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The Gun Debate: "There is No Pathos in These Debates"
All of these arguments going on around me, arguments about whether we have the right to have guns, or whether guns kill people or people kill people, or whether gun control will save lives.
Guns and Talmud
America is facing a choice about guns that will have to be settled in public opinion, in Congress, in state legislatures, and in the courts. The question is whether it is right to place further restrictions on the possession and use of firearms.
Newtown - A Reflection
I have been working with young people for thirty-eight years. Each time I see the faces of the children lost in the Newton, Connecticut massacre, I see such expressions of the presence of God. Each expression is also one of a future denied. Let us not blame others. It is now OUR RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that this will never, ever happen again. The only way to repair the soul of our nation is to encourage our legislators to act responsibility concerning both sensible gun control and proper mental health funding.
Teens Connect to Judaism Through Justice
Every year, nearly 2,000 high school-aged Reform Jewish students participate in the Religious Action Center's L'Taken Seminar in Washington, D.C. At the beginning of December, Rabbi Greg Litcofsky, took the confirmation class at his congregation, Temple Emanu-El of West Essex, to Washington D.C. to participate in the L’taken Seminar. The program is designed to expose students to a variety of public policy issues, explore the Jewish values surrounding these issues and teach the skills of an effective advocate. Below, Rabbi Litcofsky and one of Temple Emanu-El’s students, Annabelle Hanflig, reflect on their experience.
How Synagogues Can Combat the Toxic Polarization Threatening American Democracy
Our fears of toxicity and the preventative tactics they induce testify to how much surrounding American cultural norms have seeped into our institutions.
Why We Must Organize Our Communities to Protect Every American’s Freedom to Vote
The passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 teaches us that if we want Congress to enact legislation to protect the freedom to vote, we must organize our communities to be part of a sustained movement for justice.
NFTY Teens Advocate at Texas Capitol for Voting Rights
On Monday, Democratic state legislators in Texas walked out of the capitol building and flew to Washington, DC aboard private jets. This move broke the quorum of the Texas House, currently preventing the legislature from effectively operating, and consequently, from passing Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 3 which would restrict the freedom to vote.
From Immigration to Parole Reform, RAC State Projects Secure Racially Just Policies
In April, when the Reform movement launched its Racial Justice Campaign, Reform leaders were already advocating for racially just policies across several states. Each of the eight RAC state projects from California to New Jersey has launched its own legislative campaign focused on racial justice. Reform leaders in four of these states have succeeded in securing crucial legislation that will advance racial justice or defeating harmful legislation alongside diverse coalition partners.
From Pain to Purpose: Mourning for the Earth on Tishah B’Av
On Tishah B’Av, as we grieve for the Earth and the countless lives lost to climate change, we must also harness our power to limit the scale of future tragedy. Even as we feel the effects of climate change in our daily lives, we still have the chance to stave off worst-case scenarios.