Biography
Early Life
Maayan Zik is a Black Orthodox Jewish woman who is most notable for her significant contributions within the Brooklyn Crown Heights neighborhood, a largely Hasidic Jewish community. She has led several movements and organizations focused on promoting social justice in favor of social change.
Zik was born in Alabama, but grew up in Washington, D.C.
She had early exposure to religion through her grandmother, who would read her stories from the Old Testament at bedtime.
As a teenager, her mother’s side of the family discovered that they have some Jewish ancestry. This ignited Zik’s interest in the study of Judaism, Hebrew, and Yiddish.
Learning about her family background set the groundwork for her later work.
Relocation to Crown Heights
Her pursuit of knowledge led her to New York, where she obtained a degree in Fine Arts from Cooper Union. It was during this time that she moved to the Crown Heights neighborhood. She delved deeper into her exploration of Judaism.
Zik experienced discrimination in Crown Heights, which continues today. As a Black woman in an isolated Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic Jewish community, she faced both microaggressions and overt racist behavior.
They were not welcoming to outsiders. However, she persevered and found her place within the larger Chabad-Lubavitch world. She embraced the teachings of Hasidism. She also focused on positivity as a means of coping with the challenges she faced.
At the age of 22, Zik converted to Orthodox Judaism.
Embracing Orthodoxy:
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in May 2020, Zik mobilized her community with the “Tahalucha for Social Justice” rally.
The rally was a call to action for Orthodox/Chabad Jews in Crown Heights to stand in solidarity against police brutality.
The event was the first of its kind, and Zik’s intent was to align with the core principles of Hasidism, to spread love and light even in times of tragedy.
Zik’s activism and community impact have earned her national recognition.
In 2021, she was named one of the Jewish Week‘s “36 under 36.” Beyond her direct community, her dedication to centering Black voices has been honored by Jewish Week, Vogue, The Washington Post, The Jewish Press, and more.
Activism, Motherhood, and Community Impact
Motherhood was a catalyst for a lot of Zik’s continued religious activism.
She decided she could no longer ignore racism within the Jewish community after she began to see how it harmed her children. She felt called to make the world a better place for them.
Soon after this realization, she and a few friends co-founded organizations such as “Ker a Velt” and “Kamochah.”
Ker a Velt is a “Yiddish rallying cry urging us to “turn the world over” in pursuit of a world liberated in justice and peace.” Kamochah means “as yourself” in Hebrew, and provides a platform for Black Jewish people needing help feeling a sense of belonging in the Orthodox community.
As Zik continues her activism, she remains committed to creating a better world for her children and future generations.
Her work as a community organizer, activist, and religious leader will continue to positively impact the Brooklyn Crown Heights community.
By bridging gaps, fostering dialogue, and advocating for social change, she has empowered and uplifted marginalized voices much like her own.
