Posted by James McDonald. Categories: I Am a Rabbi for Human Rights, Israel
on Jun 20th, 2011 | 2 comments
Rabbinical student Marisa James from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College tells us why she is a soon-to-be “Rabbi for Human Rights.” While living in Jerusalem, Marisa had friends who were Jewish, Christian, and Muslim. She believes that everyone should have the right to travel and learn and that no one should have to worry about what kind of world their children will grow up...
Posted by James McDonald. Categories: I Am a Rabbi for Human Rights, Israel, West Bank
on Jun 17th, 2011 | Comments Off
Rabbi Lewis Weiss from Indianapolis, Indiana tells us why he is a “Rabbi for Human Rights.” A self-identified strong Zionist, Rabbi Weiss is nonetheless disturbed by many recent Israeli policies in the settlements and territories. He wants to continue working towards peace, justice and mutual...
Posted by James McDonald. Categories: Human Rights Education, Slavery and Human Trafficking, Torture, United States
on Jun 17th, 2011 | Comments Off
At this year’s Rennert Forum on Women in Judaism at the Barnard Center for Research on Women, Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster gave a lecture to her alma mater entitled “Created in God’s Image: Intersections of Judaism, Gender, and Human Rights.” Quoting Elie Wiesel, Kahn-Troster says that we “must not see any person as an abstraction, instead we must see in every person a universe…” No person is just a statistic, she goes on, or a devise to make you feel guilty. The Torah begins by asserting that all people are created in the image of God. This does not simply mean...
Posted by James McDonald. Categories: I Am a Rabbi for Human Rights
on Jun 16th, 2011 | Comments Off
Rabbi John Friedman, Co-Chair of J Street Rabbinic Cabinet, tells us why he is a ‘Rabbi for Human Rights.’ Stressing the fact that all people are created in the image of God, he thanks Rabbis for Human Rights for working on the ground in Israel to defend the rights of...
Posted by James McDonald. Categories: Human Rights Education, Israel
on Jun 16th, 2011 | Comments Off
Rabbi Arik Ascherman was interviewed as part of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs‘ Children of Abraham’s Interfaith Art Week in April of 2007. Citing Genesis, he says that all human beings are created in God’s image – not just Jews, not just the rich, not just men, but everyone. Therefore, harming a human, any human, constitutes a direct attack on God. Humans tend to see themselves as the pinnacle of creation and, while we are particularly loved by God, Ascherman notes that we are not given the freedom to act on any passion or desire. God chose the Jewish...
