Related Blog Posts on Current Events

Eikev: Celebrating the Birth of a Prince

Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser

Okay, I admit it. I am not overjoyed by the announcement of the birth of the future heir of the British throne. I do wish the new mum and dad all the best with their spanking new lad, but I don't join other Americans in finding this royal moment intoxicating.

Presidential Proclamation: Jewish American Heritage Month

President Barack Obama

In his second year in office, President George Washington wrote a letter to the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island - one of our Nation's first Jewish houses of worship - and reaffirmed our country's commitment to religious freedom. He noted that the Government of the United States would give "to bigotry no sanction [and] to persecution no assistance," and that all Americans are entitled to "liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship." Those words ring as true today as they did then, and they speak to a principle as old as America itself: that no matter who you are, where you come from, or what faith you practice, all of us have an equal share in America's promise.

Running on Narrow Bridges

Rabbi Jen Gubitz

Kol ha'Olam - the whole world was glued to Boston this week. The beautiful weekend, followed by an amazing race, with perfect running conditions. The only heartbreak, we thought, being the hills of Newton. Kol ha'Olam - the whole world gathered to cheer on world-class athletes, a world-class race course, with world-class fans. Kol ha'Olam - we know that in this whole world, we are not the only ones who face and fear tragedies like this and yet, Kol ha'Olam - it feels today in our whole world of Boston that we are under siege, and we are scared and we fear for our safety, for the safety of our loved ones, and for the safety of those we don't even know.

All of Us Are Boston Marathon Runners

Rabbi Evan Moffic

Running the Boston Marathon is a dream of mine. It’s the nation’s oldest marathon, a symbol of endurance in the city of American freedom. Yesterday terrorists turned that symbol and city it into a day of desperation and death. We know how to cope with tragedy. We survived 9/11. But that truth does not help us make sense of it. Running a marathon is not easy. It demands certain qualities of character. Those same qualities can help us today. They give us perspective and coping tools for the days and weeks ahead.

Serving Royalty Every Day

Rabbi Larry Karol

"Do you see people who are skilled in their work? They will serve before royalty; they will not serve before obscure people." -Proverbs 22:29

When we came upon this verse in our congregational Proverbs study group, I was taken aback for more than a moment.