Podcasts about religious action center

Episode 133 In part 25 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with Rabbi Daniel Swartz. He is the spiritual leader at Temple Hesed of Scranton and Executive Director of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL). Previously, Rabbi Swartz held leadership positions with Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, the Children's Environmental Health Network, and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.  He is the lead author and editor of “To Till and To Tend: A Guide for Jewish Environmental Study and Action” as well as “Faith Communities and Environmental Health."   Sinai and Synapses - https://sinaiandsynapses.org/   Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast   More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/   produced by Zack Jackson music by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comNote: We recorded this episode before we learned about the decision in the St. Isidore case. religious beliefs being weaponized to reshape public education? In this episode, Rachel Laser—CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State—joins hosts Will and Josh to unpack two major Supreme Court cases: Mahmoud v. Taylor and St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond. Both cases carry huge implications for the future of religious freedom, public schooling, and church-state separation.Laser explains how one case centers on parents trying to opt out of LGBTQ-inclusive books, while the other could open the floodgates for religious public charter schools funded by taxpayer dollars. Drawing from legal expertise and personal faith, Laser offers a bold and nuanced defense of pluralism, public education, and constitutional integrity. With the stakes this high, these rulings could redefine what it means to be an American student—or a person of faith.

Rabbi Jeff Salkin sits down with Rabbi Jonah Pesner, one of American Judaism's most prominent voices and the director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Together, they dive into the deeply rooted relationship between Judaism, politics, and social justice, exploring why so many Jews align with liberal causes while maintaining a vibrant spectrum of political thought within the community. From the historical and spiritual foundations of Jewish values to modern-day challenges in maintaining empathy amidst polarization, Rabbi Pesner offers insights that are both grounded in tradition and urgently relevant. The conversation spans critical topics, including: The intersection of Jewish peoplehood and universalism in shaping political priorities. The impact of October 7 and the ongoing war in Israel on Jewish voting patterns and political alliances. Rising concerns about anti-Semitism across the political spectrum and its influence on communal discourse. The role of religious institutions in fostering thoughtful, inclusive spaces for dialogue amidst deep societal divisions. As always, Rabbi Salkin keeps the conversation shaken and stirred with humor, insight, and a dash of martini wisdom. Whether you lean left, right, or somewhere in the middle, this episode will challenge you to think critically about what it means to live into the Jewish covenant in today's world. Episode Highlights Roots of Jewish Liberalism: Rabbi Pesner reframes the stereotype, asserting that Jewish political values stem not from liberalism or conservatism but from Torah's call to protect the widow, orphan, and stranger. Navigating Polarization: A nuanced discussion on how synagogues can become havens for respectful debate and sacred disagreement. Facing the Challenges of Anti-Semitism: Addressing the rise of anti-Semitism from both extremes and the Jewish community's response. If you're inspired by this episode, let's continue the conversation: Follow Rabbi Salkin's Martini Judaism column on Religion News Service. Rate and review the podcast on your favorite platform to amplify its reach. Share this episode with your community to spark discussions about Jewish values, politics, and the power of hope.

Welcome back to Just For This, a new podcast. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.   This week's guest is Barbara Weinstein, Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the Director of the Commission on Social Action. The RAC and WRJ are close partners in everything social justice. We go over a post-election debrief, the power of community organizing, and the importance of celebrating incremental policy wins. The episode opens with a post-election prayer. Listeners can join WRJ next spring in Washington at our Social Justice Conference to advocate on behalf of some of the issues mentioned in this episode. Registration opens next month. View the transcript here. If you're enjoying Just For This, be sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to your podcasts.   

On this episode of Re-Form: Examining the Challenges and Choices of America's Largest Jewish Movement, we look at the Reform movement's focus on Social Justice, and how the emphasis on it can impact Jewish practice. We spoke with Rabbi Sari Laufer, Chief Engagement Officer at Stephen Wise Temple in Los Angeles and a veteran of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. 

Our world seems to become more divided by the day. We are ending relationships over differences in opinion on political matters. How can we restore unity to our families and communities? In this episode, Angela talks with Andrew Hanauer, the President and CEO of the One America Movement, an organization founded by faith leaders to fight toxic polarization, about how faith communities and leaders can work to model unity during increasingly divisive times. In Andrew's words: “politics will not fill the Spiritual holes in our lives,” but he believes that Scripture holds the answers we seek. Many of us feel that we can have little or no impact on culture or politics, but we have a lot of impact within our communities. Can we work together in the places where we can make an impact and effect meaningful change? How can our faith communities meet our needs so that we do not need to turn to political groups to find our identity?Guest BioAndrew Hanauer is the President and CEO of the One America Movement, an organization founded by faith leaders to fight toxic polarization. One America supports faith leaders and faith communities to reject toxic forms of division and offer a moral vision that transcends our divisive and disconnected culture. Under Andrew's leadership, the One America Movement has become one of the largest and fastest-growing organizations combating division in American society, quintupling in size in the past three years.Andrew is a frequent public speaker at houses of worship of all kinds and has represented One America before gatherings of the National Governors' Association, Americorps, Points of Light, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and many more, and podcasts as wide-ranging as Fuller Seminary and Islamic Relief USA. His work has been published or featured by USA Today, The Washington Post, National Public Radio, Salon, the Christian Citizen, and media outlets across the US.When he is not fighting toxic polarization, Andrew is spending time with his family, coaching little league, rooting for the Golden State Warriors and Arkansas Razorbacks, and participating in small groups at his church.LinksDownload the ProGrace Conversation Guide: https://www.prograce.org/about One America Movement website: https://oneamericamovement.org/One America Movement Substack: https://oneamericamovement.substack.com/

Send us a textProject 2025 is a comprehensive initiative developed by The Heritage Foundation as a blueprint for any administration willing to take it on.  Many people have seen or heard of it in news headlines, but not as many really understand what it actually is or why it matters. Regardless of who wins any election, the elements and ideas in Project 2025 will come up, and parents and allies of the LGBTQ+ community need to be informed. Lawyer, advocate, and strategist Rachel Laser joins Jen In the Den to discuss all the things we need to know about Project 2025.Special Guest: Rachel LaserRachel Laser, Americans United for Separation of Church and StateRachel Laser became president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State in February 2018. She is the organization's first non-Christian and female leader in its 76 year history. Rachel is a lawyer, advocate and strategist who has dedicated her career to making our country more inclusive. In her position at Americans United, Rachel oversees the organization's work to protect freedom of conscience for all and ensure religion is not used to justify discrimination. Prior to coming to AU, Rachel worked as an educator on white privilege and racism and held positions as deputy director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, director of the Culture Program at Third Way and senior counsel at the National Women's Law Center (NWLC). Rachel is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Chicago Law School. She is a former board member of NARAL Pro-Choice America.Links from the Show:Project 2025 Resource HubA central hub on Project 2025, including explainer videos: AU.org/project2025 Project 2025 Toolkit: Your Guide to Talking About Project 2025Connect with Mama Dragons:WebsiteInstagramFacebookDonate to this podcast

Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, discusses the rising incidence of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment in the United States and describes some of the programs in Jewish education and interfaith understanding supported by the Center. [Read more...] The post 8/16/2024 ENCORE BROADCAST, Seekers of Meaning 6/14/2024: Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.

Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, discusses the rising incidence of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment in the United States and describes some of the programs in Jewish education and interfaith understanding supported by the Center. [Read more...] The post Seekers of Meaning 6/14/2024: Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.

This week we are joined by Emily Bourgeois, Community Organizer of RAC-Texas, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism—one of Texas Impact's member institutions. We always enjoy working with Emily across a range of policy issues, including public education and religious freedom.  Over the last month, we have had several episodes about the holy seasons many of our traditions have been observing. Emily will join us today to talk about Passover and the intersection with advocacy. Learn more about the work of RAC-Texas at rac.org/take-action/rac-your-state/rac-tx 

WANT THE FULL EPISODE? Check out Ep.119 I Rabbi Steve Leder I Deciding to Live a Rich Life Without Losing Your Soul: The Irreplaceable Role of Self-Awareness, or download it directly using this link.Rabbi Steve Leder's journey in spiritual leadership reveals the impact of embracing disruptions, the critical need for nuanced thinking, and the roles of pain and prosperity as catalysts for growth. KEY TOPICSAligning your money decisions to your values.Distinguishing between right and wrong in positions of leadership.The importance of embracing disruptive life events and finding meaning in them.The role of pain and adversity as catalysts for the most impactful growth. CONNECT WITH USwww.decidedlypodcast.com Join us on Instagram: @decidedlypodcastJoin us on FacebookShawn's Instagram: @shawn_d_smithSanger's Instagram: @sangersmith GRAB YOUR COPY OF SANGER'S BOOKA Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?At Decidedly Wealth Management, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. LEARN MORE: www.decidedlywealth.com SUBSCRIBE TO THE DECIDEDLY NEWSLETTER CONNECT WITH RABBI STEVE LEDER    www.steveleder.com    Books: https://www.steveleder.com/booksInstagram: @Steve-Leder Rabbi Steve Leder is a highly respected spiritual leader and author, most recently the Senior Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles. His influence extends far beyond the synagogue, though. He's a regular contributor and guest on renowned platforms like The Today Show and TIME, and his writings have appeared in Town and Country, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Jewish Journal, He's earned prestigious awards, including the Louis Rappaport Award for Excellence in Commentary from the American Jewish Press Association and the Kovler Award from the Religious Action Center in Washington D.C. Newsweek Magazine has recognized him as one of the ten most influential rabbis in America, solidifying his place as a respected leader in the field.

Rabbi Steve Leder's journey in spiritual leadership reveals the impact of embracing disruptions, the critical need for nuanced thinking, and the roles of pain and prosperity as catalysts for growth. KEY TOPICSAligning your money decisions to your values.Distinguishing between right and wrong in positions of leadership.The importance of embracing disruptive life events and finding meaning in them.The role of pain and adversity as catalysts for the most impactful growth. CONNECT WITH USwww.decidedlypodcast.com Join us on Instagram: @decidedlypodcastJoin us on FacebookShawn's Instagram: @shawn_d_smithSanger's Instagram: @sangersmith GRAB YOUR COPY OF SANGER'S BOOKA Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?At Decidedly Wealth Management, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. LEARN MORE: www.decidedlywealth.com SUBSCRIBE TO THE DECIDEDLY NEWSLETTER CONNECT WITH RABBI STEVE LEDER    www.steveleder.com    Books: https://www.steveleder.com/booksInstagram: @Steve-Leder Rabbi Steve Leder is a highly respected spiritual leader and author, most recently the Senior Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles. His influence extends far beyond the synagogue, though. He's a regular contributor and guest on renowned platforms like The Today Show and TIME, and his writings have appeared in Town and Country, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Jewish Journal, He's earned prestigious awards, including the Louis Rappaport Award for Excellence in Commentary from the American Jewish Press Association and the Kovler Award from the Religious Action Center in Washington D.C. Newsweek Magazine has recognized him as one of the ten most influential rabbis in America, solidifying his place as a respected leader in the field.

Organizers estimated that 75,000 people participated in the End Fossil Fuels march in NYC on September 17 leading up to the United Nations Climate Summit. Protestors expressed displeasure about how slow world leaders, starting with President Biden, are moving to try to prevent climate collapse. We hear from Santosh Nandabalan of Food and Water Watch; Barry Pendegrass of the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism; Eileen Ryan of Beyond Plastics Greater Boston; Nick Smith of Greenpeace; Corhonda Corly of Step Up Louisiana; John Amidon of Veterans for Peace; and Lyna Hinkel of 350NYC. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

In 2009, Newsweek magazine called David Saperstein the most influential rabbi in America. For over 40 years, he was the director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. He also served as the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom, becoming America's chief diplomat on religious liberty issues. He was the first chairman in 1998 of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Joining Rabbi Saperstein is a brilliant journalist for The Atlantic, McKay Coppins, who writes regularly on politics, faith, presidential campaigns, and other stories of compelling human interest.    Guests Rabbi David Saperstein McKay Coppins   Additional Resources  "What Mitt Romney Saw in the Senate," by McKay Coppins Romney: A Reckoning, by McKay Coppins  Interview with Rabbi David Saperstein  

Jonah Pesner is a Rabbi whose work encourages Jewish communities to reach across race, class, and faith lines while campaigning for social justice. He serves as the Director of the Religious Action Center and Senior Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism. Rabbi Pesner co-edited “Moral Resistance and Spiritual Authority: Our Jewish Obligation to Justice.”   In this episode, we explore his roots in faith-based community organizing, the current threat of white Christian nationalism, and the power of multi-faith solidarity to help us face this moment and thrive in our beloved community. Social media handle  @jonahpesner https://www.instagram.com/jonahpesner/ https://www.threads.net/@jonahpesner

In this episode, Rabbi Dan Levin speaks with Rabbi Jonah Pesner about social justice and its importance in today's society within Jewish values. Rabbi Jonah Pesner serves as the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and has led the Religious Action Center since 2015. Rabbi Pesner also serves as Senior Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism, a position to which he was appointed in 2011. Named one of the most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek magazine, he is an inspirational leader and tireless advocate for social justice.

