Jewish Relationships Initiative

Category: Peace

  • Shabbat Shalom

    A New Day will Rise

    Shulem brings his wonderful talents to this song of comfort and hope for tomorrow.

    Shabbat Shalom

    #BringThemHomeNow

  • Shabbat Shalom

    Kalania- from a live event.

    Some music to help us prepare for Shabbat.

    I am praying for an end to hostilities and for the safety of all the people.

    Shabbat Shalom

    #BringThemHomeNow

  • Oseh Shalom

    Oseh Shalom

    עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵיֽנוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל כָּל יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵּבֵל.

    Oseh shalom bimromav hu ya’aseh shalom aleyn ve’al kol yisrael ve’al kol yoshvei teiveil.

    May the One who brings Peace in the Heavens bring peace to all of us here on earth.

    ~Amen

  • A Prayer for Peace for Shabbat

    May the Almighty grant the leadership of all communities the wisdom to navigate the complex and challenging space they inhabit. Threats of annihilation and destruction must yield to peace for all who inhabit the region.

    We pray for the safety of the people who have suffered at the hands of hatred and violence. And hope that a new day will dawn when all will live in peace.

    Cain Yehi Ratzon.

  • Lean In

    I am reeling from the attacks on my fellow Jews here in the United States. I struggle to understand the apparent fight against anti-Semitism by targeting institutions like Harvard, which seems to provoke a backlash. It appears that Jew-hatred has been normalized enough for these miscreants to heed the words that sanction violent acts. Recent horrific attacks on Jews leave us wondering if we are safe. What should we do?

    LEAN IN

    I take pride in my heritage, the values of my tradition, and the prophetic call to make the world a better place. I connect with people who share my beliefs, and I also reach out to those who do not. I stand up for what I believe and engage in conversation with others.

    I will proudly defend my identity, including that of an American who upholds the aspirations of our founding documents and the struggle for equality, justice, and liberty.

    Now is not the time to cower in fear but to realize that many others are like me, seeking a safe and secure world for our children, believing in something greater than myself, and understanding that the “other” is not a threat; they are just someone I have yet to know. It can be scary and difficult to do.

    I attend my synagogue.  If you haven’t done so recently, now is a great time to find community.  And there are so many causes that demand our attention, for our charge is to make the world a better place.  It is more important than ever to fulfill our mission.  There is strength in numbers, and besides our Jewish community, we have many allies.

    I am a Jew; I am an American.  I fight for the causes I believe in because they are righteous and good.  Join me and Lean In.

  • Memorial Day- Thank You

    Take a moment to give thanks for the many blessings we have; many result from those who gave their lives defending American ideals. We remember them with reverence and hope that we do the work necessary to keep those ideals alive so that their deaths will not have been in vain and future generations might not have to die defending them.

    Thank you.

  • Shabbat Shalom

    Two of my favorites, Hazzan Harold and Caroline bring Lecha Dodi to life as we welcome Shabbat.

    Shabbat Shalom

    #BringThemHomeNow

     

     

  • Difficult and loving conversations about Israel

    I had the honor of moderating a conversation for the New Israel Fund (NIF) at Beth Am Israel, located on the Main Line in suburban Philadelphia.

    Our speakers, Rabbi Noa Sattath and Libby Linkenski are dedicated to fostering a shared society that upholds our Jewish values. Our values endure, even in challenging times like these, when they are stressed and tested as rarely before in our history. Indeed, our values are more important than ever for maintaining perspective. Libby shared three points to remember as we navigate these difficult times:

    1. People are not their governments. 

    Palestinians are not Hamas. Israelis are not Benjamin Netanyahu. Americans are not Donald Trump. We are more than the actions of our extremist leaders and are not directly complicit in their worst acts.

    1. Don’t defend the indefensible. 

    The conflict didn’t begin on October 7, and October 7 itself was indefensible. So is the ongoing assault on the people of Gaza. We can’t lose our moral clarity, regardless of politics.

    1. Two peoples, one land. 

    Two peoples have always existed between the river and the sea, and both will continue to exist. Any vision that erases one side is a vision of unimaginable violence. The question is not whether we coexist but how. That’s where the conversation begins—and where it must end.

    We must continue working to lay the foundation for a future where both people can live with dignity and security.

     

  • Shabbat Shalom

    The Shvesters bring their talents to ‘Eli, Eli’ Hannah Szenes’ poem written in 1942.

    As we, too, struggle with the pain of war, we reach out in prayer, hoping for peace and an end to the suffering.  May it come soon.

    Shabbat Shalom

    #BringThemHomeNow

     

  • Shabbat Shalom

    Shabbat Shalom

    Matisyahu and Alex Clare team up to share the words of the Lubuvitcher Rebbe.

    The words are simple, the thought profound:

    Spread Out

    Spread light

    Spread Love

    All Around the world.

    Its never been more critical to Spread Light.

    Shabbat Shalom

    #BringThemHomeNow