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.
Saperstein Calls on House to Combat Hate Crimes
"We know all too well the dangers of unchecked persecution and of failing to recognize hate crimes for what they are: acts designed to target and terrorize an entire community."
Coalition Urges House Passage of Hate Crimes Bill
Saperstein: "All violent crimes are reprehensible, but hate crimes rend the fabric of society and fragment communities."
Contact: Kate Bigam or Jason Fenster
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org
Saperstein to Senate: Take Action on Tobacco Regulation
"Granting the FDA authority to regulate tobacco products will aid the protection of consumers and our children."
Contact: Kate Bigam or Jason Fenster
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org
House Passage of Hate Crimes Bill Vital Step Forward for Civil Rights
Saperstein: "Crimes rooted in bias, hatred and intolerance against people who belong or are perceived to belong to particular groups are intended to intimidate and victimize entire communities and cannot be ignored."
Saperstein and Lewis Arrested in Darfur Protest
Today Rabbi Saperstein joined Representatives John
Pre-Pesach Bonanza: Three New Consultation Speakers!
We've got three great Consultation on Conscience speakers to announce before Pesach begins.
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."
Reform Movement Condemns Death Threats Against Israeli Arab Knesset Members
Saperstein: "While we may not always agree with the ideas expressed, our deep commitment to Jewish and democratic values requires that we defend the free speech of all Israel's citizens, including its Arab citizens."