Lunch & Learn: Who is Am Yisrael (the Jewish People)? with Rabbi Mira Rivera

Join Rabbi Mira Rivera for a powerful session of meaningful text study, where participants will dive deep into passages from the Tanach (Torah, Prophets, and Writings). Together, we will explore the identity of our people in Jewish texts and examine the often-overlooked experiences of guest workers in Israel, both before and after October 7. This session will provide important context for the entire Lunch & Learn series, offering a richer understanding of the themes we are exploring.
Rabbi Mira Rivera (pronouns she/siya/ella) is the first Filipina-American woman to be ordained at The Jewish Theological Seminary with an M.A. in Jewish Studies. Born in Michigan to immigrant parents from the Philippines, she grew up dancing and developed a love for the arts and a discipline for learning.
Deeply rooted in meditation and community organizing, she brings an introspective approach to her practice, while emphasizing relationship-building, collective power, and responsibility. Her experience of being an outsider in Jewish spaces brought her to the first cohort of the Jewish Women of Color (JWOC) Resilience Circle and Bend the Arc’s Selah Cohort 15 for JOCs (“Jews of Color”).
She is Rabbi-in-Residence nationally with The LUNAR Collective, a Gen-Z founded organization by and for Asian American Jews. In February 2023 she joined the JCC Harlem as their Rabbi-in-Residence with the mission of growing an in-person Shabbat community of learners, daveners, and organizers that is truly welcoming to those who have been on the margins. She mentors young adults in the Jews of Color Initiative Leadership Fellowship as they gain firsthand experience working in the Jewish non-profit sector in New York City.
Rabbi Mira has steadily been working for the upliftment of those on the margins in the New York area since ordination, beginning with chaplaincy at Mount Sinai Hospital and outreach to isolated adults through Dorot. In May 2023 she was honored with the Rabbinic Human Rights Hero Award by T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights “for ensuring that the gifts, voices, and experiences of Jews of Color are seen, heard, and known by all in the wider Jewish community.” She was named by New York Jewish Week in 2023 as one of “36 to Watch” for contributions in the arts, religion, culture, business, politics, and philanthropy.
--
Central Synagogue is a thriving Reform Jewish congregation in New York City. Our Shabbat services are open to all and available via livestream on Fridays at 6:00 pm EST and Saturdays at 9:30 am EST. Learn more about Central Synagogue’s community, worship, and programming at www.centralsynagogue.org