JDOV Talk Links the Shema Prayer’s Lesson of Listening to Global Activism
New York, NY; April 10, 2013—This week JDOV, an online and in-person speaker series dedicated to discussing Jewish dreams, observations or visions, released a videotaped talk by Ruth Messinger, the president of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading Jewish organization working to promote human rights and end poverty in the developing world. Messinger’s “Jewish TED talk” explains how the Jewish prayer, the Shema, teaches us to listen deeply to the needs of people who live in the developing world, and to use what we hear to inform our response to injustice worldwide.
“Jewish tradition urges us to listen and act based on what we hear,” said AJWS president Ruth Messinger. “The Shema, the bedrock Jewish prayer, commands us to listen because listening anchors our lives with compassion, interconnection, and a shared commitment to justice. Only when we truly pay attention to people who are silenced, disempowered, or rendered invisible, can we begin the work of repairing the world,” said Messinger in her talk.
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American Jewish World Service
Inspired by Judaism’s commitment to justice, American Jewish World Service works to realize human rights and end poverty in the developing world. www.ajws.org
JDOV
JDOV invites interesting and creative thinkers to give “the Jewish talk of their life.” We seek to create a community inspired by what the Jewish people have to offer the world. http://www.jhub.org.uk/jdov/
For More Information
If you are a member of the press and wish to obtain information about our work or speak to a member of our global team on deadline, please contact Tanyanika Davis, Director of Media Relations, at tdavis@ajws.org.
