by YehuditBrachah [➚] · Monday, May 21st, 2007
“Indulge your creative side with GesherCity as we present Jewish art and media from New York City blended with Boston’s local scene” the postcard ad says. It’s a GesherCity Boston event on June 12 called HaMisiba (“the Party”), framing itself as a night of hip young Jew scene, at Phoenix Landing in Cambridge. I’m kind of irked. Don’t we have enough Jewish hip things going on in Boston that we don’t need to import it from New York?
I’m third generation Jewish Bostonian. Born and raised in the land of baked beans and frappes, Patriot’s day and the packie, the T and the Sawx, and I love that dirty water. Boston’s Jewish community is vibrant and even innovative. The Combined Jewish Philanthropies is a thriving arm of the federation that single-handedly created the position of synagogue educator by making community education a funding priority. Kosher restaurants, synagogues of every kind throughout the Boston area, young Jews and old Jews, indie minyans and enormous centuries old stained-glass structures — Boston’s a place in which you can make a Jewish life without a struggle.
Now, it may have to do with the Red Sox-Yankees battle of good over evil (and we will prevail, Ruby K, check those standings!), or it may be the smog, or it may be stubborn pride mixed with thinly veiled jealousy, but I really hate it when people act like the only thing cool and Jewish going on in America is in New York City. True, a huge number of American Jews live in New York City, and I think I still don’t fully understand the Jewyness of the place even after having visited it countless times, but still: we’ve got our own thang over here. And so do they in San Fran, Hotlanta, D.C., Miami, Philly, not to mention L.A. Why do we always have to be looking over our shoulder at what New York is doing? Do we really have to import Jewish culture from New York in order to be cutting edge?
And yet… as I write this from an apartment in Jerusalem, approaching my first Shavuot at the Kotel, I do know that it feels like the center of the universe here sometimes. Many times. Maybe because it is the center to my Diaspora. And I know that sometimes sheer quantity of people makes innovation happen, and although we are robust, we in the Hub of the Universe (that’s Beantown for those not in the know) don’t have the several million Jews crammed into one place to birth some of the stuff happening down in New York or happening here in Israel.
Maybe the difference is how we consider our Diasporas? What we consider their centers to be? For many Jews whose families come from New York or who grew up in New York, New York is the obvious Jerusalem to their Ann Arbor, or Washington, or even Boston. As someone who appreciates Israel but has no intention of making aliyah, who values both center and Diaspora equally and defines her role in the Jewish world as being completely tied up in the Diaspora, I submit that when we start appreciating and highlighting the unique contributions of all our many Diaspora communities, both can only become richer.
Oh yeah, and this GesherCity event, HaMisiba? It looks pretty cool. Check it out. Jewschool may show up to wow the crowd, stay tuned.
by Mobius [➚] · Monday, May 21st, 2007
Coalition of Jewish Leaders Release Petition with Over 1000 Signatures Urging an End to the Iraq War
“Jews Against the War†(JAW) to deliver petition signed by members of every Jewish denomination to Congress and run it as an ad in a major Jewish publication
News Release
For Immediate Release: May 21, 2007
Contacts (available May 22-23): Zack Kaldveer, Publicist, 510-938-2664, Dr. Aryeh Cohen, 310-440-1262, Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater, 626-798-1161
(CA) The day before Shavuot, a Jewish holiday marking the day the Torah was delivered at Mount Sinai, “Jews Against the War†(www.jewsagainstthewar.org) released a petition signed by over 1000 Jews, including members of every major religious denomination – from Orthodox to Conservative to Reform to Reconstructionist to Renewal – urging an end to the war in Iraq. The signatures were gathered during the weeks between Passover and Shavuot, and include the support of over 250 rabbis, educators and Jewish professionals.
