Jewish history and ethics carry a deep awareness of the dangers of authoritarian power and the responsibility to protect life and dignity. These teachings remind us that injustice often grows through ordinary compliance long before it becomes obvious. In this workshop, we will define authoritarianism, explore the concept of principled non-cooperation, and examine how these dynamics unfold in real communities. Participants will work through practical examples and scenarios to consider how individuals and Jewish communities can recognize warning signs and prepare thoughtful responses as authoritarian systems escalate.
Pay-what-you-want: all proceeds will be donated to the Community Healing Arts Initiative (CHAI).
This workshop will be in-person at Adath synagogue.
Presented by: Daniel Goldschmidt, MT-BC
Daniel Goldschmidt (they/them) is a board-certified music therapist, educator, and organizer based in Minneapolis. They are the founder of Etude LLC, a social-justice-centered music therapy practice, and the founder of the Community Healing Arts Initiative (CHAI), which works to expand access to both credentialed and community-rooted healing through the arts, with a focus on historically marginalized communities.
Daniel’s work sits at the intersection of mental health, power, and collective care. In addition to clinical practice, Daniel is a leader for and performs with Brass Solidarity, an anti-racist street band based in George Floyd Square in South Minneapolis. Daniel was interviewed by NPR and the Star Tribune regarding the interplay between music therapy and musical activism. Daniel has also led keynotes and workshops on white supremacy in healthcare for organizations across the United States and internationally.
This workshop is informed by Daniel’s training with Freedom Trainers and the NDN Collective, grounding the content in established frameworks for non-cooperation, collective action, and movement-based resistance.
This workshop reflects Daniel’s ongoing commitment to anti-authoritarian, anti-racist, and collective approaches to care—grounded in professional practice, community organizing, and movement-based training.
You can listen to Daniel being interviewed for podcasts including Who the Folk?! on queerness and starting Etude LLC (available as audio or on youtube), AMTA Pro on music and harm, The Mindful Mentor on examining whiteness, anti-racism, and whiteness accountability , and Instru(mental) on bridging music therapy and music cognition.