Wrestling With Our Inner Jacob and Israel

To me, Jacob feels human for his fearfulness — and even more human for his backsliding. Some of us may carry ourselves with confidence and consistency as we fight for what’s right, but others — and I’ll include myself here — may have moments of glorious God-wrestling, after which we may retreat back into our more cautious selves. This doesn’t make us pushovers; it  just makes us human. 
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This Torah Has No Room For Hatred

Like all congregational rabbis, I frequently give eulogies for the deceased, and walk with their families to bury them. Jewish tradition prioritizes remembering the dead. It is a mitzvah gedolah—a great mitzvah—to give a eulogy that breaks the hearts of the listeners and highlights the praiseworthy deeds deceased, while simply forgetting his or her failings....
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2013 Rabbinic Letter on Bedouin Rights

In 2013, nearly 800 rabbis, cantors, and rabbinical and cantorial students signed this letter, which was delivered to the Israeli government. As spiritual and Jewish community leaders who care deeply about the State of Israel, we write to you in solidarity with concerned Jewish and Arab Israelis to urge you to withdraw the Bill on...
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Birth, Visibility, and Justice

Ishah ki tazria. Parshat Tazria opens with laws related to a woman giving birth. The Torah’s terse account of birth screams out for interpretation, for filling in the space between these black letters with the many, and varied, experiences of birth. These stories are so necessary because people are often blind to experiences of birth,...
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Aliza Schwartz

Aliza Schwartz (she/her) is a rabbinical student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, expecting to graduate in 2024. She is an incoming Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST) in New York City. Before rabbinical school, Aliza was based in Boston. Her spiritual and political home in Boston is Kavod, a multi-ethnic, multi-racial community...
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Understanding the White House Strategy to Counter Antisemitism

Rabbi Jill Jacobs will be in conversation with Stacy Burdett about the White House strategy for Combatting Antisemitism that was just released Thursday. The discussion will delve into the details and significance of the strategy, what the plan means for Jewish leaders and communities, and what to expect in the months ahead as the strategy...
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Haggadah Songs

A collection of recordings referenced in our haggadah, The Other Side of the River, The Other Side of the Sea, for easy access. Miriam’s Song, by Debbie Friedman z”l (referenced on p. 39) Avdei Z’man, words by Rabbi Yehudah HaLevy (12th century), music by Israeli-Ethiopian musician Etti Ankri (p. 45) Siyahamba, South African folk song (p. 63) Olam Chesed Yibaneh, Hebrew from Psalm 89:3, English and...
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Invite a T’ruah Speaker to Your Community

T’ruah staff, leaders, and alumni of our student programs are available to speak about issues including: The Image of God: Implications for Contemporary Human Rights The Jewish Origins of Human Rights Ending the Occupation: A Jewish Human Rights Perspective Jewish Responses to Police Violence and Mass Incarceration How and Why the Jewish Community Should Show...
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