JAW is a grassroots organization dedicated to ending the Iraq War and preventing one with Iran. The group will deliver the petition to every member of Congress and run it as an ad in a major Jewish publication. JAW was launched on March 19th 2007 – the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq – to give voice to the majority of American Jews who oppose the war. A recent Gallup poll indicated that fully 77% of American Jews think the Iraq War was a mistake, compared with just 52% of the general American public. This disparity between the poll results versus the relative lack of an active and vocal Jewish effort to oppose the war was integral to the organization’s initial creation.
More »
by LastTrumpet [➚] · Monday, May 21st, 2007
As a male growing up in Reform Judaism, I’ve tended to approach all of the “the boys are leaving! the boys are leaving!” literature with some speculation – as I approached the latest issue of Hadassah-Brandeis Institute’s 614. Titled Is Judaism a “Girl Thing?” , the e-zine attempts to tackle the issue from a variety of angles, beginning with lay-leadership opportunities for stay-at-home moms:
Women are taking our professional backgrounds in fundraising, public relations, finance, education, and legal (to name just a few) and channeling that knowledge as we become synagogue presidents, vice-presidents, and board members. In addition to this opportunity to stretch our professional muscles, we can make changes in our synagogues and religious schools that will directly benefit our children. Moreover, these volunteer positions give us the flexibility to be home for our children.
Full story.
Seems good to me. Not the case, though, if we follow the argument of Rona Shapiro, mentioned in two of the articles:
Women have maintained their involvement in a Judaism dominated for centuries by men, but the minute women get a toehold in leadership, men pick up and leave? Pollack, the boys’ development researcher heading up Moving Traditions’ major new initiative, refutes the inherent sexism of this argument, insisting that women’s leadership is not responsible for boys’ retreat from Jewish life.
“Boys haven’t found a way to†adapt to the sharing of power with girls and women in Judaism, he argued, “because men haven’t found a way to change.†If Jewish men, young or old, are turned off by women’s leadership, then our commitment to justice requires that we call this what it is—sexism—and work to change the attitude instead of accommodating it.
Full story.
I don’t find it to be true in my own experience, and I’d like to give my fellow males the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps, as stated in a piece on gender-exclusive space, our desire for egalitarianism has moved us beyond eliminating gender stratification to eliminating gender differentiation: More »
by BZ [➚] · Monday, May 21st, 2007
(Introduction.)
Today: Mourning and monarchy
586. “If a man has a wayward and defiant son …. Thereupon the people of his town shall stone [the son] to death.” (Deuteronomy 21:18-21) = don’t be a wayward and rebellious son
587. “For her he may defile himself.” (Leviticus 21:3) = the exception to #590 is that a priest may become tamei (unclean) by coming into contact with a dead body when a close relative dies; likewise, everyone (not just priests) is to mourn for deceased relatives.
588. “[The high priest] may not defile himself even for his father or mother.” (Leviticus 21:11)
589. “[The high priest] may not go in where there is any dead body.” (Leviticus 21:11)
590. “[A priest] may not defile himself for any [dead] person among his kin, except for the relatives that are closest to him.” (Leviticus 21:1)
591. “Set a king over yourselves, one chosen by Adonai your God.” (Deuteronomy 17:15)
592. “You must not set a foreigner over you, one who is not your kin.” (Deuteronomy 17:15)
593. “[The king] shall not have many wives, lest his heart go astray.” (Deuteronomy 17:17)
594. “[The king] shall not keep many horses.” (Deuteronomy 17:16)
595. “[The king] shall not amass gold and silver to excess.” (Deuteronomy 17:17)
596. “You must proscribe them — the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites.” (Deuteronomy 20:17)
597. “You shall not let a soul remain alive.” (Deuteronomy 20:16) = of the nations in #596
598. “You shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” (Deuteronomy 25:19)
599. “Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 25:17)
600. “Do not forget.” (Deuteronomy 25:19) = what Amalek did to you
by aaronf [➚] · Monday, May 21st, 2007
This week’s parsha, Naso, includes instructions for dedicating oneself to YHWH as a Nazir. And just to show you how good that can look, straight outa Kingston comes Zahra Redwood, the new, dreadlocked, Rastafarian Miss Jamaica! Betcha Haile Selassie is rising in his grave!
by LastTrumpet [➚] · Sunday, May 20th, 2007
Apparently, Tolkien isn’t the only one who likes magic rings.
