ARZA

How can one best participate in building the State of Israel? In the long history of the Jewish people, this is a very new question. The question of what is the best way to build or protect Israel has been, and continues to be, at the center of many debates. These debates were present in [...]

By Rabbi Stacey Blank What can Tisha B’Av mean today? Tisha B’Av is not a day ordained by G-d in the Torah, but rather it is an observance that was created by people in reaction to an event: The destruction of the First Temple.  This was a tragic and traumatic time for the Jewish people [...]

Activism is the theme of Parshat Pinchas. The first example is Pinchas, acting violently and alone in order to “solve a problem.” For this he is lauded. The daughters of Zlofchad present a picture of activism that is carefully thought out in order to achieve their goals. The Torah recalls them by name. Mahlah, Noah, [...]

What is Israel like today? Who lives there? What do they look like? What is the country like? Can we make a place in the land, our land given to us by God, even if it means conquering those who are already there? This was the charge of the 12 scouts or spies, one from [...]

Chag Sameach. Today, we celebrated the newest holiday of the Jewish people- Israel Independence Day. Our efforts to re-establish a Jewish sovereign state are the culmination of nearly 2,000 years of prayers but of just over 100 years of political activism. It is Jewish/Zionist activism more than prayer that was the tipping point allowing for [...]