I began this blog in October 2006 mostly to encourage conversation about the issues that tend to keep me up nights. Blogging doesn’t cure insomnia, but it certainly beats tossing and turning.
A few things:
- The opinions I express in Shalom Rav are mine and mine alone.
- I have another blog called “Yedid Nefesh.” You should read that too.
- Like all bloggers, I love to get comments. Please join the conversation.
- Please try to keep your comments respectful. I welcome criticism, but I won’t let through any comments that I find offensive or inappropriate.
- I enjoy long comment threads, but I’ll end a conversation if it feels like it’s turning into a spitting match.
- Please check in frequently – or better yet, subscribe via email using the button on the homepage.
- Thanks for visiting!
Great Website!
I could spend hours with all this info and the great links!
I will be a regular visitor.
Mazel Tov!
Karen
Hi Brant….what a joy this erev Shabbat to read your blog, to be in touch with JRC, the progress of our new home, all of this from faraway Delhi, India.
I’ll be back in Evanston soon, after 22 successful days of introducing Women Founders Collective to women founders of NGO’s (nonprofits) here in India as well as Nepal. I even managed to attend, here in Delhi, the 50th anniversary celebration of the Delhi synagogue, Judah Hyam (a congregation of 10 families)….what timing!
Shabbat shalom. Sallie Gratch
Addendum to the above message: the website for Women Founders Collective, for any women founders out there who want to be connected to a global support network for women founders is: http://www.womenfounders.org
Sallie Gratch
I found your weekly blog on the Parshat Yitro particularly engaging. You dared to say what runs counter to many within the Jewish community would want said, and put it in a Jewish context. All people matter, and all can suffer.
Thanks and keep up the good/bold work
Concerning “The Genocide Olympics” – My mother was born the day WW1 ended. My grandfather, an immigrant from Austria, named his daughter Peace. In 1936, my mother joined in a boycott of the Berlin Olympics as there was no way my grandfather was going to allow any glorification of the Nazi regime. . Some Jewish athletes participated, some boycotted, The Head of the U.S. Olympic Committee, not wanting to offend Hitler, excluded some Jewish athletes from taking part in their events. It is interesting to note that African-American athletes who were living in a racially oppressive America did not boycott in 1936.
When America entered the Second World War, my mother volunteered and rose to the rank of Captain, serving with the famed 101st Airborne Division. She witnessed and treated holocaust survivors.
Should we be glorifying the People’s Republic of China? It is not just Dafur but also Tibet and repression in Xinjiang province.
Beijing will be a stage-managed spectacle. My own family’s history fills me with pride. They did the right thing. We should not forget.
great site (where can I learn to do this?), insightful commentary, nice concert footage, perhaps we’ll see a category on(Jewish)foods in the future.
Hello,
Kim from Hormone Colored Days sent me your way. I’ve started a new blog called YourJewishMother.wordpress.com. It’s a work-in-progess and plans include posting stories and anecdotes by Jewish mothers about being a Jewish mother. Submissions can be cultural, religious, serious, irreverent, humorous. I’m not looking for rants about politics or rambles about kids, but for well-crafted tales of all things Jewish and all things mother, combined.
If you know anyone who might be interested, they can reach me at JewishMotherBlog@aol.com.
Thank you!
Amy
Your Jewish Mother
I’m fascinated by to points you commentary on the “Crossing”
at the Sea of Reeds. How poingnant you should choose the
word “fragile”. When a mother is given birth to her child
both mother and child are in an oh so very fragile state.
How much fragile still is our God when he is giving birth
to a people of whom will dedicate their lives and future to.
How fragile too the circumstance that Hashem should choose
water to protect Bnei Yisrael when it was water which was
used to destroy mankind in the day of Noah. So too in the
day of crossing that the violence in Pharoahs’ heart and the
hearts of his armed men was washed away like the rising
waters in the day of Noah.
Second, you stated that we all possess the hardened heart
of Pharoah to a certain degree. I too agree but you would
be surprised just how much of our modern daily lives are
deeply entrenched in the phenomenon that is “Pharoah”.