According to the Testament of Solomon, a pseudepigraphic work of late Antiquity that serves as the basis for a whole genre of Solomonic magical lore, King Sol created a ring using a divine name of power and inscribed it with a seal, either a pentagram or hexagram (traditions vary). With this ring, he was able to enslave demons and he compelled them to help him construct the Temple in Jerusalem
Full story.
by Danya [➚] · Sunday, May 20th, 2007
The AJWS has just created an opportunity for fledgling writers/teachers of Judaism to bring the holy down–for cold, hard, cash. It looks like a great opportunity–try to get in on it while you can!
American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is delighted to announce the launch of the AJWS Dvar Tzedek Torah Commentary-Lisa Goldberg Memorial Writers’ Fellowship. This Fellowship will provide five individuals with the opportunity to write for the AJWS Dvar Tzedek, a commentary on the week’s Torah portion that relates to the Jewish imperative for social justice. By using traditional and contemporary exegesis, Fellows will craft each Dvar Tzedek to inspire Jewish engagement in global justice efforts. The Dvar Tzedek is published on the AJWS Web site and sent via e-mail to supporters across the country. It is also syndicated on other Web sites, including MyJewishLearning.com.
Each Fellow will write approximately 10 Dvar Tzedek commentaries between September 2007 and September 2008 and will receive an award of $2,000 as well as a one-day training seminar and ongoing guidance from the education and communications staff at AJWS.
Please visit www.ajws.org/parshah to download the application and view previous Dvar Tzedek commentaries. The application deadline is July 1, 2007. Please direct all questions to Sarah Margles at smargles@ajws.org.
AJWS is an international development organization motivated by Judaism’s imperative to pursue justice. AJWS is dedicated to alleviating poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the developing world regardless of race, religion or nationality. Through grants to grassroots organizations, volunteer service, advocacy and education, AJWS fosters civil society, sustainable development and human rights for all people, while promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship within the Jewish community.
by Mobius [➚] · Sunday, May 20th, 2007
by Mobius [➚] · Sunday, May 20th, 2007
I’ve moved back to America, drawing to a close three years of living in Jerusalem. I’m now sitting in my parents’ house in Teaneck, and after Shavuous will be moving out to Isabella Freedman for three months to do an internship at Elat Chayyim. Following that, I haven’t yet decided what to do with my life. I’m thinking about applying to start a Moishe House up in Ithaca. Other than that, if someone has a job offer in NY that pays well enough for me to live in Brooklyn, holler.
by BZ [➚] · Sunday, May 20th, 2007
(Introduction.)
Today: Testimony and authority.
571. “You shall investigate and inquire and interrogate thoroughly.” (Deuteronomy 13:15) = grill the witnesses
572. “The testimony of a single witness against a person shall not sufice for a sentence of death.” (Numbers 35:30) = a witness may not also serve as a judge in a capital case
573. “A single witness may not validate against a person any guilt or blame for any offense that may be committed; a case can be valid only on the testimony of two witnesses or more.” (Deuteronomy 19:15)
574. “You shall not join hands with the guilty to act as a malicious witness.” (Exodus 23:1) = a criminal may not serve as a witness
575. “Parents shall not be put to death for children.” (Deuteronomy 24:16) = a relative of a party to the case may not serve as a witness
576. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:13)
577. “If the one who testified is a false witness, if he has testified falsely against his fellow, you shall do to him as he schemed to do to his fellow.” (Deuteronomy 19:18-19) = if it was a capital crime, then the false witness is executed, etc.