Harvey Brownstone conducts an in-depth interview with Rabbi Steve Leder, Rabbi, Author, Scholar & Media Personality About Harvey's guest: Today's guest, Rabbi Steve Leder, is a highly respected rabbi, author, scholar, community leader and media personality.   He's the senior rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple, which is the oldest and one of the largest Jewish congregations in Los Angeles, serving over 2,400 families at 3 campuses.   He's written 5 bestselling books: “The Extraordinary Nature of Ordinary Things”, “More Money Than God: Living a Rich Life Without Losing Your Soul”, “More Beautiful Than Before: How Suffering Transforms Us”, “The Beauty of What Remains”, and “For You When I Am Gone: Twelve Essential Questions to Tell a Life Story”.  There's also a journal entitled “For You When I am Gone”, which is a step-by-step guide to writing your ethical will.    Our guest is a fellow in the British-American Project, which is an international gathering of over 1,200 leaders and influencers from a broad spectrum of worldviews.  He's received the Louis Rappaport Award for Excellence in Commentary by the American Jewish Press Association.   Our guest is an ambassador for the Jewish community and has been at the leading edge of building mutual understanding and trust between Jews, Christians and Muslims.  In fact, his synagogue hosts the largest annual gathering of Muslims and Jews in Los Angeles every year to honor the end of Ramadan.  And he received the Kovler Award from the Religious Action Center in Washington, D.C. for his work in fostering meaningful dialogue between the African American and Jewish communities.   He's written essays in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and Time Magazine.  And he's appeared in dozens of TV shows including “The Today Show”, “CBS This Morning”, “Politically Incorrect”, “The Steve Harvey Show”, and many others. He's the subject of the highly acclaimed documentary film “Restoring Your Tomorrow” and get this: his sermon on capital punishment was included in an award-winning episode of “The West Wing”.   Newsweek Magazine TWICE named him one of the ten most influential rabbis in America. For more interviews and podcasts go to: https://www.harveybrownstoneinterviews.com/ To see more about Rabbi Steve Leder, go to:https://www.steveleder.com/https://www.facebook.com/RabbiSteveLeder https://www.instagram.com/steve_leder https://twitter.com/Steve_Leder #SteveLeder  #harveybrownstoneinterviews

In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Laser, President/CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, to explore the importance of the separation of church and state in the United States. We dive into the reasons why this principle is crucial for the well-being of our society and discuss common misconceptions surrounding it. Rachel addresses these misconceptions and shares insights into the mission and goals of Americans United. We also examine the influence of Supreme Court composition on relevant cases and make predictions on how the justices may rule. Additionally, we explore the use of ADA and accommodations in arguments related to church-state separation. Join us as we recap the Groff v. DeJoy case and discuss the recent Kennedy v. Bremerton Supreme Court case, providing a comprehensive understanding of the importance of separation of church and state in our society.Guest Bio:Rachel Laser is the President and CEO at Americans United for Separation of Church and State.Rachel Laser is a lawyer, advocate and strategist who has dedicated her career to making our country more inclusive. She has a proven track record of uniting both faith and secular leaders and advocacy organizations to make tangible progress on some of the most important issues of our time. Watch her introduction video!And as a religious minority – she was raised as a Reform Jew –  she understands personally how much it matters that our laws treat everyone fairly and equally. She is an advocate for racial justice and has led workshops, given speeches and worked with schools and universities to challenge racism and expose privilege.She knows the work of Americans United has never been more important than it is today. And she will work to continue our fight to defeat the many new and serious threats to religious freedom and the separation of church and state coming from the Trump-Pence Administration and across the country.As the deputy director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (the RAC), Rachel worked to further its historic mission of strengthening the separation of religion and government. She also ran interfaith campaigns on a number of critical issues, including LGBTQ equality, immigration reform, gun violence prevention, and paid sick, family and medical leave.Support the showTo learn more about the show, contact our hosts, or recommend future guests, click on the links below: Website: https://www.faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/ Faithful Host: Josh@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Political Host: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Twitter: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics

This new book traces the lives of Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs in Israel and Palestine who have dedicated their lives to building peaceful relations among the two peoples and between individual people who seek to live in peace and harmony with one another. These people have acted courageously and consistently in their work for peace. In this book, the author profiles the lives, thoughts, feelings, and actions of six important peacebuilders — men and women, secular and religious, 3 Jewish Israelis: Rabbi Michael Melchior, Professor Galia Golan, and Mrs. Hadassah Froman, and 3 Palestinian Arabs: Professor Mohammed Dajani, Ms. Huda Abuarquob, and Bishop Munib Younan. The reader learns about their visions for peace and their activities to bring their ideas to fruition in the real world of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Too many people have given up on peace. In contrast, the people in this book persevere for peace, thus keeping a flicker of hope alive for Israelis and Palestinians who live in the same land for people everywhere who continue to yearn for a peace agreement to be reached in the region.  Co-sponsored by: Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) is a coalition of over 170 organizations—and tens of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis—building people-to-people cooperation, coexistence, equality, shared society, mutual understanding, and peace among their communities. We add stability in times of crisis, foster cooperation that increases impact, and build an environment conducive to peace over the long term.  Author: Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish is an independent scholar, writer, blogger, lecturer, teacher, and mentor. For several years, he has been a Library Fellow at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. From 1991-2015, he served as the Founder and Director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel (ICCI), Israel's premier interreligious institution. He was educated at Brandeis University (BA), Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is the editor of Coexistence and Reconciliation in Israel: Voices for Interreligious Dialogue (Paulist Press, 2015) and the author of The Other Peace Process: Interreligious Dialogue, A View from Jerusalem (Hamilton Books, 2017) and Profiles in Peace: Voices of Peacebuilders in the Midst of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (2022). He writes a regular blog for The Times of Israel and contributes to The Jerusalem Report. He teaches courses about Interreligious Dialogue and Peacebuilding at the Schechter Institutes for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, in the Department for Adult Education, and at the Drew University Theological School (via Zoom) in Madison, NJ. Moderator: Rabbi Gerry Serotta served as Executive Director of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington from 2014 through 2020, where he continued his work as a leading voice for interfaith cooperation, religious freedom, and human rights. He is the founding rabbi of Shirat HaNefesh from 2008 to 2014. Rabbi Serotta has served as Executive Director of the interreligious organization Clergy Beyond Borders, Associate Rabbi of Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, and Director of the Hillel Foundation at George Washington University. He was the founder and chair of Rabbis for Human Rights – North America and chaired the Board of Chaplains of George Washington University. Rabbi Serotta has received many awards for his communal work. He was named a Public Policy Conflict Resolution fellow by the University of Maryland School of Law and served as a senior rabbinic scholar in residence at the Religious Action Center of the Union for Reform Judaism. Rabbi Serotta received a master's degree in Hebrew Literature from Hebrew Union College, a Master of Sacred Theology from New York Theological Seminary, and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College. Discussant: Ibrahim Anli is a civic entrepreneur with a career record that bridges nonprofit and academic experience. He was a visiting researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem from 2007-08. Ibrahim joined the Journalists and Writers Foundation's (JWF) Ankara office as the diplomacy coordinator in 2010. In 2013, he became the secretary-general of Abant Platform, JWF's Istanbul-based forum of intellectuals. Ibrahim Anli was a lecturer and acting chair at the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy at Tishk International University in Erbil in 2016-17. He is currently a volunteer instructor for the OLLI at George Mason University, a member of the Braver Angels Scholars Council, and a member of the Public Diplomacy Council of America. He holds a BA in Economics from Istanbul University, an MA in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Sabanci University, and a certificate in Strategic Management for Leaders of NGOs from Harvard University.