Wherever we have been, wherever we go, there is Egypt until
as the prophet Amos declares “the day of decision”.
Baruch HaShem,
Russell K. Shenn
Augusta, Maine
I can’t believe you’ve been blogging for nearly 2 years (I’ve been at it for 5) & I’ve not previously heard of you or yr blog. My reader Shamai Leibowitz brought you to my attention. I’m so proud of rabbis who blog about I-P peace. Thank you.
I hope you gib a kook to my own blog, Tikun Olam sometime.
I’ll add you to my blogroll & hope you get a few hits fr. it.
Hi Brant – I really enjoyed your footage and commentary about JRC’s “move-in” day, February 10,2008. Even though I wasn’t there, I could feel what it must have been like. I’m so proud to be a member of this congregation and look forward to many future experiences like that of last Sunday.
sallie gratch
you are great to be success to coordinate between me from nepal and Brant.
really you both are great communicaters for me.
naan sharma
Me again. I don’t know if you saw an earlier story I did about Rabbi Funnye and Beth Shalom, but I thought you (and your congregants) might be interested.
Thought you might like to se this…
http://unlitcandle.org/
Found it over on the Velveteen Rabbi’s site.
If you haven’t come across this yet you might care for it…
http://abrahamsvision.org/
Rabbi Brant Rosen,
I wanted to thank you for the shout out for the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC). As you know IFYC is building a global movement of religious pluralism among young people, and we couldn’t do it without friends and allies like you.
Our trainer Hind really enjoyed presenting to your community, and we look forward to working with you in the future.
Thanks again!
Katya
Interfaith Youth Core
http://www.ifyc.org
Rabbi –
I am a journalism student here in Chicago reporting on the movement of refugees from Bhutan in to our metropolis. I’d like to get together some time and talk to you about this. And perhaps my lack of knowledge of the JRC.
Look forward to hearing form you, I believe you have my email address now. If not, it is normangreens@gmail.com
-Dan
Hello, Rabbi –
What a treasure I’ve stumbled upon! I found your incredible site while searching for the source of this quote:
“Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Barack could run. Barack ran so our children could fly.”
Still haven’t found it, but I started reading about your experience in Grant Park on Election Night with joy and slight envy (I’m a native Chicagoan living West now), and one thing lead to another. Your work with the JRC and your current trip to Iran are tremendous! Thank you for sharing your insights (and photos). I will visit often! Travel safely –
Kate Tarasenko
Colorado
Hi,
I cannot bring myself to address you as Rabbi and I could sit here and spew hate, but that is not my intention. It is a sad day when Jewish people think they can re-write the Jewish religion that we have carried down with pride and passion since the 2nd Bet Hamigdash was destroyed.
It is amazing that you expend efforts to such great lengths in hopes of brokering peace with our mortal enemy, Iran. I am so sorry that you fail to realize that there will never be peace with the nation of Amalek. Iran shows it’s true colors as the nation of Amalek, because it is a nation that seeks nothing more than the destruction of Israel and Judaism. Iran is also a nation urgently pursuing a nuclear arsenal to use on the state of Israel. Don’t you care about what happens to Israel? If you are a Rabbi, haven’t you ever read about how the end days will be and how Moshiach’s army will descend upon our enemies? Unfortunately sir, you are a mere mortal and cannot overturn the will of Hashem. May Hashem have mercy on you and awaken your spirit so that you will be better prepared for the days to come. May Hashem bless your followers and open their eyes to true Judaism. There WILL be war with Amalek and it is likely to get very ugly before it gets any better. Those of us Jewsh people that are not meek like our ancestors that were hauled off to concentration camps in nazi Germany will rally together to fight Amalek (Iran). An interesting fact…more and more American Jews are becoming militant (in secrecy) realizing that being meek makes you a sitting target. More and more Jews have been purchasing arms for their protection and learning how to use them. When the old generation dies off (soon to come), we will be what is left…The young oppresed and angry living in an arab sympathizing world. Now our own people like you and your very confused congregation are committing treason against your own people. Chas V’Shalom! NO matter though, we are the new breed of militant and in some cases spiteful Jews that will step up to our arab enemies throughout the globe…Ba’zrat Hashem! There is nothing that your small egalitarian or reconstructionist congregation can do to stop the ancient energy and spirit of Hashem’s people. May Hashem bless you and keep you all. Join the fight against Amalek. Cha’g Samaiach.
