NEW ROCHELLE, NY (June 15, 2026) — A Brooklyn-based Black rabbi, playwright, and activist spoke recently to approximately 250 New Rochelle High School students at an event commemorating Jewish heritage, using his own experience to challenge assumptions about the intersection of Black and Jewish identity.
Rabbi Kendell Pinkney, who describes himself as “a child of the Black church, and a convert” to Judaism, addressed students for roughly 40 minutes, fielding questions and discussing the challenges he has faced as a Jew of Color. Pinkney first became interested in Judaism while studying at Oberlin College.
“From the moment Rabbi Pinkney began to speak, he had the students hooked,” said Jillian Chipman, a social studies teacher at the school. “Most students at New Rochelle High School do not connect African Americans and Judaism, but that is exactly what Rabbi Pinkney hoped to accomplish by the end of his 40-minute conversation.”
Students asked pointed questions during the session, including how Pinkney’s parents responded to his conversion and what drew him to Judaism. Pinkney said he envisioned a community where people look past religious labels to appreciate the true character of each individual, and he sought to engage students in dialogue about combating antisemitism.
“Rabbi Pinkney’s message teaches young people to move past labels and focus on true character,” said Gustavo Barbosa, chair of the Social Studies Department. “He is building a foundation of genuine empathy. Equipping students to combat antisemitism through meaningful dialogue is a powerful step toward a safer, more inclusive future.”
In addition to his work as a playwright and educator, Pinkney serves as Director of Jewish Learning and Artist-in-Residence at Reboot, an arts and culture organization. He is also the founding Artistic Director of The Workshop, a Reboot fellowship program for emerging creatives of BIPOC-Jewish heritage. His work has been commissioned and presented at venues across the United States and Canada.
The visit was made possible through the support of the Westchester Jewish Council.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
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