I’m extremely proud to announce that all three arms of the Reconstructionist movement have released a joint statement condemning the recent passage of gay marriage bans across the country. Read all about it in this JTA article. It was particularly gratifying to read this acknowledgment in the piece:
The Reconstructionist movement, the smallest of American Jewish [...]
Archive for the ‘Civil Rights’ Category
Recons Slam Gay Marriage Ban
Posted in Civil Rights, Current Events, GLBT Issues, Reconstructionism, Religion on November 19, 2008 | 9 Comments »
On Religious Tolerance, Hypocrisy and the UN
Posted in Civil Rights, Human Rights, Interfaith, Islam, Religion on November 15, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Reps from eighty countries met at the UN last week to discuss religious tolerance at a conference sponsored by Saudi Arabia. Now I’m sure many will immediately claim there is no small measure of hypocrisy when a Wahabi Islamic regime that outlaws all other forms of religion in its country convenes a conference on religious [...]
Wearing Purple on Election Day
Posted in Civil Rights, Current Events, Elections 2008, Judaism, Politics, Religion on November 4, 2008 | 1 Comment »
As I searched my mind and soul for what to say on this historic election day, I received these beautiful thoughts via e-mail from my friend and congregant Lesley Williams:
I wore purple to the election booth today, not red or blue. Today we make history, no matter what color your state or your skin. Today [...]
Finally, Justice in Chicago
Posted in Civil Rights, Human Rights, News, Torture on October 22, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Here in Chicago, a decades-long shandeh may finally be coming to an end: US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald announced today that former Police Commander Jon Burge (above) has been arrested and charged with two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of perjury for denying his department tortured suspects in their custody.
According to witness allegations, Burge led [...]
Demanding Justice in Postville
Posted in Civil Rights, Immigration, Interfaith, Labor, Politics, Religion on July 28, 2008 | 14 Comments »
I spent an incredible day yesterday in Postville, Iowa, where an interfaith mobilization of nearly 1,500 people prayed, marched, sang and testified in solidarity with the 390 immigrant Agriprocessor workers arrested in the May 12 raid. I’m still processing the experience the morning after - suffice to say this action provided a powerful ray of [...]
Israel’s Arabic Purge?
Posted in Civil Rights, Current Events, Israel, Politics, Zionism on June 16, 2008 | 1 Comment »
This, from a recent article in the Forward:
In a move that is being condemned for its effect on the already fragile relations between Israel and its Arab minority, right-wing lawmakers are trying to strip Arabic of its status alongside Hebrew as an official language of the state.
Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, Hebrew and [...]
Rabbi Wolf on Obama
Posted in Civil Rights, Current Events, Elections 2008, Politics, Race, Religion on March 20, 2008 | 5 Comments »
I had planned on writing some of my reactions to Obama’s speech this last Monday (click above), but I don’t think I could do it as well or as eloquently as the great Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf, of Chicago’s KAM/Isaiah, who wrote this piece today for the New York Jewish Week:
We [...]
Inherent Dignity
Posted in Children's Rights, Civil Rights, Current Events, Genocide, Human Rights, News, Poverty on June 19, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Another anniversary I can’t let slip by unnoticed: on this day fifty-nine years ago, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights adopted its Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I know, I know: it’s a controversial document, it’s non-binding, the UN has left unfulfilled its promise on human rights, blah, blah, blah…
I don’t want to hear it. [...]
Racism and Infection
Posted in Anti-Semitism, Civil Rights, Human Rights, Judaism, Politics, Religion, Religion/Politics, Torah Commentary on June 1, 2007 | 10 Comments »
As this week’s Torah portion opens, Aaron and Miriam unexpectedly disparage their brother Moses:
When they were in Hatzerot, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married: “He married a Cushite woman!” (Parashat Beha’alotecha, Numbers 12:1)
Moses’ siblings’ comment is confusing on a number of levels. In the first place, it’s [...]
Illness and Expiation
Posted in Civil Rights, Judaism, Peace, Race, Religion, Spirituality, Torah Commentary, tagged Race on April 4, 2008 | No Comments »
This week’s Torah portion, Ta’azria, offers a detailed description of tzara’at - a scaly skin affliction that is understood to render the afflicted as ritually impure (in Hebrew, “tamei.”) The portion makes it clear that the well-being of the entire community is potentially affected by this illness unless and until the [...]
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