Human Rights Shabbat
Every year, more than 100 synagogues throughout North America commemorate Human Rights Shabbat, an T'ruah initiative to educate Jewish communities about the intersection of Jewish values and universal human rights.
Human Rights Shabbat 2013
Join T'ruah for our annual celebration of Jewish values and universal human rights! Now in its sixth year. Human Rights Shabbat 2013 will be in December.
Resources for Human Rights Shabbat 2012
Introduction
- Introduction to Human Rights Shabbat
- Introducing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Liturgy
- A Prayer for Human Rights
- A Prayer for the Government for Human Rights Shabbat
- A Prayer for the State of Israel
Human Rights Issues
- Justice for Jerusalem
- Solidarity with American Muslims
- Bedouin Rights in Israel
- Solitary Confinement
- African Asylum Seekers in Israel
- Slavery and Human Trafficking
Resources from T'ruah Partners
- Guilt-Free Gelt (Fair Trade Judaica)
- Shining a Light on Torture (National Religious Campaign Against Torture)
- Building a Fair Food Nation (Coalition of Immokalee Workers)
- Slavery Footprint
Human Rights Shabbat 2011
How do we live a life of k'vod habriot, respect for the inherent dignity of every person? How do we model this respect in our synagogues and communities? These were some of the key questions addressed during Human Rights Shabbat, 2011. Our focus was embodying k'vod habriot and a life devoted to human rights.
Resources for Human Rights Shabbat 2011
Introduction
Prayers
- A Prayer for Human Rights Day, Rabbi Brant Rosen
- A Prayer for Human Rights, Rabbi David Freidenreich
Sample Sermons
- Forgiveness Beyond Borders, Rabbi Alana Suskin
- Who is Wise, Powerful, Wealthy, and Honored?, David Spinrad
- Jerusalem's Many Faces, Marisa James
- The Necessity of K'vod Habriot in an Age of Terror, Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster
- The Pain of Projection: Understading Islamophobia while in Arabia, Rabbi Simkha Weintraub
Study Materials
- Speaking about Human Rights from Your Pulpit, Rabbi Joshua Gutoff
- Manifesting K'vod Habriot in Your Community, Rabbi Gilah Langner
- Fair Trade and Human Rights, Ilana Schatz
- "You Be the Judge:" A Jewish Obligation to Act in Solidarity with Muslims, Rabbi Michael Ross
Human Rights Shabbat materials as one PDF
What you can do on Human Rights Shabbat:
- Give a sermon (or ask your rabbi to give a sermon) on a human rights issue.
- Teach children about human rights in Judaism.
- Study the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and learn about Jewish values that connect to universal human rights.
- Invite a speaker from a human rights organization.
- Read Jewish human rights prayers.
- Join together with other religious communities for an interfaith celebration of human rights.
Resources from Human Rights Shabbat 2010
Introduction
Prayers
- A Prayer for Human Rights Day by Rabbi Brant Rosen
- A Prayer for Human Rights by Rabbi David Freidenreich
- An Interfaith Human Rights Prayer from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture
Sample Sermons
- Modern Slavery and the Jewish Commitment to Human Dignity by Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster
- Reflects on Her Trip to Israel by Rabbi Debora Gordon
- Human Rights vs. Human Obligations by Rabbi Barry Leff
- Indefinite Detention and Jewish Sources on Justice by Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster
Learning about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Masekhet Zechuyot HaAdam: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights with Jewish texts
- Text Study on Masekhet Zechuyot HaAdam
- Background: What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Why Do We Celebrate It
Children's Programs
- Jewish Values and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Hanukah and Human Rights
- Children's Book Suggestion and Discussion Questions
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Stay Connected to Rabbis for Human Rights-North America.
333 Seventh Avenue, 13th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-845-5201
office@truah.org
