Suicide Prevention and Awareness Is Our Communal Responsibility
Elul is upon us. The sound of the shofar reminds us that this silent epidemic must be addressed. Its cries echo those left in the depths of sorrow, feeling alone, believing that those who love them most would be better off without them. Our fear of mental illness must be replaced with a resolve to educate ourselves and others.
Meet the 2016-2017 Eisendrath Legislative Assistants
The beginning of the program year is always an exciting time at the RAC, as we begin a new cycle of tikkun olam work.
Reform Jewish Movement Condemns Act of Violence, Mourns Death of Dr. George Tiller
Gutmann: "The murder of Dr. Tiller is a tragic reminder that we must find common ground on the divisive issue of abortion.
Saperstein's Letter to Obama Addresses an Era of Great Challenge and Opportunity
"In this time of economic upheaval and military challenges, the pursuit of justice is more urgent than ever."
Contact: Kate Bigam
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org
Rape and Torture
The External War and the Internal War
This week's Torah portion is called Ki Teitzei — meaning literally, "When you go out." It is a reference to violence and war. "When you take the field [literally, "When you go out"] against your enemies, and the Eternal your God delivers them into your power and you take some of them captive ... " (Deuteronomy 21:10).
This sentence is but a tiny portion of more than a thousand verses in the Tanach that deal with war. Our Holy Scriptures came into history in a world in which fighting was a normal and often necessary activity. The ancient communities of the Middle East were governed according to tribal custom and law, and each ethnic community was in a combative relationship with its neighbor. There was no United Nations in those days, no European Union designed to administer diverse people according to collective rules and laws. Some tribal federations such as the twelve tribes of Israel pooled their resources, but that was for protection rather than for advancing peaceful relations with the rest of the world. The harsh social-economic and political reality of the ancient world often triggered violent and deadly conflicts between communities and peoples, and it is rare that we read a comment such as is found in Judges 3:11: " ... and the land had peace for forty years."
Galilee Diary: Independence
by Marc Rosenstein
(Originally published in Galilee Diary and Ten Minutes of Torah)
Reform Movement Leader Statement on the Deaths of Terence Crutcher, Keith Scott and Justin Carr
Contact: Max Rosenblum or Graham Roth
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org
This Elul, Let's Bring Ourselves Closer to Addressing the Global Refugee Crisis
With 65 million people displaced worldwide, the current global refugee has now surpassed World War II’s record of displaced people.
Vital Stimulus Package Must Also Support Most Vulnerable Communities
Saperstein: "The number of Americans in need is expanding, and so must our compassion, creativity, and collective will to help them through this trying time."