I dream of a world that becomes the Temple because it the place where brothers and sisters embrace.

What do we need to feel comfort on Shabbat Nakhamu (Nakhamu, Nakhamu ami-Comfort, comfort my people – Isaiah 40:1 ).  At the reading of Eikha (Lamentations) of those calling for democracy in front of the Prime Minister’s residence, I looked around and didn’t recognize many of those present.  My guess is that it is a sort of khurban, a destruction ...

July 4, 2020 In this week’s and recent Torah portions we meet many characters who are not who they appear to be, but none more than Balaam. Korach is said to have been both wealthy and extremely clever. He ties Moses in knots with questions about the tzitzit (ritual fringes-no pun intended).  He speaks in lofty terms, “Are not the ...

In trying to lift up what we can learn from each one of them, I recall that we are taught that Aaron was a peacemaker.

Frankly, many of Umm al Hiran’s supporters lost interest once they could no longer fight to stay in their village, and were forced to negotiate their eviction terms.

As we transition from Sukkot to Simkhat Torah--rejoicing with the Torah—may we rejoice by living Torah.

"May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts disturb us, shatter our complacency, and move us to additional and more intelligent results achieving action."

Wishing You a Sweet and Joyous New Year as Full of Justice and Human Rights and Decency, as the Pomegranate is Full of Seeds

In the near future we will be meeting with fellow human rights organizations to look for a way to translate these particular battles into systematic change.

Tonight we stood detained in a darkening field so that Palestinian shepherds can be there tomorrow.

God, in this season of forgiveness, may we strengthen our spiritual ability to return to the good that is within us as individuals and as a society.