Posted by in Uncategorized This is a reprint of the article in the Jewish Week about new MK Ruth Calderon who was number 13 on the Yesh Atid list in the recent Israeli election. Dr. Calderon is an amazing teacher of Talmud and founder of ELUL an egalitarian yeshiva in Israel. Her first speech in the Knesset, translated below…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Yesterday we marked the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in this country. Since that day 40 years ago, forces in this country have been trying to whittle away at the right of women to control their own bodies and reproductive health care. In the…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Yesterday’s Inauguration of President Obama was stirring on many levels. First to see the transfer of power calmly and the oath of office administered by the Supreme Court Justices is an inspiring moment. Around the world people hunger for this kind of civil and democratic process. As the Arab Spring continues to struggle with Democracy…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized The Emancipation Proclamation is 150 years old this month. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln made a bold move in the midst of the nation’s civil war and freed the slaves in the “rebellious territories”. The decree brought humanity officially to those made to feel less than human as dictated by our…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Today we see that another tragic shooting took place. This time in an elementary school outside of Hartford, Connecticut. Earlier this week Cal State Fullerton was on lockdown because a shooter was roaming the campus. And it was only days ago that a young man took loaded guns into mall near Portland, Oregon. And this…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized I want to wish each of you a light filled Chanukah. I hope you will extend your inner light to someone else this year. A smile, a helping hand, a listening ear, a gift of tzedakah for those in need. I hope you will be inspired by the story of Chanukah with the courage of…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Parshat Vayishlach/World AIDS DAY Genesis 32:3-36:43 This week on Shabbat we will observe World AIDS Day. We recall so many of our friends and lovers who have succumbed to the complications of HIV/AIDS. Those very difficult early years when the gay men’s community was decimated have given way to longer lives, better prevention and drugs…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Today is Kaf Tet b’November or the 29th of November. 65 years ago the UN declared a partition in Palestine giving birth to Israel and Jordan. Now Mahmmoud Abbas is at the UN on this same day 65 years later to try a declare Palestinian statehood although not full membership. Hmmmm. Did he just choose…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Please join with me Monday night at 7 pm at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills for an important discussion on Pluralism in Israel. This is a follow up to Anat Hoffman’s recent arrest at the Western Wall while leading a group of Hadassah women in the Shema prayer on Rosh Hodesh. Hadassah was in Israel…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Today is Thanksgiving here in the States. It is a time for family and friends to gather around a festive holiday meal. That meal, traditionally of Turkey, cranberries and some kind of potatoes will have hundreds of ethnic variations in addition to Traditional foods so often pictured. My Vietnamese manicurist told me they prepare wonderful…Read more »
Walking Humbly. Seeking Justice. Living with Hope. 