G-dliness, Faith in Humanity and Surviving 9/11
September 6, 2019
Jonathan Markowitz recounts his narrow escape from the World Trade Center on 9/11, and reflects on God, Judaism and humanity in light of his experience.
Jonathan Markowitz recounts his narrow escape from the World Trade Center on 9/11, and reflects on God, Judaism and humanity in light of his experience.
Reconstructing Judaism’s support of entrepreneurship gives rabbinical students and recent graduates the funding, supervision and mentorship to turn ideas into reality. “For me, the big story is that Jews remain seekers of meaning and community. What our Auerbach grants do is create new portals for Jewish community and meaning,” said Cyd Weissman, Reconstructing Judaism’s vice president for Innovation and Impact.
We ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to re-hear and reverse a ruling that found that staff at an Illinois prison did not violate the Constitution when they forced female inmates to engage in a deeply humiliating and dehumanizing strip search as part of a training exercise. The ruling “opens the door to other violation of prisoners’ First Amendement religious freedom rights and protections.”
Yesterday, we learned that the U.S. Justice Department will seek the death penalty against the suspected shooter in the 2018 mass shooting that devastated three congregations and rocked the entire North American Jewish community. Reconstructing Judaism is proud to share this moving statement from our Pittsburgh affiliate, Congregation Dor Hadash. And we note that Jewish tradition is weighted heavily against the use of the death penalty.
Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association have joined with 18 organizations, representing the Jewish Rohingya Justice Network, in calling for justice and accountability for the Rohingya people and all ethnic minorities in Burma.
Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association condemn the violence committed against peaceful protestors at the entrance to an ICE detention center in Rhode Island.
Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association strongly oppose the decision of the Government of Israel to deny entry into Israel to U.S. Congressional Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib.
Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association have joined with 166 Jewish organizations and institutions in urging the United States to return to historic numbers for refugee resettlement. “The United States has historically distinguished itself as a beacon of hope and as a safe haven for those who most need it… Resettling zero refugees in the U.S. in FY2020 would effectively gut the refugee resettlement program, violate our values as Jews and Americans, and abdicate the American promise of freedom and opportunity.”
While raising our voices in prayer and condolences for the victims of this latest mass-shooting, we also raise our voices to call for the enactment and enforcement of reasonable gun laws throughout this country that would help prevent such tragedies.
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