by Rabbi Alan Silverstein, PhD Joe Biden’s State of the Union address focused on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Listening to the president, one might believe that Israel alone has caused this suffering and that Israeli actions only are required as a remedy. “Israel must do its part,” Biden declared. “To the leadership of Israel I […]
These past few years have afforded us the opportunity to read new meanings into ancient words. Before COVID, “plague” was a strange and distant concept. Just last Sukkot, “captivity” and “redemption of captives” were peripheral concepts to us, and suddenly they are a part of our daily lives. With these are echoes of other ancient […]
BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – VOICES – STORIES The ancient Jewish festival of Purim, celebrated this year on March 24, is a testament to resilience, courage and the triumph of good over evil. Purim celebrates the perseverance of Jews against one of the leaders of Persia – now Iran – who plotted to kill […]
by Rabbi Alan Silverstein, PhD Webster’s dictionary defines “denialism” as “the practice of denying the existence, truth, or validity of something despite proof or strong evidence that it is real, true, or valid.” Ever since testimony about the Nazi death camps spread, antisemites have employed Holocaust denialism of Nazi guilt. The deniers assert that Jews […]
And Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud rested upon it and the Presence of the Eternal filled the Tabernacle. (Exod 40:39) In fog there is unity: all of us experience the same feeling of uprootedness. The same helplessness. The need to take action of some sort. For over 150 […]
BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – STORIES Women’s rights and achievements were just celebrated on International Women’s Day, while many still refuse to acknowledge the sexual assaults of Israeli girls and women by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists. The terrifying acts committed by Hamas are continuing against 19 Israeli female hostages who remain in captivity. There […]
BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – DISPELLING FALSEHOODS – STORIES See our “Dispelling Falsehoods, Stating Facts” section to help address difficult questions about the conflict. “Jews are always told that we are not allowed to speak up for ourselves. You cannot allow yourself to be pushed out. We are showing resilience and strength. The […]
In its vital aim of effecting regime change in Gaza, Israel is not the first country to grapple with collateral loss of life The ruins of Dresden in 1945. Facing south from the town hall (‘Rathaus’) tower. Photo some time between 17 September 1945 and 31 December 1945 (CC Deutsche Fotothek via Wikimedia) Joe Biden […]
A half-shekel donation on Purim, reading Parashat Shekalim just before Rosh Ḥodesh Adar—these practices recall the annual gift to the Tabernacle/Temple. Its origin is in the census ordered in Parashat Ki Tissa, where everyone was counted by giving a half-shekel. Why? This is not a donation but a “ransom” intended to save the donor from […]
BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – VOICES – STORIES See our “Dispelling Falsehoods, Stating Facts” section to help address difficult questions about the conflict. Communities in northern Israel are virtually ghost towns, while the world’s attention is focused on the war in Gaza. Those towns in the north mirror the villages near Gaza that […]