by Michael A. Sachs, Senior Director of Philanthropy
Tulsa’s Jewish community came together for an evening of reflection, resilience, and Jewish pride as acclaimed author, photographer, and Tulsa native Alyssa Rosenheck launched her book, White. Blonde. Jew.
Presented in partnership by Jewish Tulsa, Congregation B’nai Emunah, and Temple Israel, the event held special significance for both Rosenheck and the community that welcomed her home. Tulsa was not simply another stop on a book tour; we had the distinction of hosting the first event for the book, in the city where Rosenheck was born and raised.
That homecoming brought a deep emotional resonance to the evening. Rosenheck returned to the community that helped shape her earliest sense of self to share a work rooted in identity, courage, and the determination to speak openly as a Jewish woman. Launching the book in Tulsa connected her personal history with the larger story she is now telling, making the event both a celebration of a new book and a powerful full-circle moment.
Moderated by Rabbi Dan Kaiman, the conversation moved beyond the pages of the book to explore the deeper “why” behind it. Rosenheck discussed what compelled her to write White. Blonde. Jew., the experiences that gave the book its urgency and the responsibility she felt to tell her story in her own voice.
At the heart of the discussion was the power of refusing to hide. Rosenheck’s story challenges assumptions about what Jewish identity is supposed to look like and examines the tension that can arise when the way others perceive someone does not reflect the fullness of who that person is. Her willingness to be vulnerable, direct, and unapologetically Jewish gave the evening an unmistakable sense of purpose.
The conversation also addressed the obstacles Rosenheck encountered while bringing the book into the world. Among them was the cancellation of a planned launch event in Nashville, a setback that underscored the very climate that makes her voice and her book so necessary. Rather than silencing the moment, that experience made Tulsa’s embrace of Rosenheck even more meaningful.
For Tulsa’s Jewish community, being the first to welcome this book publicly was a source of tremendous pride. It demonstrated what can happen when Jewish institutions work together to create spaces where difficult truths can be expressed, personal stories can be honored and Jewish identity can be celebrated without hesitation.
Together, the three organizations created an evening that was intimate in its emotion but far-reaching in its message: Jewish stories matter, Jewish voices deserve to be heard, and no one should have to diminish any part of themselves to make others comfortable.
For Rosenheck, the evening marked the beginning of a new chapter. For Tulsa, it was an opportunity to celebrate one of its own and to stand proudly behind a story of resilience, identity and truth. It was fitting that the journey of White. Blonde. Jew. began at home. Surrounded by the people, places, and community that made Tulsa not merely the location of the launch, but an essential part of its meaning.
