Rabbi Arthur Weiner

Today marks the first anniversary of Russia's brutal, immoral and illegal invasion of Ukraine. Last year I wrote a Shabbat message about Ukraine on the second day of the war. I have devoted several Shabbat messages to the war, its implications for Israel, the world Jewish community as well as asking for donations to outstanding Jewish organizations who are on the front lines providing all types of services to Ukraine's Jews as well as the general public. On this first anniversary, it’s time for us to remember the Jews of Ukraine and to dig deep on their behalf again. Yesterday, I participated in a meeting sponsored by the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) for Rabbis and communal leaders to give us an update on relief efforts. The presentation was as inspiring as it was sad. You may know that Ukraine has one of the world's largest Jewish communities. What is less known is that it is among the most impoverished. That was so even before Russia's invasion last y...

Exactly 3 weeks ago today, authorities in Memphis Tennessee released the raw police video documenting the tragic encounter between Tyre Nichols and Memphis police officers. Over the past several weeks, there has rightly been much discussion in our country about Tyre Nichols’ death at the hands of the police. Why was he stopped by police that night? Why was he treated so brutally by the police? Why did the emergency service personnel do so little to help Mr. Nichols after he had been beaten so badly and tased repeatedly? How was it possible that police officers wearing body cameras could act in such a reckless manner and think they could get away with it? How many others had been similarly mistreated by these officers and the special anti-crime unit they belonged to? Where were officers and supervisors who might have intervened? What was the role of race and racism in this incident, or in countless others where police have killed unarmed black men? These are serious questions, a...

This weekend is Religion and Science Weekend, or what used to be called Evolution Weekend.   Over 200 synagogues, churches and other religious institutions will devote some time this Shabbat, (or the Sabbath or the Lord’s Day) to discussing science and religion.   I found out about Evolution Weekend about 11 years ago and we have participated ever since.   I am not a big fan of “themed Shabbats” but there are exceptions to every rule.   This is one of them. Normally my sermons or messages on previous Evolution Weekends are a ringing defense of scientific truths and their impact on our lives.   I talk about how science and religion don’t so much overlap as much as they co-exist.   Each has its truths, each has its parameters and boundaries, and each has its own orthodoxies.   But as opposed to those who say that you can have one or the other but not both, America needs responsible religious leaders to preach the value, worth and necessity of both! ...

With great power comes great responsibility . This quote, popularized by Uncle Ben in Spider-Man is one of my favorite quotes.  I have been thinking a lot about this quote since America learned about the death of Tyre Nichols and viewed the graphic and brutal video of his encounter with the Memphis Police officers who killed him. All Americans deserve answers for Tyre Nichols death. Was it a rogue unit that killed him? Was it insufficient training? Was it the result of poor supervision and a lack of oversight? Was it police culture?   What role, if any, did race play in the event? What about dashboard mounted cameras in police cars and body cameras? Is not their purpose to reduce if not prevent these types of violent interactions? Why did do many systems fail? I have written to the congregation many times over the years about the issue of policing in America. I am no expert, nor can I claim any greater knowledge than anyone reading my Shabbat message this week. B...