Why is this Passover different from all other Passovers? For some Jews focused on social justice issues, it’s because of the world’s greatest refugee crisis since World War II. For others, it’s because this June marks the 50th anniversary of Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank. And for some it’s the mere fact that …
Read MoreIn such a tumultuous political time, it’s a gift to be reminded of kindness and social justice in our community. This is why I love the fact that the American Jewish World Service recently made this video about how the popular Passover song “Dayenu” can be used to promote equality. In the video, different people from the Jewish …
Read MoreThe Haggadah teaches us “In every generation all of us are obligated to regard ourselves as if we ourselves went forth from the land of Egypt”. Imagining ourselves, removed from our worldly possessions, making that exodus from slavery to freedom is challenging. How can we create this mindset in today’s world? Join us as we turn …
Read MoreFuel up to fight for freedom. The Passover Seder is modeled after a Greek symposium, a long discussion centered around a meal. The Greeks and the Rabbis knew that you can’t be present when your stomach is growling, so, they included appetizers (karpas, marror and matzah) to kick off this epic feast. Next time you …
Read MoreIf a budget is a moral document, then the budget President Trump submitted to Congress last week is a testament to immorality of the highest order. The Jewish community’s response has been broadly critical. The American Jewish Committee, American Jewish World Service, B’nai B’rith International and the Religious Action Center are a few of the …
Read MoreJewish organizations, along with other faith-based and secular social justice organizations, have been ablaze with statements and action alerts during the early stages of the Trump Administration. Efforts began soon after the November election, with some Jewish groups condemning Stephen Bannon’s appointment to Chief White House Strategist and Senior Counselor. Statements have proliferated in recent …
Read MoreThe proposal would cut funding to the Environmental Protection Agency by 31 percent, the State Department by 29 percent and the Department of Labor by 21 percent. The document released Thursday was just an outline; the full budget – which will include information on taxes, spending on entitlements such as Social Security, economic projections and …
Read MoreDespite assurances from the Trump administration that US funding to Israel would be immune to proposed budget cuts, various Jewish groups are expressing their swift disapproval of the White House’s decision to drastically decrease funding for foreign aid. The nearly two month old administration has assured Israel that the $3.1 billion defense assistance allotted to Israel is a …
Read MoreAmerican Jewish World Service (AJWS) has published the second edition of the AJWS Global Justice Haggadah, “Next Year in a Just World.” The AJWS Haggadah connects the traditional story of Passover – moving from slavery to freedom – to the responsibility of contemporary Jews to pursue justice around the world today Drawing from AJWS’s international …
Read MoreThe American Jewish World Service, which provides financial support to nearly 450 organizations that serve vulnerable and marginalized populations in 19 countries, has come out in opposition of the Trump administration’s proposed budget, which would slash the combined budget for foreign aid and the U.S. State Department by 28 percent. Orange County Rabbi Elie Spitz, …
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