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Divine Violence and Abolition in Egypt
In Parshat Va-eira, we watch as God's message of freedom unfolds across Egypt and is ignored, scorned by Israelites and Egyptians alike. We watch as moral suasion, peaceful resistance, and God's word fail to bring about liberation and an end to oppression. In the wake of this failure, God visits 10 plagues on Pharaoh and the Egyptians, the first 7 of which appear in this week's portion.
Shanah Tovah, Congress: Reflections on 5782 and Goals for a Sweet 5783
Rosh Hashanah is a time of reflection and celebration of the past year and the year to come. As we reflect on 5782, we celebrate the legislative victories from this past year.
A Season of Reflection – And Action
As we enter the Days of Awe, we engage in reflection and introspection. We confess our sins. We ask forgiveness of those we have wronged. And we pray that when the Book of Life is closed, we are inscribed for a good year.
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner Appointed to DHS’s Faith-Based Security Advisory Council
Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the appointment of Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center (RAC), to the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council. The council, which consists of twenty-five of the nation's most distinguished faith leaders, will advise the secretary of homeland security on the needs of the faith community relating to security and preparedness matters.
"Unite the Right" Organizers Lose Big in Court
Amy Spitalnick is the executive director of Integrity First for America (IFA), the civil rights nonprofit behind Sines v. Kessler - the successful federal lawsuit against the neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and hate groups responsible for the violent "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. I sat down with Amy, the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, to get her views on the significance of this lawsuit.
Afterword
New from CCAR Press, The Social Justice Torah Commentary demonstrates that the Torah is a guide to addressing the most urgent challenges of our time. This excerpt is from Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center and Senior Vice President, Union for Reform Judaism.
Announcing the 'Building a Very Narrow Bridge' Restorative Justice Project
A message to anyone who has been subject to abuse or harm within the URJ - or by the URJ as a result - and to the wider URJ communities, from Dr. Guila Benchimol and Dr. Alissa Ackerman.
Galilee Diary: The Neighbors
Whoever saves one life in Israel [i.e., of a Jew] is as if he had saved an entire world.
– Mishnah, Sanhedrin 4:5
Whoever saves one life is as if he had saved an entire world.
Rabbi David Saperstein to be Honored by President Biden at United We Stand Summit
Rabbi David Saperstein, Director Emeritus of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC), will be honored as a “Uniter” at today’s historic United We Stand Summit, hosted by President Biden at the White House. Rabbi Saperstein will be recognized for his work with the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network as one of the preeminent heroes from across America doing extraordinary work to stand together against hate, build bridges and heal divides in their communities.
A Climate Reading of the Unetaneh Tokef
I have long wondered: what must Isaac have been thinking as his father bound him and laid him across the altar? Isaac must have realized his father had lied to him - did Isaac cry out? Did Isaac see his father pick up the knife?