Remarks from The Israel Religious Action Center Director, Orly Erez-LikhovskiMarch 17, 2023

Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, discusses efforts to prevent gun violence, advocate for gun control and the Jewish value of the sanctity of life. With Teisha Bader.

In this episode I speak with Rebecca Blake Chaikin who is a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in New York City where she practices in the areas of corporate restructuring, bankruptcy, and financial distress. Before attending law school at NYU, Rebecca was a paralegal at Kramer Levin in New York and a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, D.C. In our conversation we discuss her path to becoming a bankruptcy lawyer in the wake of the financial crisis, the unique work that restructuring lawyers do, the ways in which her work provides strategic responses to financial uncertainty, the value of what she learned as a paralegal, how to learn to issue spot in a vast new area of legal practice, and more. If you enjoy this episode, make sure to sign up for future episodes at www.howilawyer.com or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Two weeks ago, Sunrise DC—a chapter of the climate action group Sunrise Movement—announced it would not participate in a voting rights rally because of the involvement of Zionist organizations, specifically naming three Jewish groups: the Jewish Council on Public Affairs, the National Council of Jewish Women, and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. This decision prompted immediate backlash and provoked a heated discussion: Some critics accused Sunrise of antisemitism for singling out Jewish groups without remarking on the Israel politics of non-Jewish groups associated with the rally, while others argued that the move was not antisemitic but simply unstrategic. Five days later, Sunrise DC put out a new statement apologizing for having “fueled antisemitism,” while also reaffirming a commitment to anti-Zionism and Palestine solidarity. In this episode, editor-in-chief Arielle Angel, culture editor Ari M. Brostoff, assistant editor Mari Cohen, and Jewish Currents fellow Dylan Saba discuss the questions this incident raises about the politics of anti-normalization, the Jewish left's role in Palestine solidarity, and movement strategy more broadly. Articles, Statements, and Publications Mentioned: https://twitter.com/SunriseMvmtDC/status/1450569542833422348 (Sunrise DC's initial statement on October 19th) https://twitter.com/SunriseMvmtDC/status/1452457074261209089?s=20 (Sunrise's DC's follow-up apology statement on October 24th) https://84f2d87c-60f4-4478-87d0-6980c5e46521.filesusr.com/ugd/4dc342_10d68441b6c44ee0a12909a242074ca6.pdf (The Past Didn't Go Anywhere) by April Rosenblum “https://jewishcurrents.org/where-did-the-past-go (Where Did the Past Go?)” by Ben Lorber https://jewishcurrents.org/i-campaigned-on-right-not-on-fear (Alex Kane's conversation with Omari Hardy about his views on BDS) https://twitter.com/maricohen95/status/1447907515795128325?s=20 (Sally Rooney's statement about boycotting an Israeli publisher) “https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zahrahirji/sunrise-movement-climate-change-black-activists (Inside ‘the Very Secret History' of the Sunrise Movement)” by Zahra Hirji and Ryan Brooks “https://jewishcurrents.org/the-politics-of-jewface (The Politics of ‘Jewface')” by Rebecca Pierce Thanks to Santiago Helou Quintero for producing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).”

Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk with Daphne Lazar Price about her commitment to feminism, Orthodox Judaism, and justice.Daphne Lazar Price is Executive Director of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance. JOFA advocates for expanding women's rights and opportunities within the framework of halakha, to build a vibrant and equitable Orthodox community. Daphne stepped into the role of Executive Director after years of experience in the Jewish non-profit world. She has partnered extensively with lay leaders and professionals. Daphne worked at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC), where she was the Development Director. During her tenure she engaged in program planning, management, strategic planning, alumni engagement and development. She is also the former North American Director of the Muslim Leadership Initiative at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, where she was responsible for fostering connections between Muslim and Jewish communities. More recently she served as a Vice President at West End Strategy Team. Daphne received a BA with honors in Religious Studies from York University and an MA in Judaic Studies from Concordia University. She is currently an adjunct professor of Jewish Law at Georgetown University Law Center. She is active in the Orthodox community in her hometown of Silver Spring, MD, where she lives with her husband and two children. Additional Resources: Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance website: https://www.jofa.org Connect with JOFA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jofaorg Follow JOFA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JOFAorgFollow JOFA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jofaorgConversation with the Rabbi is a project of the East Valley Jewish Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, neighborhood organization that has served individuals and families inclusive of all races, religions, and cultures since 1972. Visit us online at https://www.evjcc.org The Conversation with the Rabbi podcast is supported by a grant from Arizona Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.The show is recorded and produced in the studio of PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://phx.fm

ABOUT THIS EVENT: Through classic Jewish sources and contemporary issues we will delve into the essential practice of social justice in Jewish life. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Rabbi Rick Jacobs is president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the most powerful force in North American Jewish life. The URJ leads the largest and most diverse Jewish movement in North America, reaching more than 1.5 million people through nearly 850 congregations, 15 overnight camps, the Reform teen youth Movement NFTY, and the Religious Action Center in Washington DC. DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP​​​​​​​ For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library/ https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmi...​ Become a member today, starting at just $18 per month! Click the link to see our membership options: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/become-a-member/

Part of the Faith & Fire Conversation Series "Chaos or Community: Courageous Conversations During Chaos." Panelists: Rabbi David Saperstein - Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Erica Littlewolf - Program Coordinator for Indigenous Visioning Circles, Mennonite Central Committee Mohamed Elsanousi - Executive Director, Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers Moderators: Jim Winkler - NCC Min. Christian Watkins - NCC

On this episode of Cannon's Class, we took a field trip to Washington to open a one - on - one conversation with RAC (Religious Action Center) to discuss the book "Moral Resistance and Spiritual Authority: Our Jewish Obligation to Social Justice" and much more.

