January 5, 2026
MLK Shabbat at Beth Emet | Friday, January 16 | 5:45 pm Oneg | 6:30 pm Service featuring member Matt Feldman speaking about Reparations
We are delighted that our very own Matt Feldman will give the D’var Torah at services this Friday night for Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, and members of the Second Baptist Choir will sing and enhance our worship experience.
The Oneg is being sponsored in honor of Matt Feldman and the Beth Emet Reparations Working Group.
Evanston is the first municipality in the country to fund a reparations movement, and Matt Feldman has been a leader in this effort since its inception.
After retiring 5 years ago, Matt wanted to continue promoting racial equity as he had championed in the workplace. He joined the Evanston Community Foundation’s (ECF) Board as Treasurer, helped establish the non-profit fund for the Reparations Stakeholders Authority of Evanston, and built relationships with Robin Rue Simmons, Dino Robinson, and Pastor Nabors.
Matt chaired Beth Emet’s Reparations Working Group, which developed a case statement about reparations, raised funds, and taught classes on systemic racism. Through his work at ECF and Beth Emet, he was invited to the first global reparations meeting in Bellagio, Italy. When Robin left the City Council to found First Repair—supporting local reparations initiatives nationwide—she asked Matt to join the Board as Treasurer.
This journey has been transformative for Matt. He’s met remarkable people and gained new perspectives on inequity that deepened his understanding. He’s grateful for the part he has played in this work of Tikkun Olam. Though the goals won’t be reached in our lifetime, he wants his children and grandchildren to know he worked on the right side of history.
MLK Interfaith Community Worship Service | Sunday, January 18 | 3:00 pm | First Congregational Church of Evanston (1445 Hinman Avenue)
Guest speaker Rev. Damien Durr will share reflections on this year’s theme, “More than Ever, We Need Each Other.” Music will be led by the Second Baptist Church. The service will include a special report from Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors and the Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Evanston. This event is free and open to the public.
MLK Day, Monday, January 19th from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm | First United Methodist Church (516 Church)
There are only a few days left to sign up to Join Beth Emet’s Team!
Advance registration is required. You can sign up even if you’re unsure that you’ll attend. This is a family-friendly event and people of all ages are welcome. To register to walk and/or donate, click here. Be sure to select Beth Emet as your community. Registration is free.
We’ll first meet inside First United Methodist Church for a short program. The forecast for Monday is very cold, so we will likely only walk around the block or, of course, you may leave right after the short program.
Whether in person or in spirit through a donation, you can help raise awareness and provide a warm, safe, and welcoming place for our unhoused neighbors to sleep on cold nights. The shelter was housed in Beth Emet for three weeks this winter. Let’s keep it going!
Hope to see you there!
Contact Leslie Shulruff zamaed@comcast.net with any questions.
