As a Movement that puts Ahavat Yisrael as one of its highest values and with our deep commitment to Israel as both a Jewish and democratic state, we must strongly oppose the potential annexation after July 1st. 

As an Israeli citizen and white citizen of the United States, I believe that Black Lives Matter – and that no American of good conscience can simply opt out of engaging with the pervasive issue of racism in America. If we will it, it is no dream.

This “idea checklist” is a starting point for reflection, conversation, and action within your community. It is intended to help your leadership team identify the steps needed to become a community rooted in principles of REDI, help you build on your existing measures, and aid in initiating new ones.

As COVID-19-related challenges escalate, we ask how our methodology and experience might shield the Jewish community from partisan torches and pitchforks. Here’s an approach to healthy decision-making under these circumstances.

The Book of Proverbs instructs us to “speak up for those who cannot speak...to raise our voices on behalf of the vulnerable and downtrodden.” (Proverbs 31:8-9). The individuals who make up America’s prison population are isolated, vulnerable, and voiceless.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a bright spotlight on the deep structural racism in the United States. We have known that our Jewish community is not exempt from racism, even though we have always been multiracial.

The video below is a recording of a webinar

While evaluating my role in handling the situation, I found that the leadership skills I acquired over the years in different organizations and settings served me well in dealing with COVID-19. Most of these skills were learned as a camp counselor.

On Sunday morning, the Reform Jewish Movement lost one of our giants. Rudi E. Scheidt Sr. was 95 years old when he died peacefully at home in Memphis, TN.