In this episode of The Just Vote, Dean Kelly Brown Douglas speaks with Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. They explore voter suppression and the dangerous role of white supremacy and white nationalism in this election.

In this episode, Dr. Bob has a wonderful and very meaningful conversation with Rabbi Steve Leder. They talk about the true meaning of the Sabbath, the importance of having one rest day every week and the positive impact it can have on your family and your life. This is absolutely a must listen episode. After receiving his degree in writing and graduating Cum Laude from Northwestern University, and time studying at Trinity College, Oxford University, Rabbi Leder received a Master's Degree in Hebrew Letters in 1986 and Rabbinical Ordination in 1987 from Hebrew Union College. He currently serves as the Senior Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple, a prestigious synagogue in Los Angeles with two campuses and 2,400 families. Rabbi Leder is currently concluding his 225 million dollar campaign to develop the congregation's historic urban campus encompassing an entire city block. The campus is soon to include a new building by Pritzker Prize winning architect Rem Koolhaas. In addition to his many duties at Wilshire Boulevard Temple Rabbi Leder taught Homiletics for 13 years at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. He is a regular contributor and guest on The Today Show, writes regularly for TIME, Foxnews.com, Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper, contributed a chapter to Charles Barkley's book Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man?, and has published essays in Town and Country, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today and the Los Angeles Jewish Journal where his Torah commentaries were read weekly by over 50,000 people. His sermon on capital punishment was included in an award winning episode of The West Wing. Rabbi Leder received the Louis Rappaport Award for Excellence in Commentary by the American Jewish Press Association and the Kovler Award from the Religious Action Center in Washington D.C. for his work in African American/Jewish dialogue and in 2012 presented twice at the Aspen Ideas Festival. In the New York Times, William Safire called Rabbi Leder's first book The Extraordinary Nature of Ordinary Things “uplifting.” Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein said he “is everything we search for in a modern wise man; learned, kind, funny, and non-judgmental, he offers remarkably healing guidance.” Rabbi Leder's second book More Money Than God: Living a Rich Life Without Losing Your Soul received critical and media attention including feature articles in the New York Times, Town and Country and appearances on ABC's Politically Incorrect, NPR, and CBS This Morning. His third book More Beautiful Than Before; How Suffering Transforms Us was reached #4 on Amazon's overall best sellers list in its first week. It remains a best seller in several categories and has been translated into Korean and Chinese. More Beautiful Than Before has helped tens of thousands of people suffering from emotional or physical pain and continues to receive prestigious media attention including CBS This Morning, The Talk, The Steve Harvey Show, and four appearances on NBC's Today Show. He is now at work on his next book The Beauty of What Remains; What Death Teaches Us About Life, to be published by Penguin Random House in the spring of 2021. Newsweek Magazine twice named him one of the ten most influential rabbis in America but most important to Steve is being Betsy's husband and Aaron and Hannah's dad. He is also a Jew who likes to fish. Go figure. How to contact Rabbi Steve Leder: Website: http://steveleder.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/steve_leder Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_leder/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiSteveLeder/ How to contact Dr. Bob: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656 Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/ Website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/ Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/

Mark is thoroughly delighted to welcome Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, to the podcast today. Through his work with this Center, he engaged clergy, professional, and volunteer leaders in interfaith efforts in pursuit of social justice. Rabbi Pesner has also sat on the Boards of the NAACP, JOIN for Justice, the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, and other such organizations, and has been a congregational rabbi at Temple Israel in Boston and at Temple Israel in Westport, Connecticut. The passage he has chosen to discuss today is Deuteronomy 10:18-19. Rabbi Pesner begins the conversation by summarizing the passage and sharing its importance for him as well as the reason why he feels this passage is ‘all about’ Mark. Together, they then explore the theme of love and, particularly, loving the stranger, which is prevalent in this passage, and which has very real applications in today’s society. Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy, the Rabbi’s graphic and emotional example of ‘the ultimate act of grace’, the notion of the Torah as a radical document, and the attitude toward ‘the stranger’ in the current climate, are all discussed in the context of this theme of love. The lessons Rabbi Pesner has learned about mankind, including the impact of modeling and practicing love, and the complexity of humanity, draw this fascinating conversation to a close. Episode Highlights: Rabbi Pesner’s summary of the passage and its significance for him Why he feels this passage is ‘all about’ Mark Running towards empathy Love in the Jewish context How to ‘love the stranger’ Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy Rabbi Pesner’s example of ‘the ultimate act of grace’ The Torah as a radical document Attitudes toward the ‘stranger’ in the current climate The lessons about mankind which Rabbi Pesner has learned The impact of modeling and practicing love The complexity of humanity Quotes: “So many people’s lives have been made better because of your philanthropic investments and the things you care about…this Torah portion sings your song.” “You too must love the stranger because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” “Having had that experience of love with our Creator, that becomes the template of all relationships with all humans.” “Devote your entire life to a journey of exploration and learning.” “You surround yourself by people who think differently than you, and want to learn from them and hear from them, and I think that’s a guide for all of us.” “Much of what being moral is, is overcoming what’s natural, and doing what’s right.” “It’s not enough just to express a love for the deity, for God, for Jesus, it’s about your deeds demonstrating that love.” “Feelings follow actions.” “You will get ‘Messiahness’ by behaving in such a way that embodies ‘Messiahness’.” “I just want to know the human at the other end of this relationship and understand who they are and why they feel what they feel and make space for love to come into that.” Deuteronomy 10:18-19 but upholds the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and befriends the stranger, providing him with food and clothing.— You too must befriend the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.10.18-19?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en Links: The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: http://therabbishusband.com/ Mark’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en

Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner is the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism - as such, he is the leading voice in our movement for tikkun olam, social justice, and for creating a better world. In a meaningful pre-High Holy Days discussion, Rabbi Pesner spoke with Rabbi Yoshi about Israel and the UAE, racial justice and engagement with Jews of color, voting rights in America, and so much more.

