Pesach is full of customs, foods and symbols that encourage us to remember and commemorate the Exodus from Egypt for generations. This year, when we sit down by the Seder table and praise Hashem for releasing us from Egypt and redeeming us, as we pour another glass of wine and leave a place for Eliyahu […]
Masorti and MERCAZ Olami are shocked and vehemently condemn Iran’s recent missile and drone attacks on Israel. As we pray for the safety of everyone impacted and the healing of those injured, we express our strong unequivocal support for the State of Israel, its people and its right to defend itself. We thank our ally […]
In the morning … every morning … we stand and recite: “Blessed are You, Adonay, our God, Sovereign of the world, who releases captives.” Every morning, in the “verses of song” mood-setting passages from Psalms we recite Psalm 146 which includes the verse: “Who secures justice for those who are wronged, nourishes the hungry. God […]
BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – VOICES – STORIES A decades-long history of boycotts against Israel are intended to block all support of Israel, destroy the Jewish state and intimidate Jews. Two important studies reveal an “extraordinarily high correlation” between BDS activities on university campuses and anti-Jewish hatred and that faculty-support for BDS fuels anti-Jewish hostility. The […]
by Rabbi Alan Silverstein, PhD In a statement issued Tuesday evening, April 4, President Joe Biden said he was “outraged and heartbroken” by the killings of seven humanitarian workers from World Central Kitchen, one of whom was a dual-American national. This is an appropriate response to a wartime tragedy with the loss of humanitarian aid […]
BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – STORIES At the six-month mark, Hamas continues to violate international law. Many across America and around the world seem to forget the simple fact that the basic tenet of Hamas is to destroy Israel and murder Jews worldwide – driving its ongoing campaign of violence and bloodshed. World […]
This article was provided by The Masorti Foundation and published on Friday, March 29, 2024 During the Purim period, we gathered twice in Hostage Square, to stand alongside the families of the hostages and express our hope that all would “be reversed”, as in the Purim story. On the Fast of Esther (last Thursday), we […]
The red heifer is perhaps the biggest enigma of the Torah: just as it purifies the unclean, so it defiles the pure. Not to mention the question: How can the water of purification, made from heifer’s ashes along with other ingredients, eliminate impurity? Those engaged in the preparation of the red heifer were the priests […]
BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – DISPELLING MYTHS – ACTIONS – STORIES U.S. and international pressure on Israel for a ceasefire intensifies as Israelis soon mark six months since the 10/7 attacks – and six months of relentless suffering for the families of hostages held in captivity. The United Nations Security Council recently adopted a resolution calling […]
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 […]