578. “You shall act in accordance with the instructions given you and the ruling handed down to you.” (Deuteronomy 17:11) = follow the Torah that the Sanhedrin tells you
579. “You must not deviate from the verdict that they announce to you either to the right or to the left.” (Deuteronomy 17:11) = do not deviate from the words of the Sanhedrin
580. “Do not add to it.” (Deuteronomy 13:1) = don’t add to the mitzvot in the Torah
581. “Do not subtract from it.” (Deuteronomy 13:1) = don’t subtract from the mitzvot in the Torah
582. “One who curses his/her father or his/her mother shall be put to death.” (Exodus 21:17)
583. “One who strikes his/her father or his/her mother shall be put to death.” (Exodus 21:15)
584. “Honor your father and your mother.” (Exodus 20:12)
585. “Each of you shall revere his/her mother and his/her father.” (Leviticus 19:3)
by Mobius [➚] · Thursday, May 17th, 2007
Mazal tov to Ezra & Olivia on the occasion of their wedding! More photos here…
by BZ [➚] · Thursday, May 17th, 2007
(Introduction.)
Today: Obstruction of justice
556. “You shall do nothing to the girl [who was raped].” (Deuteronomy 22:26) = don’t punish someone who didn’t consent
557. “Do not show him any pity.” (Deuteronomy 19:13) = a murderer or attacker
558. “Do not favor the poor.” (Leviticus 19:15) = in judgment
559. “Do not show deference to the rich.” (Leviticus 19:15) = in judgment
560. “You shall not subvert the rights of your needy in their disputes.” (Exodus 23:6) = don’t be prejudiced against someone based on their criminal history
561. “Do not do unrighteousness in judgment.” (Leviticus 19:35) = finding an innocent person guilty or vice versa, etc.
562. “Do not subvert the rights of the stranger or the orphan.” (Deuteronomy 24:17)
563. “You shall judge your kin with justice.” (Leviticus 19:15)
564. “Do not fear any person.” (Deuteronomy 1:17) = judges shouldn’t fear powerful people in making their judgments
565. “Do not take bribes, for bribes blind the clear-sighted and upset the pleas of those who are in the right.” (Exodus 23:8)
566. “Do not carry false rumors.” (Exodus 23:1)
567. “Do not curse a judge.” (Exodus 22:27)
568. “Do not curse a chieftain among your people.” (Exodus 22:27)
569. “Do not curse the deaf.” (Leviticus 19:14) = and don’t curse any other decent people either, even if they can’t hear
570. “When one has heard a public imprecation and — although able to testify as one who has either seen or learned of the matter — s/he does not give information, s/he is subject to punishment.” (Leviticus 5:1) = if you have testimony to give, go to the court and testify
by LastTrumpet [➚] · Thursday, May 17th, 2007
Zeek’s Jay Michaelson in this week’s Forward:
Far away from the eyes of the Jewish mainstream, in modern-day Turkey there live hundreds, if not thousands, of crypto-Jews — and today, one of their most sacred shrines is in danger.
This is the hidden, fascinating tale of the doenmeh, descendants of the faithful followers of the 17th-century false messiah Sabbetai Tzvi, who converted to Islam in 1666. Tzvi’s own conversion came under duress: The Ottoman sultan demanded that he don the turban or die after nearly one-third of European Jewry had come to believe he was the messiah and had begun swarming into Turkey, expecting the long-awaited triumph of the Jews.
Tzvi chose to convert, and most of his followers lost hope — but not all of them. Many saw the conversion as a heroic act of tikkun, or repair, and followed their messiah’s lead by outwardly becoming Muslims while secretly maintaining their messianic Jewish faith. They were called doenmeh, meaning “turncoatsâ€â€” a pejorative term not unlike marrano (“pig.â€) Among themselves, they were called ma’aminim, “believers.†Sabbateanism did not die out in 1666, or even 10 years later when Tzvi himself died. There were subsequent messiahs — largely forgotten men like Baruchiah Russo and Jacob Frank — and, as recent scholarship has shown, Sabbateanism greatly influenced the 18th-century emergence of Hasidism. And then there are the doenmeh, who live on until the present day, in secretive communities, at first primarily in Salonika and today almost entirely in present-day Turkey.
