Rabbi Margo Hughes-Robinson

Beshalach: No More Solitary Confinement in NYC

by Rabbi Margo Hughes-Robinson
There is a deep and abiding power in saying to those who have died as a result of solitary confinement. We cannot bring back those we lost, but we can sanctify their memories by continuing to fight for a city that is dedicated to human rights for all.
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Embracing Our Inner Nachshon

by Rabbi Larry Sernovitz
Things can only change if we have the faith to believe in possibilities that we currently cannot imagine.
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The Wilderness of Homelessness and a Way Forward

by Rabbi Adam Baldachin
I imagine the Israelites showing the same expression of confusion and disbelief as those families who realize that they have just lost their homes and that their lives have just been upended: not knowing to whom to turn and where to go because of a system that is not built to support them. At least in the story of the Exodus, God has other plans.
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The Spiritual Task of Our Time

by Rabbi Tova Leibovic-Douglas
A D’var Torah for Parshat Beshalach by Rabbi Tova Leibovic-Douglas Someone asked me recently if I was a “Social Justice Rabbi.” I found the question odd, so I replied, “If you mean a rabbi that cares about everyone’s human rights and our world? Then yes, I am a Social Justice Rabbi.” And I continue to...
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Chester Hollman III Has a Lot of Torah to Teach Us

by Rabbi Andrea L. Weiss, Ph.D. 
Chester Hollman III understands what it means to endure the trials and tribulations of the wilderness while dreaming of the Promised Land.
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Songs of Hope (Parshat Beshalach)

by Rabbi Josh Breindel
Commentary on Parshat Beshalach (Exodus 13:17 – 17:16) As the crowd surged in front of me, I felt completely out of my depth. I had joined with members of my interfaith clergy group at a rally in the aftermath of a mass shooting. We were supposed to open the gathering with a blessing, but none...
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The Miracle of Water

by Rabbi Leah R. Berkowitz
When we read parashat Beshalach, most of our attention falls on the big miracle, the parting of the Red Sea. The Israelites celebrate with timbrel and dance, singing God’s praises for redeeming them from slavery. Given that, thousands of years later, we still commemorate this moment liturgically twice a day, one would think that the Israelites...
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Singing at the Sea, Planting on the Mountain

by Cantor Hinda Eisen Labovitz
“Shabbat Shirah” is so-named because its reading contains Shirat Ha-Yam, the Song of the Sea. In biblical Hebrew, the word shirah usually denotes a poem rather than music or strophic song in its commonly-known modern Hebrew sense. Many congregations use this opportunity to create special musical programming, taking the latter translation of “Shabbat of Song.”...
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Holding Onto the Image in Every Human Being, Even One’s Adversary

by Sheldon Lewis
In the militia headquarters in Odessa decades ago, I was surrounded by harsh interrogators who castigated my friend and me for visiting Russian Jews, who were aliens in their eyes. I felt anger and even hatred at these leaders and their many followers who had made Jewish life impossible for a large segment of our...
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Fear

by Rabbi Jennie Rosenn
In December I sat with M., a thirty-four year old man who is seeking asylum. Over the course of 3 ½ hours, M. told me what he had endured for many years in his country that propelled him to leave his home and his country to embark on a harrowing journey in search of asylum....
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