Rabbi Miriam T Spitzer

07/11/2023

The "judicial reform" is underway. This is extremely bad news for the Jewish State, the only Jewish State we have. We cannot let this happen!

We will not allow Israel to become a fascist state.

02/19/2023

This is the sermon I gave in shul yesterday. It is called Israel at Risk: Mishpatim, Democracy and Judicial Reform. It is given out of my deep and abiding love and concern for the State of Israel and its democratic future. I welcome your comments.

11/18/2022

This is worth the read.

The tendency to scapegoat minority groups for societal woes is not new. To address the problem, one must understand its roots.

05/25/2022

Rabbinical Assembly Heartbroken by Shooting in Uvalde, Texas
Posted on: Wednesday May 25, 2022

Following the killing of 19 schoolchildren and two adults, in Uvalde, TX, and the wounding of others, the Rabbinical Assembly (RA), the international association for Conservative/Masorti rabbis, issued the following statement:

“This event is simply heart-breaking. Children must be more precious to America than its guns.

“While our hearts and sincere prayers go out to the people of Uvalde, especially the families of the victims, thoughts and prayers have never been enough; it is past time for action. It is the lack of action that has brought us Sandy Hook and Parkland and too many other mass shootings to list. And now Uvalde.

“It is high time that United States politicians, currently obsessed with reelection campaigns, put aside partisanship in order literally to save lives. They must firmly and immediately enact meaningful gun reform legislation. The same with mental health reform.

"As we have said all too often – and too recently – we offer our deepest condolences and support to all those impacted by this despicable attack and reiterate our vehement condemnation of gun violence.

“The Rabbinical Assembly has spoken out many times against gun violence in the United States. We unequivocally call upon lawmakers to immediately take all available measures to ensure the safety of the public and to limit the availability of guns. As our tradition reminds us, 'Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor' (Leviticus 19:16).”

01/18/2022

From Ritualwell.com
When the Captives Were Set Free, God Spilled Her Light
By Hila Ratzabi

For Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and the people of Colleyville, Texas

When the rabbi opened the synagogue door
To a man in need on a quiet Shabbat morning
In January, he held out one gleaming shard
Of this broken world to another
With a welcome and an open heart.
He attempted to fit one piece to another,
But the man’s soul was so shattered the pieces
Were too tiny to sift through.
The man saw his own reflection in the cracked glass
Of the rabbi’s kind eyes
And his misdirected rage bounced round
And round inside him in confusion,
He could not look directly
At the light of another’s face.
He let his sharp edge through the door.

Voices, shouts, phone calls, comments,
Hours of fear, prayers, held
Breath. God did not answer
Our prayers. She kept busy
With her regular, heavy labor,
Sowing light in the hearts
Of those praying or worrying or checking
The news, checking on friends.

She remained a steadfast presence
In that cold room where the rabbi
And three companions gathered
Her light close as the man twisted
And turned in his own darkness.

She kept weaving her light
Through the doors of the Catholic church nearby
Where the pastor, imam, and rabbi held space
For those needing it.

When the captives were finally
Set free, God sighed in relief,
Letting all her carefully held
Light spill. We tweeted prayers
Of gratitude, not knowing who
To tag. She read them
With so much regret and love,
Tucking each one in her starry pocket,
Then placed her hand on the soft globe
Of the earth as though smoothing
The hair on a child’s head.
She looked this way and that,
Picking up one shard and then another,
Not knowing where to begin.

12/14/2021

Um, that's the one I wouldn't step foot in.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/second-ancient-synagogue-found-in-migdal-alters-ideas-of-jewish-life-2000-years-ago/?

Archaeologists says existence of two houses of worship in same town shows need for religious social focal point other than the existing Temple in Jerusalem

12/09/2021

Our series on The Other Within - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in a Pluralistic Movement will begin on Wednesday, January 19. Please register by 5:00 PM ET on Monday, January 17 to make sure you receive the Zoom link for Session 1. Our moderator for these session will be Alex Friedman from JTS.

Temple Israel is a Scholarstream Sponsor! Call the office for the code and learn for free.

12/02/2021

Our Congregational Hanukkah licht has been bright and shining! Join us again tonight on Zoom at 7:00.

12/02/2021

On this day in history: The first synagogue in what would become the United States was dedicated in Rhode Island on Dec. 2, 1763 – the first day of Hanukkah that year. President George Washington wrote a letter to the congregation pledging that the fledgling government of the United States would “give to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” It’s generally regarded as his most eloquent treatise on religious liberty.

11/05/2021

This statement was written yesterday. This morning there were serious threats of violence at the Kotel.

Rabbis Jacob Blumenthal (CEO, Rabbinical Assembly) and Ashira Konigsburg (COO, Rabbinical Assembly) joined the leaders of the Masorti movement in Israel and around the world to call on our elected officials to act immediately to implement the outline of the Western Wall Agreement. This is all the more necessary in light of the real threats to the Women of the Wall, who are scheduled to pray tomorrow as every Rosh Chodesh, at the Western Wall. Statement in English and Hebrew: https://bit.ly/3bHOtkd

09/14/2021

https://forward.com/news/475143/12-new-letters-revamped-aleph-bet-aims-to-recognize-women-and-non-binary/?

Graphic designer Michal Shomer hopes her 'multi-gendered Hebrew' will help build a more equitable society.