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Kathryn and I began our social justice journeys with the URJ. We grew up in NFTY and attended URJ summer camps, we served on the NFTY North American Board, and we currently sit on the Commission on Social Action.

I once had the opportunity, the privilege, the honor, to Rep. Lewis, face to face, exactly why he was my hero. Now, in honor of one of the most remarkable, most American, lives ever lived, I want to suggest four key lessons (among hundreds) that we can all learn from John Lewis’ life and work.

Since its launch in 2014, The Tent has served as communication and collaboration platform for lay and professional leaders of URJ-affiliated congregations. Here are 10 reasons you’ll want to be in The Tent.

“I need you to show up in Trenton.” Those eight simple words are how it all started. In 2006, State Senator Loretta Weinberg shared these words with a group of New Jersey Reform Jews at the URJ Biennial.

Rep. John Lewis’ memory inspires us to work harder and be more courageous as we join with millions of our fellow Americans to further his prophetic vision for our country.

The determining factor, in my opinion, as to who can be considered a Zionist and who not, is not dependent on one’s solution for the end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It’s not about one state versus two states, nor is it about one’s perspective on the potential annexation of territory. It's about two determining factors.

This work is our calling, and it doesn’t pause for a pandemic. Instead, we find creative ways to engage and mobilize our communities at a distance.

My search for “silver linings” in no way minimizes the toll in suffering, pain, loss, and inconvenience the pandemic is exacting from our lives; I fervently pray it will end soon. Still, I believe that the secret to Jewish survival despite all the hardships and tragedy history has imposed on us is our ability to cling to the hope that things will get better.