This week, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center, the advocacy arm of Reform Judaism, explains the Religious Action Center's activities and how Jewish teachings inspire its work. The post Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of Religious Action Center, advocacy arm of Reform Judaism, guests on Seekers of Meaning Podcast appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.

This week, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center, the advocacy arm of Reform Judaism, explains the Religious Action Center's activities and how Jewish teachings inspire its work. The post Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of Religious Action Center, advocacy arm of Reform Judaism, guests on Seekers of Meaning Podcast appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.

Maya Weinstein shares her powerful personal story and talks about her local, as well as national, advocacy work in the areas of sexual and domestic violence. A former Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, D.C., Maya recently received her J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and will be clerking for Justice Mark Davis of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Fighting for gay and civil rights, and Jewish pluralism. Rabbi Noa Sattath is the Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), the social justice arm of the Israel Movement for Reform Judaism. She is charged with leading the staff of the organization, developing social change strategies in the fields of separation of religion and state, women’s rights, and the struggle against racism. Prior to her work in IRAC, Noa was the Executive Director of the Jerusalem Open House, the LGBT community center in Jerusalem and the Executive Director of MEET, a non-profit organization that uses technology to create a common language between Israeli and Palestinian young leaders.

Inspired by challenging circumstances from his youth, Rabbi Jonah Pesner passionately pursues justice for all. Named one of Newsweek's most influential rabbis, Rabbi Pesner is the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Using the power of relationships, he finds ways to organize others and transform the world. 

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Rabbi Jonah Pesner, the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (https://rac.org/) on the topic of "Jewish Social Justice at the RAC." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash

Once, there lived a farmer who had a horse that he loved. But the horse kept getting injured, and the farmer kept trying to heal his horse. What was causing the problem - and how did he address the source of his horse's recurrent injury? This story is told by Rabbi Michael Namath, the Director of Leadership Development at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

Our brains are not scientists, they’re lawyers. So, how do we view truth and evidence from a scientific perspective? Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman is the Founding Director of Sinai and Synapses, an organization that bridges the scientific and religious worlds, and is being incubated at Clal – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. His work has been supported by the John Templeton Foundation, Emanuel J. Friedman Philanthropies, and the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, and his writings about the intersection of religion and science have been published in the books Seven Days, Many Voices and A Life of Meaning (both published by the CCAR press), as well as on The Huffington Post, Nautilus, Orbiter, Science and Religion Today, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, and My Jewish Learning. He has been an adjunct professor at both the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion and the Academy for Jewish Religion, and is an internationally sought-out teacher, presenter, and scholar-in-residence. He was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where he received the Cora Kahn Prize from the Cincinnati faculty for the most outstanding sermon delivery and oratory. An alumnus of Princeton University, he received multiple prizes for outstanding scholarship in Biblical and Judaic studies. He was selected to be a member of the first cohort of Clal’s prestigious Rabbis Without Borders fellowship, a national program that seeks to position rabbis as American religious leaders and spiritual innovators who contribute Jewish wisdom to the American spiritual landscape. Additionally, he was chosen to be in the first group of the Balfour Brickner Rabbinic Fellowship, a a joint program with Clal and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism that aims to integrate Jewish textual tradition with modern social and political issues. He is on the advisory board of several organizations, including the 92nd St. Y’s “7 Days of Genius” Festival, as well as the URJ’s 6-Points Sci-Tech Academy. From 2007 to 2014, he served as Assistant and then Associate Rabbi of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, and he appeared on Jeopardy! in March 2016. He lives in Westchester County with his wife Heather Stoltz, a fiber artist, with their daughter and son.

Rabbi David Saperstein discusses religious freedom, the Supreme Court, civil rights, the Religious Action Center and the midterms. Rabbi David Saperstein is the Director Emeritus, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the Senior Advisor to the URJ for Policy and Strategy. Designated by Newsweek Magazine as the most influential rabbi in America and by the Washington Post as the “quintessential religious lobbyist on Capitol Hill,” David Saperstein, for decades, directed the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, representing the Reform Jewish Movement, the largest segment of American Jewry, to Congress and the Administration. For over two years (through Jan. 2017), Rabbi Saperstein served our nation as the U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, carrying out his responsibilities as the country’s chief diplomat on religious freedom issues. Also an attorney, he taught seminars on Church –State law and Jewish Law for 35 years at Georgetown University Law Center. During his career, Rabbi Saperstein has served as the chair or co-chair of several national interreligious coalitions including the Coalition to Preserve Religious Liberty and served on the boards or executive committees of numerous national organizations including the NAACP, People for The American Way, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the National Religious Partnership on the Environment and the World Faith Development Dialogue. He currently serves as a Senior Fellow at both the Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs and its School of Foreign Service's Center for Jewish Civilization as well as the Senior Advisor for Strategy and Policy for the Union for Reform Judaism.

Guest host Miranda Hovemeyer steps into the studio with Rev Terence Mayo of Metropolitan AME and Sofi Hersher of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism to talk about the Poor People's Campaign and organizing communities to "repair the world."

Joy Friedman is the Director of Organizing for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Our conversation takes a deep dive into Joy's experience feeling like an outsider, first as a Jewish minority in her small Kansas town, then when her parents got divorced. Joy shares how becoming a community organizer gave her an opportunity to confront her fears, claim her own power in relationship to others, and support communities and religious leaders across the country to lean into new beliefs and make change together. BONUS: To support you to examine your own fears and try out new, more empowering beliefs, download the Facing Fear Guide at kamararose.com/resources You can find Joy at www.rac.org

In this week's episode, we hear from Seattle-based Jewish songwriter, Chava Mirel and her new song, "Stand Up."  This song is part of the Religious Action Center of the Union for Reform Judaism's brand new collection of social justice songs titled "Together As One: New Songs of Social Justice" which you can download here.  All proceeds from the sale of this collection will benefit The RAC.   Chava Mirel is a singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist who combines rich, luxurious vocals with deep pocket rhythms to bringing a new approach to Jewish music. With themes of gratitude, self-acceptance, balance and responsibility for each other, Chava’s songs bring comfort and uplift the spirit.  As an award-winning Jewish musician, Chava has worked for decades as an educator and prayer leader in Reform, Conservative and independent congregations throughout areas of New York, Los Angeles and Seattle. She has recorded two full-length albums under her own name, and also writes and records in a duo project, Josh and Chava, with musical partner Josh Niehaus.  Chava now tours all over North America as an Artist-In-Residence. She was recently selected as a fellow by Joey Weisenberg’s Rising Song Institute. Her songs are featured on the URJ “Together As One” Social Justice Music Project album, the Behrman House "Hebrew in Harmony" curriculum, and the "Gift of Music" collection curated by Jewish Rock Radio. In between performing, composing and leading worship, Chava enjoys life in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her sweet husband and son, both drummers. Chava's YouTube Page  Chava's Spotify  Chava's Facebook Chava's Website

