A Prayer for the People of the Land By Rabbi Micah Streiffer and Rabbi Judy Schindler As Jews, today we celebrate the anniversary of the secular date on which Israel’s Independence was declared, May 14, 1948. On this day, seven decades ago, a modern day miracle was born. On this day, our people danced inContinue reading “A Prayer for the People of the Land”
Tag Archives: Israel
Who’s Afraid of a Big, Bad Flag?
Last month, at the Chicago Dyke March (an annual LGBT Pride parade), several Jewish marchers were expelled from the march because they carried flags with Stars of David, reminiscent of the flag of Israel. The organizers of the march defended the move, declaring that that “Zionism is an inherently white-supremacist ideology” and that the flagContinue reading “Who’s Afraid of a Big, Bad Flag?”
Causeless Hatred and the Jewish State: Have We Learned Our Lesson?
What, I’m not good enough to be blacklisted?? Those were the words with which I jokingly feigned righteous indignation last month when the Israeli rabbinate released its “blacklist” of rabbis from whom they will refuse letters of Jewishness for new immigrants. Others of my colleagues had similar amused responses: congratulating those who did make theContinue reading “Causeless Hatred and the Jewish State: Have We Learned Our Lesson?”
An Egalitarian Kotel
In the movie The Ten Commandments, Moses comes down the mountain with two tablets, containing the 10 laws that the Israelites are to follow. I love that movie. But it doesn’t tell the whole story. Jewish tradition tells says what happened at Sinai was far bigger than any 10 Commandments. It was even bigger thenContinue reading “An Egalitarian Kotel”
Rabbi Micah Streiffer 