Mr. Teboul:
With all the respect that every human being deserves, I must say that I have never seen someone so full of hate and anger. Well actually I have, but the comparison would be too offensive for me to make. As someone that has no side on the situation between Israel and Palestine I have a question, so here it goes:
Palestinians have been fighting the Israelis, and the Israelis have been fighting the Palestinians; for how long has this been going on? IT IS NOT WORKING for either side!!! It’s way past time to try something different. The people of Israel has as much right to live in Peace as the Palestinians have, so come on and work for it; don’t fight against it.
On a more personal tone Mr. Teboul, “housing hate in your heart is like drinking poison and wait for the other person to die”. Whichever the religious believe of anyone, a heart that houses hate, will never have space to house Adonai.
Amazing! You have the courage to stand up and say the right thing. Conscience of the world is what being Jew means, or that what I have learned from my Jewish friends. Thanks
Regards,
Martin
Thanks, Rabbi. You are the kind of Jew that Isaiah wanted us to be.
Grant, thank you for reflecting the universal Prophets – the nevi’im, the shouters.
You deserve inspiration for yourself.
So Google “Jewish Palestinian Success” to see over 500 messages with several thousand successes stories of Palestinian-Jewish and some interfaith relationship building.
Too, Google “Jewish Palestinian Progress” to see several hundred outreach successes of one, local Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue in California.
Grant, thanks for much for living the life of the Shema, listening to everyone.
50 years ago when I was 16, my father told my frantic mother that their daughter (me) was a “Reconstructionist”.
He knew….
So there you are. The rabbi I sought as a youth and thought to be a figment of my imagination. More than delighted to find you now. Your spark is palpable.
Many thanks for your wisdom and courage. Religion and all else notwithstanding, we must rewrite this story…. and fast.
Peace,
Shaleia
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29018112/
Dear Rabbi,
I tried to post when you first started your blog. I have a lot to say and, while I cannot do so now, I will.
My heart breaks when I realize how far we Jews have strayed from being a “light unto nations.” Thank you for opening the door to let come light in … and back out into this broken world.
I’m glad we stood together at Sinai. There is hope.
More later,
B’shalom,
Barbara
re Jews and Non-Violence. found this sermon as latest JPF bulletin. You are perhaps familiar with Polner and Merkin”s Peace Justice and Jews? As a long-time non-violent practioner (while in NYC, before moving to Canada, associated with Congr. B’Nai Jeshurun and Kairos Community) my thinking has led me to associate peace with justice. Wars are nothing more than expressions of injustice and justice grows out of non-violence. Oseh shalom, jim munves
You should be calling yourself the Kapo Rabbi, that is what you are. A collaborator with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Shame on you.
Scum bags.
Thats the only words I have in mind when I visit this disgusting website. Scum bags. Enemies of the people of Israel. Traitors.
I hate you. I hate you with all my heart.
Supporting this scum goldstone… this scum that denies us our most basic of human rights: to protect ourselves when battling terrorists. Goldstone would have prosecuted the jews fighting against the Nazis in WWII for crimes against humanity. What a fraud!
I hope the Israeli state will mark all of you Jew haters as “Persona non Grata” so you can never come here and contaminate our precious and only home. You are not a part of us, you are not a part of the Jewish people. You are Amalek.
We will never forget.
Thank you for your work. This is very helpful to me. I am a convert and I converted to the beautiful faith of Judaism…not to a racist and apartheid nation. Why is it that Jews cannot separate that? I really struggled as I was studying and the values do not correspond with that nation in any way. Yet, the process of conversion has you pledging to support that nation. I really struggle in conversations with Jews and hesitate to go to temple. I hear racist comments and twisted history… How long before Judaism wakes up and sees the false messiah it is following in Zionism?
