In Jonathan S. Tobin’s recent featured column in JNS, he questions if Reform and Conservative Judaism support for Zionism can be revived, noting the disaffection for the Jewish state growing among Jewish liberals. He explains how the decline in pro-Israel sentiment spurred the establishment of the ZRC in 2019, with the goal to give voice …
Here are some snippets and observations about my recent visit to Israel. Shortly after I arrived I sent a note to my friend, journalist and author Gil Troy to let him know I was in Israel. His short response back to me was very profound. He wrote back, “Welcome home.” Indeed, Israel is the home …
The Jerusalem Post recognized the work the ZRC is doing to counter the growing trend of incoming Reform and Conservative rabbis who feel they need to avoid or criticize Zionism. Read the full article »
A recent column in the Washington Post about the impact of negative press about President Biden got me thinking about the parallel to the way Israel is covered. Here is a column I wrote about it, which just appeared in the national online publication www.jns.org
The reaction to the death of South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu has revealed a blind spot in tributes that have poured in from the general press, world leaders, and even among rabbis and Jewish leaders. Tutu was clearly a courageous figure who deserves praise for his brave struggle to end apartheid in South Africa. But …
If any one thing has united Jews throughout the ages, it is anti-Semitism. Yet in this era of increased polarization and division, it seems we cannot even agree anymore on what constitutes anti-Semitism. Click here to read Rabbi Weinblatt’s full article “It’s a life raft to those who hold fast to it” as it appeared in the nationally …
Natan Sharansky and Gil Troy’s latest book, “Never Alone” is essential reading for anyone who cares about or is interested in the Israel-Diaspora relations. His Jewish identity provided him a sense of purpose and of belonging and was the key to being free in a totalitarian state that sought to control everything, including one’s thoughts. The book …
The Importance of Truth This week’s Torah reading features a curious anomaly which has been the subject of rabbinic commentaries throughout the ages. When Moses tells the Pharaoh that God will slay the firstborn of the Egyptians, he says it will occur kehatzot, which means literally “somewhere around midnight”, or “at approximately midnight”. Rashi points out …
Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt Rabbi Weinblatt addressed the disturbance in our Nations Capital on January 2, 2021. Below is a copy of his remarks: I, like most of you have many thoughts about what happened this past week. One of my earliest memories of going to the US Capitol was when I …