“The forest is our heart!” Those beautiful words gave me chills when a village elder spoke them on a recent trip I made to Kenya. There I was deeply moved and motivated by the members of a special community—the indigenous Ogiek people, who for generations have cared for and thrived in the ancient Mau forest. …
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This summer, when so much of the world is riven by divisive politics and hostility, I’m reveling in books, podcasts and television shows. All these offer messages of hope but also make me think deeply about what’s wrong with our world and provide insights into making it better. Here are some of my favorites: Half …
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Dear AJWS Community, I am writing to connect with you in the wake of this tragic weekend, marred by yet another deadly attack on American Jews worshipping in synagogues. Last time it was in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. This time it was across the country in Poway, a town just north of San …
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Keeping MLK’s legacy alive in our work for justice today Today is the one day we set aside each year for the sole purpose of reflecting on the tremendous ethical legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and our moral obligation to “carry it on.” But this year, with so much injustice in …
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Over and over in my travels throughout the 19 countries where AJWS works in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, I’ve been struck by our grantee partners who toil tirelessly to protect the world’s most vulnerable communities. As 2018 comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on these human rights defenders. These …
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Tragically, the Trump administration is encouraging authoritarian leaders around the world to indulge their baser instincts—and many of our grantee partners and their communities are feeling the repercussions firsthand.
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I am elated today because our grantee partners in India have achieved an historic victory for LGBTQI+ rights. Earlier today, the Indian Supreme Court struck down a colonial-era law that criminalized consensual sex between same sex adults. As India is home to nearly one-fifth of the world’s population, this single ruling removes the threat of …
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The Torah teaches: “If you see a donkey of someone you hate struggling with its burden, and you are hesitant to help that person—you must help that person.”
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This week, I’m heading to the border. I’m going because this summer I’ve felt devastated by news of the barbaric treatment of immigrants and refugees who have crossed into our country, as I’m sure you have as well. Each painful headline has hit me hard. Day after day, I have read about children separated from …
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It is difficult to imagine the contours of my life without the influence of one of my heroes: Harvey Milk. As a young Jew who was just coming out as gay, I was deeply inspired by Harvey’s courage, confidence and secure sense of self.
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