Tag: #Israel
Israel
Every1Counts: Day 48
May 17, 2018 3 Sivan, 5778
TONIGHT IS FORTY-EIGHT DAYS, WHICH IS SIX WEEKS AND SIX DAYS, OF THE OMER
I am Jewish, humble yet proud of a heritage that has dignified me even as others have tried to destroy my race. I was twenty years old in 1948 when the Palmach/Haganah accepted me as a soldier in Israel’s War of Independence. The experience changed the course of my life. I am a Jew who believes that, though small in numbers, we have a powerful moral influence on the world, and in the words of Hillel, ‘If not now when?’ …
It is imperative that we nurture a fidelity of commitment to purpose. What is that purpose? Not just to exist, but to continue to bring to this world actions noble in thought and deed, always in courage, remembering, we are our own final solution.
Vidal Sassoon
(Sassoon, Vidal. I Am Jewish: Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words of Daniel Pearl, edited by Judea Pearl and Ruth Pearl, Jewish Lights Pub., 2005, pp. 77-78.)
Every1Counts: Day 47
May 16, 2018 2 Sivan, 5778
TONIGHT IS FORTY-SEVEN DAYS, WHICH IS SIX WEEKS AND FIVE DAYS, OF THE OMER
Judaism is both a religion and a race. It’s an imprint I carry with me everywhere. I was taught to hate prejudice. I was taught the values of loyalty—the values of family. Even though I was not fortunate enough to go to college, I was certainly embedded with strong Jewish values of education and learning, no matter what the form. …We are small in number; our impact has been incredible.
…I must say [my] trip [to Jerusalem] really hit home to me. The very flavor of Jerusalem stayed with me long after I left. I liked all the people of the region, including the many Palestinians I met. I felt a sense of belonging and I thought a lot about my late parents, who would have loved to step on that soil.
Larry King
(King, Larry. I Am Jewish: Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words of Daniel Pearl, edited by Judea Pearl and Ruth Pearl, Jewish Lights Pub., 2005, pp. 51–53.)
Every1Counts: Day 40
May 9, 2018 24 Iyar, 5778
TONIGHT IS FORTY DAYS, WHICH IS FIVE WEEKS AND FIVE DAYS, OF THE OMER
To me, being Jewish means:
- Knowing that I am part of a chain of tradition that goes back generations
- Knowing that I am not the last link in the chain
- Feeling comfortable that I can enter a sanctuary anywhere in the world and know what is going on and how to participate
- Feeling guilty that I do not go more often
- Being proud to be of Am Yisrael
- Appreciating foods that everyone loves (brisket, bagels, blintz, babka) and foods that everyone loves to hate (borsht, herring, gefilte fish, chopped liver)
- Taking to heart that it is my responsibility to help repair the world
- Being an active member of our community
Herb Baer
Every1Counts: Day 38
May 7, 2018 22 Iyar, 5778
TONIGHT IS THIRTY-EIGHT DAYS, WHICH IS FIVE WEEKS AND THREE DAYS, OF THE OMER
To me, being Jewish means I have the privilege of being part of a nation that has survived countless trials and enormous changes in the world around us for over 5000 years. Through all of that time we continued without losing our unifying identity as the Jewish people, Am Yisrael. Right now I’m spending an amazing semester in Israel, connecting with my Judaism and learning so much in the process. The many young Jews on this program with me are the future of reformed Judaism, and it’s amazing to see how passionate we all are. I think it’s fair to say that, speaking for all of us, we are honored to be able to continue as Jews and perpetuate an unbroken chain that tells the incredible story of our people.
Arielle Kolodzinski
Every1Counts: Day 32
May 1, 2018 16 Iyar, 5778
TONIGHT IS THIRTY-TWO DAYS, WHICH IS FOUR WEEKS AND FOUR DAYS, OF THE OMER
Being Jewish means belonging, family, tradition, zedaka and Tikun Olam.
It manifests itself in a thousand ways, both for the individual and for those around her or him, near and far.
It happens during Hanukkah on a plane, drawing a Menora on a napkin and “lighting” the candles with a checkmark of a pen.
It happens by saying Kadish for 38 family members who perished in the Holocaust.
It happens by building a Torah Ark for the alternative services.
It happens with celebrating holidays with family, writing one’s own Hagaddah.
It happens by caring for and supporting Israel.
It happens by acting like a mensh.
Yishar Koach
Ari Delevie
Every1Counts: Day 31
April 30, 2018 15 Iyar, 5778
TONIGHT IS THIRTY-ONE DAYS, WHICH IS FOUR WEEKS AND THREE DAYS, OF THE OMER
Jane S.
Every1Counts: Days 28 and 29 (a double portion because it will soon be Shabbat)
April 27, 2018 12 Iyar, 5778
TONIGHT IS TWENTY-EIGHT DAYS, WHICH IS FOUR WEEKS, OF THE OMER
As my country struggles to preserve its moral center and maintain its democratic values, I am able to find comfort and solace in my Judaism. For me, being a Jew means to not stay silent; to speak out in the face of injustice, bigotry, racism, and misogyny to name a few. Social justice is a core tenet for a Reform Jew. Passover is one of my very favorite holidays in large part because it affords us, as Jews, to reflect on our own journey from slavery to freedom and in so doing we are faced with our own reality of how people in our country and in the world remain “enslaved “ for a multitude of reasons and unjust practices. I honor my Judaism and thereby myself, my family and those who came before me, when we raise our voices for justice and challenge ourselves around our Seder table to reflect on these issues and ask ourselves what are we going to do to make this world a better place?
Liza K.
April 28, 2018 13 Iyar, 5778
TONIGHT IS TWENTY-NINE DAYS, WHICH IS FOUR WEEKS AND ONE DAY, OF THE OMER
*We are posting this response today, so you do not have to use your computer/phone on Shabbat.
