Posted by in Uncategorized Okay I am already on a plane back to Los Angeles that is the truth! But tonight at Kol Ami we are honored to welcome Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service. She will be speaking about LGBT rights in Africa and the great work of American Jewish world service. This is a co-sponsored event…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Tonight is the National History Panel here in Philadelphia. It is at 8:30 at the Arts Bank Theatre. This year the History Panel is dedicated to Religion and the GLBT movement. One of the earliest foundations of the organized movement was the founding of Metropolitan Community Church by the Rev. Troy Perry in 1968 even before…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized While here in Philadelphia I am meeting with young Jewish glbt activists at Penn Hillel. This group is called JBaGeL-Jewish bi gay and lesbian group. In February I met an amazing young man at the NUJILS conference. NUJILS is the National Union of Jewish LGBTIQQ Students. They meet annually over Martin Luther King weekend at a different college campus.…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized I am off to Philadelphia today! Yes, it is the city of Brotherly love. But I don’t have a brother. This week in Philadelphia is the Equality Forum. This is a great organization run by my good friend Malcolm Lazin. He is a truly exceptional person and leader. He is the Founder and Executive Director…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized I am so saddened about Arizona. On Friday the governor, Jan Brewer, signed into law sweeping new legislation that will enable law enforcement to detain and arrest “suspected” undocumented immigrants. SB1070 was will require police to detain someone they think is an illegal alien. The law enforcement officials say that they will not use racial profiling when…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized This week Israel celebrated its 62nd birthday. On Tuesday we observed Yom Haazmaut. Israel is a magical place. And Israel has a special place for you. Whether you have visited or not, whether you have lived there for a time or not, for Jews-Israel belongs to you. Perhaps you have no desire to go there…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Achrei Mot/Kedoshim Leviticus 16:1 -20:27 Again this week we have another double portion- Achrei Mot/Kedoshim. In the section of Kedoshim in chapter 19 we read from verse 9-10 the instructions about how to help sustain the poor in our midst. “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Well, after a long delay the airways are open again between Europe and the U.S. The volcanic ash is slowly dissipating. The world can get back to “normal”. It takes mother nature to make us realize how our world is so dependent on one another. We are so interconnected not just from an economic standpoint…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized What’s going on in Africa? There is still outrageous attacks against gay and lesbian people there. The Ugandan government is still pushing this bill to criminalize gay people and put them to death. Is this the next genocide about to happen on the continent? The Darfur region has experienced ethnic cleansing and murder by the…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Yesterday I spoke at the State Capitol in Sacramento. I had the privilege of giving both the invocation as guest chaplain and giving the keynote address at a special session to remember the Holocaust. Many survivors and their families were invited and honored guests. The Assembly members also honored many World War II veterans who…Read more »
Walking Humbly. Seeking Justice. Living with Hope. 