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Tikkun olam to the Talmud, Jews double down on identity at protests

Jewish protesters are putting their own spin on the signs they carry to Black Lives Matters rallies across the country.

In Brooklyn, home to the largest Jewish community in the United States, signs have included religious and secular tropes, generally sharing a common theme— invoking Jewish identity.

Here are just a few of the images I snapped while covering some protests in Brooklyn in recent days.

Orthodox Jews hold signs at a Black Lives Matter rally at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn.

Orthodox Jews hold signs at a Black Lives Matter rally at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, Thursday, June 4, 2020. Image by John Kunza

Jewish demonstrators take part in a Black Lives Matters protest at Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, Thursday, June 4, 2020.

Jewish demonstrators take part in a Black Lives Matters protest at Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, Thursday, June 4, 2020. Image by John Kunza

A Jewish protest holds up a tikkun olam sign at a protest in Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza, Thursday, June 4, 2020.

A Jewish protest holds up a tikkun olam sign at a protest in Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza, Thursday, June 4, 2020. Image by John Kunza

A Jewish demonstrator takes part in a Black Lives Matters march through downtown Brooklyn on Thursday, June 4, 2020.

A Jewish demonstrator takes part in a Black Lives Matters march through downtown Brooklyn on Thursday, June 4, 2020. Image by John Kunza

Haredim

A Haredi man cheers the protesters in Williamsburg on June 3, 2020. Image by John Kunza/The Forward

A demonstrator holds up a sign during a Black Lives Matters protest on Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Saturday, June 6, 2020.

A demonstrator holds up a sign during a Black Lives Matters protest on Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Saturday, June 6, 2020. Image by John Kunza

Zach Schaffer, wearing a Jews for Black Lives sign, speaks with an Orthodox man in Crown Heights during a protest on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

Zach Schaffer, wearing a Jews for Black Lives sign, speaks with an Orthodox man in Crown Heights during a protest on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Image by John Kunza

Rosa Lander holds a sign along Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights, Brooklyn during a Black Lives Matters protest, Saturday, June 6, 2020.

Rosa Lander holds a sign along Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights, Brooklyn during a Black Lives Matters protest, Saturday, June 6, 2020. Image by John Kunza

A rabbi works as a de-escalator during a Black Lives Matters protest in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Saturday, June 6, 2020.

A rabbi works as a de-escalator during a Black Lives Matters protest in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Saturday, June 6, 2020. Image by John Kunza

An Orthodox Jewish woman takes part in a Black Lives Matter protest in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020.

An Orthodox Jewish woman takes part in a Black Lives Matter protest in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020. Image by John Kunza

An Orthodox woman holds a sign during a Black Lives Matters march in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020.

An Orthodox woman holds a sign during a Black Lives Matters march in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020. Image by John Kunza

A Jewish demonstrator holds up a sign at a Black Lives Matters protest in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020.

A Jewish demonstrator holds up a sign at a Black Lives Matters protest in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020. Image by John Kunza

An Orthodox Jewish family takes part in a Black Lives Matters protest in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020.

An Orthodox Jewish family takes part in a Black Lives Matters protest in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020. Image by John Kunza

An Orthodox woman takes part in a Black Lives Matters protest in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020.

An Orthodox woman takes part in a Black Lives Matters protest in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020. Image by John Kunza

A Jewish family takes part in a Black Lives Matters march in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020.

A Jewish family takes part in a Black Lives Matters march in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020. Image by John Kunza

A Jewish protester holds up at a sign at a Black Lives Matters march in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020.

A Jewish protester holds up at a sign at a Black Lives Matters march in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Sunday, June 7, 2020. Image by John Kunza

John Kunza is the news director of the Forward, you can follow him on twitter at @johnkunza.

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