Fresh Updates from RAC

On Monday, May 28, we observe Memorial Day in the United States, a time to remember the sacrifice of our Armed Forces in defense of our country. The prayer below, written by Rabbi Matt Friedman and originally published on RJblog last year, may be read during your Shabbat Services next week.

Learn more about how you can support the men and women in our armed forces by visiting the Religious Action Center’s Support Our Troops page.

“A Prayer for Memorial Day”
by Rabbi Matt Friedman

Eloheinu v’Elohei avoteinu v’imoteinu – Our God and God of our ancestors,
Watch over those who defend our nation.
Shield them from harm and guide them in all their pursuits.
Grant their commanders wisdom and discernment
in their time of preparation and on the battlefield.
Should battle erupt may their victory be swift and complete.
May the loss of life for any of your creations be avoided.
Grant healing to those who are wounded
and safe redemption to those who fall into enemy hands.
For those who have lost their lives, grant consolation
and Your presence to those who were close to them.
We also ask that you stand with our President and all our military leaders.
Guide them in their decision making
so that Your will is implanted within their minds.
May it be Your will that world hostilities come to a rapid end
And that those in service are returned safely to their families.
We pray that freedom will dawn for the oppressed and
Fervently we hope that the vision of Your prophet will come to be,
“Let nation not lift up sword against nation nor learn war anymore.”  
May this vision come to pass speedily and in our day,
Amen.

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Our Weekly Legislative Update is here to bring you the latest from Washington, DC on the issues facing Congress. This week, the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act is the talk of the town. Join our own Lisa Paquette and Katharine Nasielski to learn more about the issues, how it affects the Jewish community, and where you can take action.

Yesterday morning, Rabbi David Saperstein stood with other leaders from the Washington Interreligious Staff Community (WISC) at a press event launching the 2013 Faithful Budget. The Faithful Budget’s Preamble and Statement of Principles reflects our Reform Movement’s understanding that the budget is an affirmation of our national priorities, an inherently moral document. The Faithful Budget was launched by the religious community to lift up voices of faith on behalf of the nation’s most vulnerable and to encourage the Administration and Congress to maintain a robust commitment to domestic and international poverty assistance programs.

The principles enumerated in this budget are as follows: restoring economic opportunity, ensuring adequate resources for shared priorities, prioritizing true human security, meeting immediate need, accepting intergenerational responsibility, using the gifts of creation sustainably and responsibly, providing access to health care for all, and recognizing a robust role for government. Read more…

While watching the State of the Union last night, we hope you enjoyed tracking the issues President Obama discussed (and a little friendly competition) during RAC SOTU Bingo! Unfortunately no one at the RAC Legislative Assistants’ watch party actually won Bingo, but that didn’t stop us from carefully considering the economic, social, and political issues he addressed (or failed to address).  Read after the jump for our reactions to the State of the Union, and check out Legislative Director Barbara Weinstein’s reactions here.

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This blog post originally appeared on September 15, 2011 on the Jerusalem Post website. 

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Welcome to the RAC’s live 2011 State of the Union commentary and analysis.  We’ll be updating this blog throughout the evening, highlighting parts of the President’s speech that have particular resonance, and noting as well what is left unsaid.

This is President Obama’s 2^nd formal State of the Union address, though he has come to the Capitol on other occasions to speak to members of Congress, including his September 2009 speech about health insurance reform.

Updates on the issues made during and in response to the President’s address are after the jump.

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Surely, you’ve been unable to avoid all the frenzy surrounding the so-called “Ground Zero” Mosque to be built on Park Place in lower Manhattan. Politicians and pundits on all sides of the debate have weighed in, and in some instances, staked their political future on this position.

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