Preparing for Festivals and Funerals

The Jewish community is being offered a false choice between countering antisemitism and protecting democracy and civil rights. But there is no inclusive democracy without Jewish safety — and no Jewish safety without inclusive democracy. Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) and a nationally recognized leader on countering antisemitism and extremism and protecting democracy — who previously led the successful lawsuit against the Charlottesville neo-Nazis — joined Rabbi Sharon Brous for a conversation on how we can reject the false binaries of this moment and advance a more just and inclusive world for Jews and all communities. Helpful Links: Sign up to receive JCPA updates Jewish communal statement led by JCPA, rejecting the false choice between Jewish safety and democracy Civil rights coalition statement organized by JCPA and the Leadership Conference on recent antisemitic violence June 2024 webinar with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Antisemitism x Democracy report Op-ed by Amy Spitalnick and Randi Weingarten – To Fight Antisemitism and Preserve Democracy, Educators and the Jewish Community Must Partner Closely

As we move closer to the High Holydays, what do Ursula Le Guin, a provocative Midrash and the opening word of our Torah portion have to teach us about the demanding but essenntial work of teshuvah?

In this week’s parsha we learn that the king had to write a Torah for himself. Or was it two – a Torah that accompanies him throughout his life and one that remains in a treasury locked away? From this we can learn a lot about our public and private selves and about the difference between the actual and the ideal. What lessons might accompany us as we enter this holiday season and throughout our lives?

Both the Jewish calendar and the Torah come to a close leaving our people in a state of active preparation. But do we ever feel truly ready?