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Photo of the author, Rabbi Jonah Winer

Acharei Mot – Kedoshim: What Does It Mean to Be Holy? 

Holiness is not about attaining some kind of moral and spiritual perfection, but rather cultivating the ability to see and respond to the opportunities to live up to our highest ideals, to build that quality of readiness to meet each moment as it comes.

Capitol Building at sunset

“May We Create a Nation”: A New Prayer for Our Country

From Rabbi Seth Goldstein: We know that this is a nation founded by massacre, built by slavery, maintained by exclusion, defined by inequality. And we also know that this nation promises equality, exercises resilience, evolves continuously, practices teshuvah.

Lag BaOmer: From Mourning into Action

Rabbi Elana Nemitoff-Bresler on how thinking of Lag BaOmer as the end of shloshim also reminds us that we have to move from grief into action.

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Judaism and Solitary Confinement

by Rabbi Jonathan Crane
In this article, Rabbi Jonathan Crane examines Jewish texts about incarceration and claims made by activists seeking to end solitary confinement.
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Mi Sheberach for People Held in Solitary Confinement

by Rabbi Lev Meirowitz Nelson
"May the Holy Blessed One be filled with mercy for them, strengthening them to withstand this act of torture and keeping them from all harm."
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Black Lives Matter: A Prayer

by Menachem Creditor
Inspired by Yehudah Amichai z”l and Rabbi Rachel Barenblat In memory of Mike Brown z”l, Eric Garner z”l, and many, many others Recited as part of a Pilgrimage of Lament Berkeley, CA 12/14/14           Dearest God, We stand before you because we must. We stand before You because truths that should...
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A Prayer for Ferguson

by Sandra Lawson
Help us to lie down, Dear Lord our God, in peace, and let us rise again, to life… This summer, I heard that a young black man had been killed by a police officer. The sad thing is that I tuned the story out. I was too caught up in whatever I was doing to...
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Clergy marching in Ferguson

10 Rules for Engagement for White Jews Joining the #BlackLivesMatter Movement

by Rabbi Susan Talve and Sarah Barasch-Hagans
"1. Show up. It's not too late to build relationships."
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Police and Policing

by Jill Jacobs
Policing in Jewish law, prepared by Rabbi Jill Jacobs.
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A Plan Devised Against Them: Oppression and Justice, Then and Now

A brief text study about the systemic nature of racial oppression, with thanks to Rabbi Michael Rothbaum.
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How to Plan a Delegation to Wendy’s

Four of the five major fast food chains have joined the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW)’s Fair Food Program. Who is the major holdout? Wendy’s, who has not only failed to join the program, but has actively chosen to move its tomato purchases out of Florida, where real changes are taking root. Since 2013, T’ruah has engaged with Wendy’s...
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Writing a Campaign for Fair Food Op/Ed

A guide for Jewish leaders by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights. We hope this will inspire you to write an OpEd of your own. Since talking points often change, please email T’ruah for the most up-to-date language and for help with editing and placement.
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Amplifying My ‘Still, Small Voice’ to Testify against Human Trafficking

by Seth Goldstein
Living and serving the Jewish community in a state capital has its advantages, the primary one of which is the proximity to government. As the rabbi at Temple Beth Hatfiloh in Olympia, Washington, I am keenly aware of what happens in the state legislature. In my case I have literal proximity, my synagogue is literally...
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