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 […]
Sukkot provides an opportunity to think about the truly essential values of life. This week, the tottering sukkah reminds us of life’s fragility, of how ephemeral everything physical is. We do not need much help bringing all that to mind this year, as we still mourn those who were murdered or fell in battle, still […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Day of T’ruah: 101 Calls of the Shofar “The teru’ah which the Torah mentions … — we do not know what it is: whether it resembles the wailing with which the women cry when they moan, or the sighs which a person who is distressed about a major matter will release repeatedly, or perhaps […]
Iran Attacks Israel Following Nasrallah Killing BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – FACTS – ACTIONS – 10/7 RESOURCES – STORIES Israel’s northern towns have been under a relentless barrage of deadly Hezbollah rockets, missiles and drones displacing more than 60,000 Israelis – the equivalent of 2 million Americans – for the last year. The attacks have displaced Israeli […]
Rabbi Hillel Skolnik, President, MERCAZ USA Dear Friends, As we usher in the very first moments of 5785, it will have been two weeks since we gathered together online for our General Council meeting which not only installed a new slate of officers, but challenged us with the question of the limits of our tent […]
The partner organizations of Conservative/Masorti Judaism wish you a sweet, happy, and peaceful New Year!