MERCAZ USA News Feed

Torah for this Hour | October 31, 2024

Posted on October 31, 2024

“Noah” means rest, comfort. Consolation? .ותמלא הארץ חמס The land was overrun by hamas. Consolation? Does Hamas rest? The Midrash interprets hamas as theft. Theft of what by whom? Theft that justifies annihilation? In Genesis, God gave humans and animals “every plant and tree to eat.” He commanded the first human (“Adam”) on earth “to […]

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Conservative Judaism’s Zionism, 1948-1973

Posted on October 31, 2024

by Rabbi Alan Silverstein, PhD | President of Mercaz Olami (Representing the global Masorti/Conservative movement) With Israeli statehood a reality, Conservative Judaism became a full-fledged Zionist movement. For JTS chancellor Louis Finkelstein, the commitment to Israel was personal as well; his daughter had settled and established a family in Jerusalem, with her father making visits year after […]

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UN’s Palestinian Staffers Part of 10/7 Massacre

Posted on October 29, 2024

UN’s Palestinian Agency Promotes Terrorism, Perpetuates Conflict BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – DISPELLING MYTHS – STORIES UN agency employees, doubling as Hamas terrorists, killed and kidnapped Israelis on 10/7 More than 10 percent of UNRWA’s Gaza staff has ties to terrorism Hamas built a data center directly beneath the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza […]

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Torah for this Hour | October 23, 2024 (Simchat Torah)

Posted on October 23, 2024

As the news comes at us fast and furious, I take a look at our synagogue community calendar and the schedule of services prepared for last year. Friday evening: hakafot for Simḥat Torah. Shabbat morning: shaḥarit, hakafot, the honors of Ḥatan Torah and Kallat Bereishit. A picture: children dance in a circle at the synagogue. […]

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Killing Sinwar: War Milestone, Not Finish Line

Posted on October 22, 2024

When Israel’s Enemies Lay Down Arms, So Can Israel BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – STORIES Since the horrific Oct.7 massacre that killed thousands and saw hundreds of innocent civilians dragged to Gaza as hostages, Israel remains under constant attack. The world’s only Jewish state is forced to engage with enemies on seven fronts […]

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How do we observe Simchat Torah in times of grief? 🎗️

Posted on October 21, 2024

Via the Office of Dr. Yizhar Hess, Vice Chairman, World Zionist Organization As Simchat Torah approaches, many in Jewish communities around the world are grappling with how to celebrate the holiday in the shadow of such immense grief and tragedy. Following the devastating events of October 7th, when so many lives were lost, the question […]

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Biased Coverage Warps American Perceptions of Israel

Posted on October 15, 2024

Education is Crucial to Defending Israel from Bias BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – DISPELLING FALSEHOODS – ACTIONS – STORIES We value the feedback of our readers and invite you to please take 15 seconds to answer two questions about this week’s edition by clicking the image right below the Actions to Consider section. Ignorance about […]

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Conservative Judaism’s Zionism from World War II Until Israeli Statehood

Posted on October 10, 2024

by Rabbi Alan Silverstein, PhD | President of Mercaz Olami (Representing the global Masorti/Conservative movement) Soon after the outbreak of World War II, Jewish Theological Seminary chancellor Dr. Cyrus Adler passed away, and leadership of the JTS and of Judaism’s Conservative Movement was placed into the hands of Rabbi Louis Finkelstein, a JTS graduate and longtime assistant […]

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October 7 Memorial Ceremony (Recorded on October 6, 2024)

Posted on October 7, 2024

On Sunday, October 6, the Masorti/Conservative movement held a global online event to mark one year since the terrorist attack, honor those killed during the Hamas massacre and the fallen soldiers, and pray for the safe return of the hostages still held in Gaza. You can watch the recording of this 10/7 commemoration here: With […]

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Remembering 10/7: Never Forget.

Posted on October 6, 2024

This commemorative edition of the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 massacre is being posted in lieu of this week’s regular Tuesday edition. Horrors, Hostages and Heroes: First Anniversary of 10/7 Attacks BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – STORIES MAKING NEWS Hearts pounded with fear as sirens blared, rocket interceptions boomed across the sky as […]

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