalom Congregation, in Barrie. Michaele-Sue was 15 when Rabbi Eugene Weiner came to Beth Jacob and maintained a relationship with him for the rest of his life.

Ramona Karpetz Matthews has had a life-long interest in family stories and local history. Etobicoke born and bred, she is a retired elementary teacher currently serving in leadership at Kingsway Baptist Church, with interests that include walking for fitness, calligraphy, the theatre, and reading. Ramona was very pleased to be invited to Beth Jacob five years ago to share about her late father-in-law’s trip to Selma in 1965 with Rabbi Weiner and is honoured to be invited back.

Lyla Miklos is an activist, broadcast journalist, education worker, lay chaplain, publicist, theatre artist, vocalist and writer. Her current roles include: Lay Chaplain with The First Unitarian Church of Hamilton, Host & Producer of Centre Stage with 101.5 FM The Hawk, Chief Negotiator for OSSTF D21 OCTU and Owner of Lyla – The Publicist. In March 2015 Lyla traveled to Selma, Alabama along with Unitarian Universalists from across the globe to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the historic Freedom March for voting rights.