Robert L. Green

A Jewish Heart: A Struggle for Status and Identity in Asia is at once the saga of a modest charitable grant in 1903, an unimagined windfall ninety years later, and a history of Progressive Judaism in Asia. Enriched with profiles of key players, the author rootsthe narratives in the entrepreneurial and philanthropic activities of two legendary Baghdadi families, the Sassoons and the Kadoories, beginning in mid-nineteenth century Bombay, Shanghai, and Hong Kong and unfolding against the backdrop of worldwide waves of Jewish arrivals. The story gains currency when challenges are raised over community funding, facilities, preserving or replacing the aging synagogue, and accommodating Reform Judaism. Robert L. Green provides a thorough and previously undocumented account of the decade-long religious, legal, and public relations battles that follow, engaging the attention of international media and top rabbinical and legal authorities in Hong Kong, Israel, Australia, United States, and United Kingdom. The author focuses on questionable legal gymnastics as trustees, facing China’s impending takeover of Hong Kong, undertake efforts to protect the funds from unknown perils. Concurrently, he chronicles the establishment of a vibrant Reform congregation, braided with Jewish lore, and the struggles of visionaries hoping to make Hong Kong an oasis of Jewish worship, learning, and recreation in Asia.

Dr. Khalid Mumin has lived the educational journey of which he speaks in Problem Child. Growing up in Philadelphia, PA he learned over time that when someone believes in you, it provides the necessary fuel to propel you forward. Once labelled a problem child himself, it wasn't until he was in danger of being placed in a juvenile detention center that he began to take his educational journey more seriously. Now a highly effective superintendent of K-12 schools his highly anticipated book, Problem Child examines the historical constructs of youth growing up in poverty and emphasizes the ways in which influential mentorship have become one of major pillars of success. He truly understands firsthand and believes that great teachers and influential leaders, who understand poverty, and who build sustainable relationships with students, play a major role in leading children towards infinite possibilities of success. In Problem Child you'll find a three-pronged approach at addressing teaching and leadership for students who grow up in underserved communities. This approach not only looks at the impact district leaders can have, but also examines how teachers and pedagogues in the classroom are greatly impacting student outcomes. Khalid Mumin upholds that defeating poverty is a form of social justice in an ever-changing society, and that those who motivate children to defeat the odds in beating poverty are in fact reframing the way students view their chances at success. It is refreshing to see a young man who grew up in the very environment of which he describes, so devoted to educating our youth. Dr. Khalid Mumin's book Problem Child is inspiring, refreshing, and long overdue. We are fortunate that he has finally put his experiences and undeniable expertise into print, particularly now during this pivotal moment in history...

Robert L. Green, a friend and colleague of Martin Luther King Jr., served as education director for King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference during a crucial period in Civil Rights history, and—as a consultant for many of the nation’s largest school districts—he continues to fight for social justice and educational equity today. This memoir relates previously untold stories about major Civil Rights campaigns that helped put an end to voting rights violations and Jim Crow education; explains how Green has helped urban school districts improve academic achievement levels; and explains why this history should inform our choices as we attempt to reform and improve American education. Green’s quest began when he helped the Kennedy Administration resolve a catastrophic education-related impasse and has continued through his service as one of the participants at an Obama administration summit on a current academic crisis. It is commonly said that education is the new Civil Rights battlefield. Green’s memoir, At the Crossroads of Fear and Freedom: The Fight for Social and Educational Justice, helps us understand that educational equity has always been a central objective of the Civil Rights movement.