Brenna, I too am a convert and I struggle with the same issues you do. You are not alone! In addition to Brant’s wonderful blog, check out Not in My Name, http://www.nimn.org/, Jewish Voices for Peace, http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org, B’tshelem, http://www.btselem.org and Brti T’zedek, http://www.btvshalom.org/ all wonderful Jewish organizations standing up for the Jewish values of justice and humanity.
I am encouraged to see so many Jews and Jewish organizations standing up for human rights in Israel, and blogs like this one have given many closeted Israel critics the courage to speak out.
Rabbi Rosen,
I just ran across your name on a one year old website story. I want to thank you for all you do for Justice and human rights. You are indeed a light shinning in the darkness of man’s inhumanity.
Bless you, L. Pinch
Rabbi Brant,
I’m enjoying your work, learning of it from Mark Braverman’s book Fatal Embrace (you are quoted there). I’d love your take on this essay:
http://acjna.org/acjna/articles_detail.aspx?id=529
Best wishes!
Steve Feldman
sfeldman@wfubmc.edu
Please share, if you find this article worthwhile. Thank you for your inspiring work.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-gouldwartofsky/through-the-looking-glass_b_596704.html
Through the Looking Glass: The Myth of Israeli Exceptionalism
In the bloody wake of the Mavi Marmara, with its righteous torrent of international outrage, and in view of a new confrontation impending at sea, a point of vital importance has gone missing. It is one that many Jews and many Gentiles grasp, but do not name.
It is the myth of Israeli exceptionalism, and its contradictions go to the heart of the radical disconnect between world opinion – including growing swathes ofJewish and Israeli opinion – and the actions of the war party in Israel and in the United States. Yet most of us still see the conflict through the lens of some exceptionalism, as if through Alice’s looking glass.
…
A new generation of Jews, as hawk-turned-dove Peter Beinart has observed, is refusing to accept this moral assimilation, for which ideologies of exceptionalism are but a mask. Many of them joined demonstrations this week in New York and Tel-Aviv. More and more refuse to see the conflict through the looking glasses of exceptionalism, through the blinders of extreme nationalism and tribalism.
Our generation and others must now chart a course towards the only safe harbor there is: An end to the blockade. An end to all forms of terror. A port of peace and freedom. A beginning.
Hi Rabbi Brant,
I want to commend you for adding your name to petition condemning the bigotry standing in the way of the Cordoba House, a.k.a. the Ground Zero Mosque. Your support shows dedication to the essential value of religious freedom for all.
Rabbi Brant,
Please feel welcome to come to Australia, anytime!! The community here is quite conservative when it comes to Israel. Many in the Jewish community don’t realise that a ‘circling the wagons mentality’ is only going to hurt successive generations of Jewish-Israelis; not help them.
Instead of compassion we see hardening if the hearts and closed minds. This is a sure recipe for prejudice and bigotry. People like yourself, Rabbi Brian Walt and other voices of conscience; offer a glimpse of the light that is to shine upon the nations.
Shalom Salam Peace
Stewart Mills
Sydney, Australia
Rabbi Rosen:
I just read “Light a Candle for Gaza” on the Mondoweiss website. I just want to let you know what an important, courageous article (the version without the heavy, creative editing). I am an avid reader of your blog and just want to express my appreciation of the wonderful work you are doing. You are making the world a better place.
Dear Rabbi Brant
for sure you have followed the development in Israel about the Boycott law. I am deeply concerned about this slide of Israel society towards – yes, i don’t know any other word describing it: – Fascism: the interdiction to voice any other opinion than that of the majority. Silencing part of the society. As Bradley Burston writes in Haaretz (http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/a-special-place-in-hell/israel-s-boycott-law-the-quiet-sound-of-going-fascist-1.372881), this is a turning point of Israel society. Do you share my point of view?