This edition of the biweekly AJC Live radio show featured an exclusive interview with Rabbi David Saperstein in advance of his speaking engagement in the Westchester/Fairfield region. Rabbi Saperstein is the Director Emeritus of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the former U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. He was interviewed by AJC Westchester/Fairfield Director Scott Richman about his background and work. This show aired live on WVOX 1460 AM from New Rochelle, New York on Monday, October 16, 2017 and was streamed live at www.wvox.com. All AJC Live radio shows are podcasted and can be found in the AJC Live archive at ajc.org/westfair.

Are Jews white? Join Rachel Laser in a challenging discussion on white privilege and being a minority in America. Rachel Laser is currently working as a consultant on bridging racial and cultural divides. She advises, runs workshops, gives speeches, facilitates conversations and guest lectures about implicit bias, and also racism and privilege at nonprofits, law firms, government entities, universities, public and parochial schools, houses of worship, and community centers. She has also written about white privilege and racism, including Uncovering My White Privilege on Yom Kippur, Flawed But Determined: Becoming a White Supporter of Racial Justice, and her most recent piece Why I am Atoning for Racism. She has spent much of her career finding paths forward on divisive culture issues. Laser recently served as the Deputy Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (the RAC), the Reform Jewish Movement's Washington, DC office. From the RAC, she ran interfaith campaigns on a number of social justice issues, including gun violence prevention, immigration reform, paid sick and family and medical leave and LGBT equality. Before the RAC, she directed the Culture Program at Third Way, a Washington, DC progressive think tank specializing in understanding and reaching moderates. There, she launched the "Come Let Us Reason Together" Initiative, which mobilized evangelical Christians and progressive activists to work together on the most contentious social issues. She also helped draft the first-of-its-kind common ground abortion bill to be introduced jointly by a pro-life and pro-choice member of Congress. She is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Chicago Law Schoo

Rabbi Jonah Pesner discusses the history and work of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the pressing social issues they address. Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner serves as the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. He has led the Religious Action Center since 2015. Rabbi Pesner also serves as Senior Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism, a position to which he was appointed to in 2011. Named one of the most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek magazine, he is an inspirational leader, creative entrepreneur and tireless advocate for social justice. Rabbi Pesner’s experience as a community organizer guides his pursuit of social justice. He has been a principal architect in transforming the URJ and guiding the Reform Movement to become even more impactful as the largest Jewish denomination in the world. Among other initiatives, he is a founder of the Campaign for Youth Engagement, a bold strategy to mobilize tens of thousands of young people in the Jewish community.

  In the newest episode of the Jewish Sacred Aging Podcast, Rabbi Address speaks with Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman, the Founding Director of Sinai and Synapses, which "seeks to bridge the religious and scientific worlds, offering people a worldview that is scientifically grounded and spiritually uplifting." About the Guest Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman is the Founding Director of Sinai and Synapses, an organization that bridges the scientific and religious worlds, and is being incubated at Clal – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. His work has been supported by the John Templeton Foundation, Emanuel J. Friedman Philanthropies, and the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, and his writings about the intersection of religion and science have appeared on the homepages of several sites, including The Huffington Post, Nautilus, Science and Religion Today, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, and My Jewish Learning. He has been an adjunct professor at both the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion and the Academy for Jewish Religion, and is a sought-out teacher, presenter, and scholar-in-residence throughout the country. He was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where he received the Cora Kahn Prize from the Cincinnati faculty for the most outstanding sermon delivery and oratory. An alumnus of Princeton University, he received multiple prizes for outstanding scholarship in Biblical and Judaic studies. He was selected to be a member of the first cohort of Clal's prestigious Rabbis Without Borders fellowship, a national program that seeks to position rabbis as American religious leaders and spiritual innovators who contribute Jewish wisdom to the American spiritual landscape. Additionally, he was chosen to be in the first group of the Balfour Brickner Rabbinic Fellowship, a a joint program with Clal and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism that aims to integrate Jewish textual tradition with modern social and political issues. He is on the advisory board of several organizations, including the 92nd St. Y's “7 Days of Genius” Festival, as well as the URJ's 6-Points Sci-Tech Academy. For seven years, he served as Assistant and then Associate Rabbi of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, and appeared on Jeopardy! in March 2016. He lives in Westchester County with his wife Heather Stoltz, a fiber artist, with their daughter and son.

On February 25, 2016, the Rumi Forum hosted an Abrahamic Discussion Series panel on the issue of “Welcoming The Stranger: Refugees and Immigrants in Our Midst.” Naseem Rizvi, Dr. Patricia Maloof, Rabbi Gerry Serotta and Sandra Chisholm discussed the issue from the viewpoint of Abrahamic traditions. Naseem Rizvi has numerous years of experience in the field of International Affairs as well as in the non-profit sector. Rizvi obtained her master’s degree in International Affairs at the Quid- e- Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan. She has worked as an adjunct instructor at the University of Loyola in Chicago where she taught several classes on U.S.-Afghanistan Foreign Policy as well as human rights and international affairs in Asia. She has also served as a panelist speaking about Islam and women issues. Rizvi then became a case manager and a program coordinator at the Council of Peoples Organization in Brooklyn, New York to assist diverse communities in health, employment, education, and legal issues. From 2008 to 2014, Naseem Rizvi worked at the Open Society Foundations and conducted extensive research and produced papers on international funding trends. Dr. Patricia Maloof is the Program Director of Migration and Refugee Services for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington (VA). She was formerly the Director of Development with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), the largest charitable immigration legal services network in the United States.   Dr. Maloof began her work with refugees in the 1980s. She advocates, publishes, and conducts research on barriers to health care access and the provision of services to refugees and immigrants. Dr. Maloof is trained as a medical interpreter and is a part-time faculty member in the Department of Anthropology at the Catholic University of America. Three of her publications can be found on-line: Muslim Refugees in the United States; Mind/Body/Spirit: Toward a Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Model of Health; and A Review of the Literature — Mentoring: An Evidence-based Strategy to Increase Diversity Among Students and Faculty from Racial and Ethnic Groups Underrepresented in Maternal and Child Health Training Programs. She has a Ph.D. in Medical Anthropology from the Catholic University of America and a B.A. and M.A. in Anthropology from George Washington University. Rabbi Gerald Serotta is the Executive Director of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC) Prior to his position at the IFC he was the Founding Executive Director of Clergy Beyond Borders. Rabbi Serotta formerly served as a University Chaplain and Hillel Rabbi for 28 years, the last twenty years at The George Washington University, where he was Chair of the Board of Chaplains. He also served as President of the Association of Hillel and Jewish Campus Professionals. While on Sabbatical from Hillel, he held the position of Senior Rabbinic Scholar-in-Residence at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, working on issues of globalization and economic justice from a Jewish perspective. He also served Temple Shalom and Shirat HaNefesh Congregations in Chevy Chase, MD., as spiritual leader. Sandra Chisholm has been the Fairfax County Community Interfaith Liaison for over 15 years and directs the Fairfax County Community Interfaith Coordination Program within the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. During her time, she has increased the coordination between communities, non-profit organizations, and government organizations to help strengthen their service systems and structures. She was the recipient of the prestigious Onthank Award in 2010 to honor her outstanding work in advancing and improving public service. Chisholm has also been involved in creating several interfaith task forces to increase awareness for emergency preparation by providing training and engaging places of worship.

