Remembering Emma Lazarus, A Legacy in Reform Liturgy
Most people, if they’ve heard of her at all, connect Emma Lazarus to the most famous phrases of her sonnet, “The New Colossus,” written to help raise money for the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal fund in 1883. But poems she translated and composed before that generated another kind of legacy.
My Alphabet of Failings: A New Ashamnu
Each year on Yom Kippur, I join my congregation is reciting the Ashamnu, an alphabetic acrostic of sins for which we repent. And each year, it occurs to me that most of the sins named in the Ashamnu don’t hit me in the heart I’m beating – and so, I wrote my own version of the prayer.
How the High Holidays Are Like a Charles Dickens Tale
Whether you prefer the 1843 book or any of the many movie versions made since, there is no question that Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a classic.
Now, despite the season for which Dickens wrote it, A Christmas Carol is a Yom Kippur story if there ever was one.
Yom Kippur Wasn't Always the Holiday It Is Now
As the summer passes its midway point, rabbis begin to think seriously about the coming Days of Awe.
On Shalit's Birthday, Reform Movement Prays for Release
Saperstein: "We pray that at this time next year, Gilad Shalit may celebrate his 24th birthday as a free man, reunited with his friends, family and the people of Israel."
Saperstein and Reform Movement Mourn the Loss of Senator Ted Kennedy
Saperstein: "Sen. Kennedys guidance over the years has been indispensable to our work, and my personal friendship with him was one of the great blessings of my life."
Contact: Kate Bigam
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org
Reform Movement Welcomes Appointment of Prosecutor in CIA Cases
Pelavin: "We are hopeful that this preliminary investigation will prove to be an important step toward shedding new light on how these abuses came to be, creating greater transparency and accountability in our governments actions, and preventing future acts of abuse."&
Reform Movement Applauds Supreme Court Action in Georgia Death Penalty Case
Pelavin: "The Reform Movement opposes the death penalty under any circumstances, but the application of the death penalty in a case where a defendant's guilt is in question is particularly distressing."
JewsForHealthCareReform.org Launches Prior to Faith Call with Obama
Saperstein: "This is an opportunity for all streams of Judaism to join together to carry on the prophetic tradition and make JewsForHealthCareReform.org a meaningful voice in the health care debate."
Reform Jewish Movement Congratulates Justice-designate Sonia Sotomayor
Saperstein: "We wish Justice-designate Sotomayor wisdom and strength as she takes on the awesome responsibility of pursuing justice on our nations highest court."