A move to tear down the Turkish home where Tzvi is said to have lived, however, may now disturb the balance the community has cultivated for centuries.
Makes me want to take a trip to Turkey. Cow, you have any thoughts?
Full story.
by BZ [➚] · Wednesday, May 16th, 2007
(Introduction.)
Today: The justice system
541. “You shall not be partial in judgment.” (Deuteronomy 1:17) = don’t appoint a judge who doesn’t know the law
542. “…to lean after the majority.” (Exodus 23:2) = if there is a split decision among the judges, go according to the majority
543. “Do not side with the majority to do wrong.” (Exodus 23:2) = don’t execute someone if the number of guilty votes exceeds the number of not-guilty votes by only 1; there must be a majority of at least 2
544. “Do not give perverse testimony in a dispute.” (Exodus 23:2) = a defense witness in a capital trial shouldn’t testify against the defendant
545. “You shall stone them to death.” (Deuteronomy 22:24) = capital punishment by stoning
546. “They shall be put to the fire.” (Leviticus 20:14) = capital punishment by burning
547. “He must be avenged.” (Exodus 21:20) = capital punishment by the sword
548. “They shall be put to death.” (Leviticus 20:10) = capital punishment by strangling
549. “If a person is guilty of a capital offense and is put to death, you shall impale him/her on a stake.” (Deuteronomy 21:22)
550. “You must bury him/her the same day.” (Deuteronomy 21:23) = the executed criminal
551. “Do not let his/her corpse remain on the stake overnight.” (Deuteronomy 21:23) = the executed criminal
552. “You shall not let a sorceress live.” (Exodus 22:17)
553. “If the guilty one is to be flogged, the magistrate shall have him lie down and be given lashes in his presence.” (Deuteronomy 25:2)
554. “He may be given up to 40 lashes, but not more.” (Deuteronomy 25:3)
555. “Do not bring death on those who are innocent and in the right.” (Exodus 23:7) = don’t execute an innocent person based on circumstantial evidence
by BZ [➚] · Tuesday, May 15th, 2007
(Introduction.)
Today: Savings and loans
526. “If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you…” (Exodus 22:24) = lend to poor people
527. “…do not act toward them as a creditor.” (Exodus 22:24) = don’t demand payment from someone who can’t pay
528. “You may dun the foreigner.” (Deuteronomy 15:3) = however, it’s ok to demand payment from outsiders
529. “When you make a loan of any sort to your countryman, you mut not enter his house to seize his pledge.” (Deuteronomy 24:10) = a creditor may not collect collateral by force
530. “You must return his pledge to him at sunset, that he may sleep in his cloth.” (Deuteronomy 24:13) = a creditor must return the collateral at times when the debtor needs it
531. “If he is a needy man, you shall not go to sleep in his pledge.” (Deuteronomy 24:12) = a creditor may not hold onto the collateral at times when the debtor needs it
532. “You shall not take a widow’s garment in pawn.” (Deuteronomy 24:17)
533. “A handmill or an upper millstone shall not be taken in pawn, for that would be taking someone’s life in pawn.” (Deuteronomy 24:6) = a creditor may not take implements necessary for sustenance
534. “Do not lend [your fellow] your money at advance interest.” (Leviticus 25:37)
535. “You shall not deduct interest from loans to your fellow, whether in money or food or anything else that can be deducted as interest.” (Deuteronomy 23:20) = don’t borrow at interest
536. “Exact no interest from them.” (Exodus 22:24) = don’t be involved in any way in the charging of interest, as a borrower, lender, witness, guarantor, or contract writer
537. “You may deduct interest from loans to foreigners.” (Deuteronomy 23:21) = both as a borrower and as a lender
538. “In all charges of misappropriation — pertaining to an ox, an ass, a sheep, a garment, or any other loss, where one party alleges ‘This is it’ — the case of both parties shall come before God; the one whom God declares guilty shall pay double to the other.” (Exodus 22:8)
539. The laws of inheritance (Numbers 27:8-11)
540. “You shall appoint judges and officials for your tribes.” (Deuteronomy 16:18)
by BZ [➚] · Monday, May 14th, 2007
(Introduction.)
