Dr. Cindy Kistenberg with Van Jones
ATLANTA/August 25 - Dr. Cindy J. Kistenberg, Professor of Theatre and Communication, participated in the 2026 August Summit for Black Pastors and Rabbis, held August 24–26 in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of her ongoing work with the Charlotte Black/Jewish Alliance and Spill the Honey. Dr. Kistenberg also served as the official photographer for the event.
The Summit brought together more than 100 rabbis, Black clergy, Black Jewish leaders, scholars, and community activists. The gathering was designed to strengthen the historic Black-Jewish partnership while addressing contemporary challenges related to racism, antisemitism, and hate.
Prominent speakers and participants included Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr., Van Jones, Dr. Susannah Heschel, Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock, Eric K. Ward, Ambassador Andrew Young, and Rabbi Ambassador David Saperstein.
Charlotte-area participants included Rev. Dr. Amantha Barbee Presbyterian Church, USA Delegate to the World Council of Churches; Rabbi Asher Knight of Temple Beth El; Rabbi Dr. Judy Schindler, Executive Director of Spill the Honey and Sklut Professor of Religious Studies at Queens University of Charlotte; Dr. Michael Stevens, Sr., of the Black Christian Leadership Council on Israel Relations; Pastor Monty Witherspoon of Steele Creek AME Zion; Dumisani Washington, Founder and CEO of the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel; and Rabbi Ya’aqov Walker, co-chair of the Charlotte Black/Jewish Alliance.
Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis signing the covenant (with Bishop Michael Fisher and Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback_.jpg
Held in the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement, the Summit emphasized moving beyond remembrance toward meaningful relationships and collective action. Participants explored the history of Black-Jewish cooperation through the documentary Shared Legacies: The African American-Jewish Civil Rights Alliance , discussed strategies for confronting racism and antisemitism, modeled difficult conversations, and considered how faith communities can work together to advance justice, freedom, and human dignity today.
A central moment of the gathering was the signing of a Sacred Covenant, reaffirming participants’ commitment to stand together against hatred and to strengthen Black-Jewish partnerships. The Summit served both as an opportunity to reflect on a significant shared history and as a call to renew cooperation and collective action for the future.
For more information about the Summit and to view additional photographs by Dr. Kistenberg, visit spillthehoney.com/atlantasummit.
