09 Tuesday Apr 2019
After my last post, a reader asked how contributing to the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA), the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ), and J Street can help Israel remain pluralistic, democratic, and just.
I answer this question on my latest blog at the Times of Israel – see https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/follow-up-2-american-zionist-organizations-liberal-american-jews-can-support/
08 Monday Apr 2019
As Israel prepares to go to the polls, it is likely that PM Netanyahu will form the most extremist right-wing government in Israel’s history. His pledge over the weekend to annex the West Bank and foreclose the possibility of a two state solution thus compromising the Zionist dream of a Jewish majority democratic state in the Land of Israel ought to provoke despair in the hearts of every lover of the Zionist dream and enterprise.
There are two ways for liberal American Jews to support the liberal democratic Jewish State of Israel that we believe in. First, we need to work with groups on the ground in Israel that support pluralism, human rights, a shared society, and Israel’s democratic institutions. The Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) is the counterpart to the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ). Through ARZA we Reform American Jews must give our full emotional, financial, and political support.
For the complete blog – go to Times of Israel at https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/2-american-zionist-organizations-that-liberal-american-jews-can-support/
05 Friday Apr 2019
The New York Times today (April 5, 2019) reviews the spread of anti-Semitic hate around the world. How ought we Jews to respond? That’s the perennial question we ask ourselves.
See my blog at the Times of Israel – https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-year-of-anti-semitic-anti-zionist-and-anti-israel-hate/
04 Thursday Apr 2019
Posted in Israel and Palestine, Israel/Zionism, Social Justice
Mika Almog is Shimon Peres’ granddaughter – her video, here in English but she made one in Hebrew as well, is a direct challenge to PM Netanyahu which she calls “Bring it on!”
It is 3 minutes and reflects not only her disgust of the Prime Minister and his racist egotistical politics, but the desire of so many Israelis to chart a new future with a new Prime Minister.
Watch it and share it with your lists.
01 Monday Apr 2019
Posted in American Politics and Life, Ethics, Uncategorized
Anyone who knows Congressman Adam Schiff recognizes the quality of the man, his intelligence, dignity, integrity, and seriousness as a public servant. Modest, refined, distinguished, thoughtful, and professional – these are the adjectives that immediately come to mind when I think of him.
See my blog at The Times of Israel – https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/in-defense-of-congressman-adam-schiff-against-an-immoral-president/
25 Monday Mar 2019
Posted in Uncategorized
Rabbi David Teutsch, who shares the co-chairmanship with me and Rabbi Andrea London of the J Street Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet, has written an authoritative piece that will appear in the Times of Israel detailing how the extreme right-wing is the greatest anti-Semitic threat and NOT the extreme left wing. Though there are concerns about a growing anti-Israel sentiment on the left, these people are not violent. The right wing is.
David shows us why and is to be complemented.
http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org/dangers-antisemitism
22 Friday Mar 2019
Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch is Senior Rabbi of the Stephen S. Wise Free Synagogue in New York City. He was interviewed in the Jerusalem Post.
This interview given in advance of the Prime Minister’s visit and the AIPAC conference is must reading.
22 Friday Mar 2019
For 2-minute video link – https://bit.ly/2YhGB0H
20 Wednesday Mar 2019
Member of Knesset Stav Shaffir (Israel Labor Party), the youngest parliament member in Israel’s history, entered public life after her leading role in the 2011 social justice movement, Israel’s largest-ever, cross-party protest, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of Israelis to take to the streets and set up protest camps throughout the country.
Shaffir is now serving her second term in the Knesset and is known for her relentless fight against the corrupt use of taxpayer money. She successfully exposed and blocked, for the first time in Israel, the massive use of government funds for political purposes.
A former journalist, Stav studied for her master’s degree in Philosophy and History of Science and Ideas at Tel Aviv University and holds a BA in Journalism and Sociology from City University of London, where she was the recipient of the Olive Tree Program scholarship for conflict resolution.
This video was likely released to the American Jewish community in advance of Stav’s appearance at the AIPAC Policy Conference, March 24-26 in Washington, D.C. She explains here, and hopefully she will do the same before the AIPAC thousands, why PM Netanyahu does NOT represent the vast majority of Israelis.
19 Tuesday Mar 2019
Posted in American Jewish Life
I had the unusual pleasure this week of welcoming into my synagogue ten young Japanese men and women scholars of Judaism, Jewish history, Zionism, anti-Semitism, and Jewish thought. Their biographies are all impressive and frankly, I was stunned by the depth and breadth of their intellectual and academic concerns and interests.
To read my full account, go to my blog at the Times of Israel – link https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/10-young-japanese-scholars-of-judaism-and-jewish-history-visit-los-angeles/