Today: Labor (paid and unpaid).
511. “If she proves to be displeasing to her master … he must let her be redeemed.” (Exodus 21:8) = redeem a female Hebrew slave
512. “…who designated her for himself…” (Exodus 21:8) = designate the female Hebrew slave as a wife
513. “He shall not have the right to sell her to outsiders.” (Exodus 21:8) = female Hebrew slaves may not be sold
514. “You may treat them as slaves.” (Leviticus 25:46) = you can hold onto Canaanite slaves forever (unlike Hebrew slaves who are freed after 7 years), unless you knock out a part of their body
515. “You shall not turn over to his master a slave who seeks refuge with you from his master.” (Deuteronomy 23:16) = don’t return a slave who has fled from outside the land into the land of Israel
516. “He shall live with you in any place he may choose among the settlements in your midst, wherever he pleases; you must not ill-treat him.” (Deuteronomy 23:17)
517. “When a person gives to another an ass, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to guard…” (Exodus 22:9-12) = the laws of the renter or paid guard
518. “You must pay [a laborer] his/her wages on the same day, before the sun sets.” (Deuteronomy 24:15)
519. “The wages of a laborer shall not remain with you until morning.” (Leviticus 19:13)
520. “When you enter another person’s vineyard, you may eat as many grapes as you want, until you are full.” (Deuteronomy 23:25) = an farm employee can eat from the fields s/he is working in
521. “You must not put a sickle to your neighbor’s grain.” (Deuteronomy 23:26) = but the aforementioned farm employee may not eat from the fields until the work is finished
522. “Do not put [grapes] into your vessel.” (Deuteronomy 23:25) = the employee may not carry off more than s/he eats
523. “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is threshing.” (Deuteronomy 25:4) = or any animal
524. “When a person borrows [an animal] from another and it dies or is injured, its owner not being with it, s/he must make restitution.” (Exodus 22:13)
525. “When a person gives money or goods to another for safekeeping, and they are stolen from the person’s house… if the thief is not caught, the owner of the house shall depose before God that s/he has not laid hands on the other’s property.” (Exodus 22:6-7) = an unpaid guard doesn’t have to pay restitution
by Mobius [➚] · Monday, May 14th, 2007
Dear OU,
I know we’ve had words in the past. Well, at least, I know you and Kelsey have had words in the past and that I published them. But I digress. It’s very important you listen to me just this once, and that you listen clearly:
If you don’t want Jewish kids to shtup before they’re married, don’t lie and tell them that the reason they shouldn’t is because condoms are ineffective. You’re spreading dangerously false information that can actually increase the likelihood of Jewish kids contracting sexually transmitted diseases, which can pose a serious risk to their lives.
If they’re going to have sex — and trust me, they’re going to, whether you like it or not (whereas abstinence education is a proven failure) — you should encourage them to do it safely, otherwise you won’t only be dealing with a problem of promiscuity, but with an even bigger STD problem in the Jewish community than that which already exists.
Furthermore, if you’re serious about fighting intermarriage and promoting Jew-on-Jew coupling, you’re going to have a really hard time doing so when you’re scaring Jewish kids off from being intimate with one another. The Jewish establishment is spending millions annually to encourage Jewish kids to sleep with each other. Michael Steinhardt alone has spent a fortune trying to encourage Jewish kids to jump in the sack. Do you really want to counteract all their efforts by making sex with your fellow Jew a terrifying proposition? (Actually, now that I think about it, if you really want to stem the tide of unwedded sex in the Jewish community, wouldn’t you be better off keeping your kids home instead of sending them on trips to Israel?)
