Rabbi Arthur Weiner

As Jews living in the diaspora, we spend a lot of time thinking about and supporting Israel from afar. But every five years, we have a chance to make an actual difference, and to assert our influence in our Jewish homeland through participation in the elections for the World Zionist Congress . At this pivotal moment in Israel’s history, it’s critical that our voices as American Jews who care about Israel’s future are heard. The World Zionist Congress (WZC), founded by Theodore Herzl in 1897, is the only democratic body with representatives from all of world Jewry. In these elections, Diaspora Jews like us not only have a voice, but a vote! The World Zionist Congress (WZC) is an international body made up of Jews and Jewish organizations from Israel and throughout the world.   It determines the priorities and policies of the four so-called “National Institutions” under its auspices: the World Zionist Organization (WZO), The Jewish National Fund, The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAF...

In the landmark decision Roe v. Wade of 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the “concept of liberty” guaranteed by the 14th amendment included a woman’s qualified right to terminate her pregnancy. This landmark decision struck down dozens of state abortion restrictions across the country. For almost five decades, the right to terminate a pregnancy was a protected constitutional right that could be regulated or prohibited by state law only when the fetus became viable.  49 years later, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade . Its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization gave individual states the power to regulate abortion. They ruled that abortion is not a constitutional right, and additionally ruled that it is not a fundamental right implied by the Constitution. The practical effect was a dismantling of almost 50 years of precedent protecting the constitutional right to abortion in the United States. Since the Dobbs case, 14 states hav...

Communities are stronger, and the individuals within those communities are healthier, both physically and spiritually, when people are not needlessly pitted against one another. Clergy Letter Project members represent religious leaders from many faith traditions. Although we do not always agree with each other, our traditions all adhere to the Golden Rule. We listen to each other and we treat each other with respect. Values central to the mission of The Clergy Letter Project are respect for truth, for science, for diverse faith traditions, and for the dignity of all persons. The thousands of religious leaders, from a broad array of religious traditions, who comprise The Clergy Letter Project urge individuals in our country, especially those who hold political power, to think carefully about how their actions may be divisive and harmful. The Value of Human Dignity : The Clergy Letter Project has regularly spoken out forcefully, from both religious and scientific perspectives, abou...

I’m sure Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana was a great doctor. But he’s an irresponsible public servant. Our nation deserves better, especially those whose health will be jeopardized by his irresponsible decision to vote in favor of the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the position of Health Secretary.   What made his vote last week to send the nomination to the Senate floor particularly cowardly is that throughout his medical career, Senator Cassidy was (and to be fair, remains) a passionate supporter and advocate for vaccines.   Bobby Kennedy is not. He is the opposite.   Vaccines are among civilization’s greatest achievements, backed by decades of rigorous research. Kennedy's promotion of debunked claims, such as the false link between vaccines and autism, shows a troubling disregard for science and public welfare that is decades in the making.   Every member of the US Senate knows this.   No reader of this Shabbat message would ever consider going to ...