In 2011, Adam Sutcliffe and Jonathan Karp published a collection of essays entitled Philosemitism in History. Notably, they chose to begin their introduction with this old Jewish joke: “Q: Which is preferable -the antisemite or the philosemite? A: The anti-Semite – at least he isn’t lying.” The cynicism expressed by this joke is biting but understandable, Continue Reading »
Dear friends, As Shabbat arrives this evening, we say goodbye to another tumultuous week. Many of you have shared the strong emotions you are feeling as we process a precarious shift from lockdown to tentative re-openings that feel precipitous to many of us. We continue, as well, to sort out our feelings and emotions about Continue Reading »
Purim is coming, with all its joy and festivity. We will dress up, sing songs, eat hamantaschen, drink wine (as tradition dictates), and celebrate with gusto. A good time will be had by all! It is important to remember, however, that the reason for all this frivolity is the story recounted in the megillah of Continue Reading »
We gather tonight with hearts that are broken for the tragic loss of 11 precious souls, men and women who were murdered for the simple fact that they were Jews. It was the deadliest attack on Jews in the history of our nation, but it was not an isolated event. It is only the latest Continue Reading »
If the Talmud had a tractate on the holiday of Thanksgiving, it would likely begin like this: “Mai Thanksgiving?” What is Thanksgiving? What is its meaning? What is its purpose? So, what is Thanksgiving? Is it merely an opportunity to gather with family and friends to eat too much turkey and stuffing, maybe watch football, Continue Reading »
What do these religious groups have in common? Sathya Sai Baba Organization (followers of the guru Sai Baba) Muslim Center of Somerset County Family Worship Center (a Christian Spanish-language fellowship) Refuge International (a Christian prayer group) Shree Swaminarayan Loyadam Mandhir (a Hindu community) In addition to the fact that they undoubtedly share certain spiritual values, Continue Reading »
Beth Borrus has a bold vision for the future: Jews and Muslims learning about and respecting one another’s cultures, breaking down walls of misinformation and mistrust, building lasting friendships and living in harmony. Promoting such an interfaith concept truly spoke to Beth as she began to learn more about Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom (SoSS), a Continue Reading »
