Allow me another congregational kvell: the good folks at Mirembe Kowamera coffee recently informed us that JRC occupies the number 50 spot on their list of top customers this year!
Thanksgiving Coffee staffer Jenais Zarlin broke the cool news on the Mirembe blog:
(JRC member and Fair Trade Coordinator Elaine Waxman) pointed out that they have been [...]
Archive for the ‘Coexistence’ Category
Counting the Beans at JRC!
Posted in Africa, Coexistence, Fair Trade, Interfaith, Uganda on June 23, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Rabbis Remembering the Nakba
Posted in Coexistence, Israel, Palestine, Refugees, Religion, Zionism on May 17, 2009 | 19 Comments »
“These I remember and I pour out my soul…”
Last Thursday night I welcomed 14 people – 9 Jews and 5 Palestinians – into my home for what turned out to be a powerful and sacred experience. The timing of our gathering was significant. May 14, 1948, the date of the State of Israel was declared, [...]
Why I Didn’t Celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut
Posted in Coexistence, Israel, Palestine, Yom Ha'atzmaut on April 29, 2009 | 13 Comments »
I didn’t celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut today. I don’t think I can celebrate this holiday any more.
That doesn’t mean I’m not acknowledging the anniversary of Israel’s independence – only that I can no longer view this milestone as a day for celebration. I’ve come to believe that for Jews, Yom Ha’atzmaut is more appropriately observed as [...]
The Reconciliation of Civilizations: A Sermon for Kol Nidre
Posted in Coexistence, High Holidays, Interfaith, Islam, Judaism, Religion, Sermons on October 10, 2008 | 1 Comment »
On Kol Nidre 5769 I discussed one of the more positive and hopeful religious trends in recent years. Here’s an excerpt:
Yes, as the saying goes, 9/11 did “change everything” – but not necessarily in the way we might first have assumed. Yes, that tragic day did awaken the American public to the reality of Islamic [...]
Shanah Tovah/Eid Mubarak
Posted in Coexistence, Interfaith, Islam, Judaism, Religion on September 29, 2008 | 1 Comment »
This year there’s a wonderful Jewish-Muslim harmonic convergence: Rosh Hashanah and Eid (the final fast of Ramadan) fall on the same day. Though I read this morning in the NY Times that it’s causing a “monotheistic traffic jam” on the streets of the Old City, I still choose take this dual observance as a sign [...]
My First Iftaar
Posted in Coexistence, Interfaith, Religion on September 15, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Last night I was honored to participate in my first Iftaar. (Am somewhat ashamed it has taken me this long…)
It took place at the home of Dr. Shakeela Hassan, one of my fellow board members on Hands of Peace (a wonderful local coexistence organization about which I’ve written before). After our meeting we were invited [...]
A Tale of Love and Hope
Posted in Books, Coexistence, Israel, Peace, Terrorism on September 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
A hopeful gesture in response to tragedy: the family of an Arab man killed in a terror attack has made a contribution toward the Arabic translation of Amos Oz’s memoir, “A Tale of Love and Darkness” to further the cause of coexistence.
In 2004 George Khoury (right), an Israeli Arab student, was shot while running in [...]
Shanah Tovah From the Geneva Initiative
Posted in Coexistence, High Holidays, Israel, Palestine, Peace on September 2, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Today was Rosh Hodesh (the beginning of the month) of Elul: the month of soul introspection that precedes the Jewish New Year. Apropos of the season, I thought I’d share this remarkable new year’s greeting: a clip of the Palestinian partners of the Geneva Initiative wishing their Jewish friends a Shanah [...]
Your Safety is Continually in My Thoughts…
Posted in Children's Rights, Coexistence, Israel, Palestine, Tisha B'Av, War on August 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Last week I noted that we are currently in the midst of reading the seven Haftarot of Consolation that follow the Jewish communal mourning of the Tisha B’Av festival. Our prophetic portion this week comes from Isaiah 49:14-51:3 – a prophetic address that begins with these powerful words of comfort:
Can a mother forget her babe, [...]
Go Peace Team!
Posted in Coexistence, Israel, Palestine, Peace on August 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
More great coexistence news from the sports world: according to a report in Ha’aretz, a “Peace Team ” made up of Israelis and Palestinians are slated to play in the upcoming Australian Football League International Cup. The effort was organized and funded by the Peres Center for Peace and the East Jerusalem-based Al-Quds Association for [...]
