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 »
Category: Uncategorized
The Arizona RoundUp; Yee-Haw!
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 »
Israel at 62 and Goldstone
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 »
The voice of the stranger in our midst:Immigration Reform?
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 »
So it’s open again
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 »
What’s going on in Africa?
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 »
Legacy of Memory
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 »
Today in Sacramento
Today in Sacramento I am delivering a keynote address to a special session of our Assembly and Senate. Today is the annual Holocaust Memorial Observance. Many survivors and their families as well as camp liberators will be in attendance. They are living testimony to this horror that happened in the 20th Century. Genocide. Targeting the…Read more »
Walking for Congo
Today we at Kol Ami are joining with other congregations and individuals across Los Angeles to Walk in the annual Jewish World Watch Walk to End Geoncide. This is the fourth annual walk. We will gather in Woodland Hills at Warner Center Park 5800 Topanga Canyon (north of the 101) the walk is just under…Read more »
Honoring those who gave their lives for Israel
Sunday night begins Israel’s memorial day-Yom HaZikaron. It is a day of solemn memorial in Israel. Not the American Memorial day at all. The sirens blow across the land and the country stops. Cars and buses. Everyone gets out of their vehicle to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the State of Israel. …Read more »