AJWS Blog

The AJWS community has a lot to say about what's happening in the world. Read our insights about the struggle for justice and human rights around the globe — and meet the activists on the frontlines of the fight to build a better world.

A Pause in Our Hectic Lives to Meditate on Freedom

A weekend of Good Friday, two Seders, the beginning of another Passover season and Easter Sunday certainly offer moments for each of us to take a deep breath.  Take several. Reflect on all that is good and rewarding in our own lives, on the ways in which we usually manage to cope well with the vagaries …

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Pursuing Social Justice at the White House

Originally posted on the Global Circle blog. “The average citizen totally underestimates their ability to impact policy and decision making here in Washington.” – Jon Carson, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement There I was, sitting with 82 members of the American Jewish Community representing 21 Jewish organizations as part of the …

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Chag v'Chesed, Holiday Dvar Tzedek: Passover 5772

If we were to try to summarize the purpose of the Seder ritual in one sentence, we could find that sentence in the Haggadah itself: “Bechol dor vador, chayav adam lir’ot et atzmo k’ilu hu yatza miMitzrayim—In every generation, each of us must see ourselves as if we, ourselves, went out from Egypt.” The foods …

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Remembering Adrienne Rich, z"l

The decision to feed the world is the real decision. No revolution has chosen it. For that choice requires that women shall be free. —Adrienne Rich, “Hunger” When I learned last week that Adrienne Rich had passed away, I immediately pulled two of her books off my shelf and re-read my favorite poems: Integrity, Ballad of …

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Women's Day 2012: Port-au-Prince, Haiti

As Women’s History Month draws to a close, AJWS’s country consultant for Haiti, Amber Lynn Munger-Pierre, reflects on Women’s Day in Haiti. If there were an observable theme that I could surmise from the Women’s Day activities in Haiti on March 8th, I would say that it was unity. The Women’s Day march brought together …

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