Elul with The Shalom Center
In this time of jumble, both within and beyond, we wanted to make sure you saw some of the wisdom that Shalom Center staff and lay leaders have recently offered into the world. It is our hope that these teachings may be of use for you, helping to orient or illuminate that which you’re seeking. Below those offerings, you will find reminders of the two major efforts we’re currently working on - The Great “Save-In” and the Festival of (Voting) Booths. We hope you will join us for both!
Shalom Center contributes to “On Tyranny” essays
In the lead up to the election, Evolve, Reconstructing Judaism’s online platform for groundbreaking Jewish conversations, has published a series of essays addressing the question: What can each of us do to protect democracy in the United States? A wide range of Jewish thought leaders have offered wisdom on twenty practices that citizens can use in preparation for facing tyranny, inspired by the chapters of Timothy Snyder’s 2017 book, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century.
Three of the essays were written by Shalom Center staff and board, including:
Board Treasurer Rabbi Mordechai Liebling’s piece on praying with your feet.
Board member Rabbi Lex Rofeberg’s piece on the importance of words
All of the essays are worthwhile, including many written by friends, collaborators, and supporters of The Shalom Center.
We also encourage you to check out Rabbi Arthur Waskow's essay on Creating a New Diaspora Judaism, published by Evolve this summer.
Rabbi Jericho Vincent on Judaism Unbound
Shalom Center board member and Temple of the StrangerFounder Rabbi Jericho Vincent was featured last week on Judaism Unbound’s podcast, co-hosted by Shalom Center board member Lex Rofeberg. In this timely interview, they talk about the power of ritual, the importance of it being fresh, the boundary-crossing nature of the Ivri, and the radical new approaches they’re taking to holiday celebrations this Rosh Hashanah and beyond. Check it out here!
Festival of (Voting) Booths
One of the lessons of this High Holiday season is that, despite all the prayer we may be doing to Great Spirit, asking YHVH to save us, we still know it’s upon us to do our part to save ourselves.
If you’re feeling fired up about the election, motivated to do your part in ensuring that everyone eligible to vote has the resources to do so, then choose one of the following two ways to celebrate the Festival of (Voting) Booths right now!
Phonebank
Our GOTV-PA efforts continue this week on Wednesday, September 18th, with another opportunity to call voters who are overlooked by the major political parties with encouragement and a reminder to vote. Register here to phone bank with us, as we join RAC-PA and OnePA 4 All.
Send Postcards
There’s only 6 days left to order postcards from RAC-PA, to send to registered voters in PA - Black, Brown and working class people in OnePA 4 All’s base who have low voter participation. Order for yourself or host a postcard writing party while you still can!
The Great “Save-In”
Plans are coming together for The Great “Save-in”, our Hoshanah Rabbah actifest in honor of Reb Arthur’s 91st birthday and The Shalom Center’s next era. If you’re in Philly, save the date to join us in person. And if you’re not, mark your calendar to join us online. Registration for this momentous occasion is launching very soon!
As we traverse through Elul and into High Holidays, we are grateful to be in it with you, partnering with you to bring more shalom - more wholeness - into the world.
With blessings,
The Shalom Center