Rabbi Marc Katz, Associate Rabbi at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY, discusses his book, The Heart of Loneliness: How Jewish Wisdom Can Help You Cope and Find Comfort on this episode of the Jewish Sacred Aging Podcast. [spp-player] About the Guest Originally from Barrington RI, Marc received a B.A. from Tufts University in 2006.  At Tufts, he studied Comparative Religion while serving as the captain of his college swim team. Before entering rabbinical school, Marc worked as a Legislative Assistant for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism lobbying for environmental protection and health care reform on behalf of the Reform movement. After returning from his first year of rabbinical school at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem, Marc has grown to love working at CBE first as a religious school teacher and then, starting in the fall of 2009, as Revson Rabbinic Intern. Over the past three years, Marc has taught in the academy program, run a weekly introduction to Judaism class, studied Torah with our adult Chevre Torah group, and served as program director for Brooklyn Jews, CBE's outreach program to young professionals. He lives in Park Slope with his wife Ayelet.

Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (http://www.rac.org/) presents his Valley Beit Midrash lecture "Prophecy, Power and the Pursuit of Justice: How People of Faith Can Transform the World" before an audience at Temple Solel (www.templesolel.org/) in Paradise Valley, AZ. DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/templesolelaz/ twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "Good Starts," a free-use public domain song by Jingle Punks, courtesy of YouTube's Audio Library.

On the July 29 Jewish Sacred Aging Podcast, Rabbi Address chats with Rabbi Marc Katz, associate rabbi at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY, who is the author of an essay in the book The Sacred Encounter: Jewish Perspectives on Sexuality, entitled, "The Kavanah of the Bedroom: Sex and Intention in Jewish Law."   Marc Katz – Associate Rabbi, Congregation Beth Elohim Rabbi Marc Katz Originally from Barrington RI, Marc received a B.A. from Tufts University in 2006.  At Tufts, he studied Comparative Religion while serving as the captain of his college swim team. Before entering rabbinical school, Marc worked as a Legislative Assistant for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism lobbying for environmental protection and health care reform on behalf of the Reform movement. After returning from his first year of rabbinical school at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem, Marc has grown to love working at CBE first as a religious school teacher and then, starting in the fall of 2009, as Revson Rabbinic Intern. Over the past three years, Marc has taught in the academy program, run a weekly introduction to Judaism class, studied Torah with our adult Chevre Torah group, and served as program director for Brooklyn Jews, CBE's outreach program to young professionals. He lives in Park Slope and can often be found running in Prospect Park, shopping at the Park Slope Food Co-op (when he's not suspended), and eating at the host of Thai restaurants in the neighborhood.  

Special speaker, Anat Hoffman, executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center/Chair of the Board of Women of the Wall during the March 13 6pm service.

Be sure to visit our official home for more detailed show notes: YourJewishNeighborhood.org This week's links: Relgious Action Center RAC Facebook page Temple Isaiah's Confirmation program

Please visit Your Jewish Neighborhood at its regular home:YourJewishNeighborhood.org This week's links: History of Reform Judaism's position on homosexuality, from ReligiousTolerance.org Gays & Lesbians Under the Chupah, from Reform Judaism Magazine Judaism and Same-sex Marriage, from MyJewishLearning.com Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism page on LGBT rights The REform Movement on LGBT Issues, from Jewish Mosaic, the National Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity

Be sure to visit the official home of "Your Jewish Neighborhood at www.yourjewishneighborhood.org!This week's links: Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Wikipedia listing for Rabbi David Saperstein RAC blog Rabbi Saperstein's recent Huffington Post column, "Our Rights in Peril: The Future of the Courts"

This podcast is Temple Emanuel Podcast #5, an interview with Associate Rabbi Geri Newburge about the Temple Emanuel Youth Alternative Weekend program, which took place last November. Last November, Temple Emanuel young people spend the weekend of the annual teacher's convention on an alternative retreat in Baltimore that combined social, spiritual, and community action activities. In April, the program won the Irving J. Fain Award from the Religious Action Center of the Union for Reform Judaism. Rabbi Geri Newburge, our associate rabbi, accepted the Award RAC's Consultation on Conscience program in Washington. The award is named in honor of the late Irving J. Fain, who was Chair of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism for more than a decade. In its citation, the Reform Action Center said "Temple Emanuel's youth program is modeled after the college Alternative Spring Break. Held in November when schools were closed for an annual teachers' convention, Temple Emanuel exposed students to the effects of poverty through a volunteer program in Baltimore, MD. Participants volunteered in three agencies including a soup kitchen, a food bank and a transitional homeless shelter. After returning, they dedicated themselves to educating others in the congregation about the shared responsibility to work for social and economic justice." In this podcast, Rabbi Newburge discusses the program and the award, and the challenges of developing compelling program for Jewish young people. Download the podcast file here (17.2 mb stereo MP3 file, 00:12:17 length). Keywords: temple emanuel,synagogue,jewish,judaism,cherry hill,nj,new jersey,lubetkin,geri newburge,rabbi,rac,fain,award,youth,tefty,nfty,youth alternative,baltimore Theme Music: "Untitled," by Dave Ahl, from GarageBand.com