Today, we mark the International Day of Forests, a day to commemorate forests and to raise awareness about the vital role they play in the lives of people and in the health of our planet. Forests across the globe act as our lifelines. They sustain life for countless creatures, provide livelihoods to millions, and serve …Read More
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On day one of the Pulitzer Center’s Gender Lens Conference, June 3, 2017, a wide-ranging panel of experts discussed current public health initiatives and problems that face the world. The panelists included documentary photographer and Pulitzer grantee Allison Shelley, documentary filmmaker and Pulitzer grantee Rob Tinworth, senior program officer on sexual health and rights for …Read More
Read MoreAmerican Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading Jewish organization working to promote human rights and end poverty in the developing world, has launched an East Africa Crisis Fund to respond to the crises in South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda.
Read MoreThese days, whenever Daniel Koskei walks into the Logoman Forest and finds a mound of soil, he prepares to take action – particularly if the wind is strong and the sun blazing hot. Such mounds can be a sign of illegal charcoal production, an activity that can lead to fire outbreaks in this eastern region …Read More
Read MoreIn response to hateful anti-LGBTI attacks by American “faith leaders” at the recent World Congress of Families in Kenya, American Jewish World Service (AJWS), 250+ faith leaders and dozens of faith-based organizations have condemned American extremists who export hatred of LGBTI people to developing countries. To punish LGBTI people for who they are and whom they …Read More
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The Pentateuch’s penultimate portion, Parashat Ha’azinu, memorializes the “Song of Moses,” canted by the great leader on the day of his death. An epic poem in six parts, Ha’azinu tells of God’s enduring relationship with Israel, unfurling their stormy entanglements into both desert past and prophetic future.
Read MoreIn Parashat Chukkat, we read about the Israelites in a moment of desperation. Forty years into their journey through the desert, they once again find themselves in a new place without any water.[1] The people are distraught, but rather than voicing their fears in a calm, rational manner, the Israelites pick a fight. They approach …Read More
Read MoreParashat Chayei Sarah opens with the death of the matriarch Sarah at age 127. The Torah describes the death of this important character in only two terse verses,[1] and the news is soon eclipsed by a lengthy discussion occupying the rest of the chapter—17 verses in all—about the negotiations for the purchase of her tomb.[2] …Read More
Read MoreThe pursuit of global justice can often feel like a desert trek, with no oasis or end in sight. We work tirelessly toward our goals without certainty that we will reach them in our lifetimes. Sometimes, the never-ending struggle without reward overwhelms us. We may express anger, lash out or attempt to give up. Yet …Read More
Read MoreThis week, we are pleased to welcome guest writer, Dvar Tzedek alumnus Guy Izhak Austrian. Death felt very close as I walked through the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, with leaders of Binti Pamoja—Daughters United—a girls’ leadership development program.[1] Sewage ran through narrow alleys between the endless rows of tin shacks. Shredded plastic bags rattled amid …Read More
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