You’re sending mixed messages. Kids are confused enough as it is. Don’t make it more confusing. Lead by righteous example.
Honestly, if such a path is truly emesdik (truthful), you can make a case for tzenuah (modesty) and being shomer negiah (not touching the opposite sex) without promoting lies in the process. It’s unethical and it constitutes lifnei eiver (placing a stumbling block before the blind).
Frankly, I think your campaign would be more successful if you tell kids how much kinkier it is to wait. Tell ‘em how dressing modestly is more erotic because it leaves more to the imagination, seeing how the mind is the most erogenous zone. Tell ‘em how being shomer negiah and observing the laws of niddah (ritual purity) are really hot because it builds up the tension, making your partner’s most minor touch even more explosive. Show ‘em the parallels between the frum approach to sexuality and sado-masochism. Hell, give ‘em some incentive!
But don’t lie. Because they know you’re lying. Your kids probably know more about this stuff than you do (thanks, Internet!). And if they know you’re lying about this, you can be sure they won’t believe you about much else you have to say.
Sincerely,
Mobius
by Kol Ra'ash Gadol [➚] · Sunday, May 13th, 2007
Last week, on May 7th, a broad spectrum of Evangelical Christians launched a notional campaign for Comprehensive Immigration Reform in order to mobilize churches and faith groups to pressure political leaders nationally and in five targeted states: Florida, Arizona, Kansas, Ohio and Pennsylvania.. Among the organizers are the ubiquitous Jim Wallis, (Founder, Sojourners), Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Marcos Witt, Pastor of Lakewood Church, Rev. Dan Soliday, and Rev. Derrick Harkins, Pastor. Their statement and signatories can be seen here. It is unsurprising to see Wallis, who is attempting to wrestle Evangelical Christianity away from its current obsessions back to it roots among the poor, although it is surprising to me that this hasn’t spread like wildfire, given the growing number of Evangelicals who are themselves immigrants, and the spread of Evangelical Christianity in Latin America.
I hope to see this topic take wings generally among the American public. I hopethat there is at least increasing awareness that this is not a topic that Jews can afford to ignore. Our history, of course, should shame us into being involved – we are not so far from those ancestors who came here with nothing and worked themselves into early graves to see us join the ranks of the middle class or better. We should certainly be ashamed not to assist those who follow us to receive the same benefits that continue to advance us.
There are signs that we have over the past few years just a barely bit begun to be aware once again, of our own history, and to honor it:
Just this past week, the Conservative Movement’s Rabbinical Assembly, at its annual convention, voted to pass a resolution (which I include here only because I can’t seem to find it online -scroll to bottom); way back in 2005, The Conservative Movement’s synagogue body (USCJ) passed a resolution suporting the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society’s (HIAS) “Interfaith Statement in Support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform.” IN 2006, HIAS produced another letter, which was signed by, among others: Rabbi Abba Cohen of Agudath Israel of America, Steve Gutow of Jewish Council for Public Affairs, several prominent individuals of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, Rabbinical Assembly and USCJ rabbis, Rabbi David Saperstein of Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Nathan Diament of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.
What I have been unable to find is a recent set of resoutions that really has everyone participating: Where is exactly the broad spectrum of Orthodox organizations participating? If the Reconstructionist federation has passed a resolution on tihs, they have made it difficult to find. I realize that all of us can’t get along on many things (and if we did, we would be sure not to need any resolutions, as yamei hamashiach would surely be following directly) but immigration reform seems ot be a bit of a no-brainer. HIAS got a reasonable number of the usual suspects, but perhaps we could do better? How about it folks – surely we can do as well as the Evangelicals
More »
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