Honoring Reb Arthur and continuing his legacy

by Cherie Brown, Shalom Center President

Dear Chevra, friends, allies, and loved ones of Reb Arthur,

Arthur was a Holy Giant. He touched thousands of lives over decades. I know so many of us are feeling the weight of this huge loss.

Arthur and I met over 50 years ago at a CAJE Conference (Conference of Jewish Educators) in Santa Barbara. The Jewish left was still small in those years so we all knew of each other. Arthur and I have been comrades, soul wrestlers, liberation fighters together and in partnership for decades.

When Arthur asked me a number of years ago to be President of the Board of The Shalom Center, I humbly accepted for one reason—to do everything I could to back Arthur, to back his holy work—and to help The Shalom Center build a lasting foundation that would carry on Arthur’s legacy. We have done that. With Rabbi Nate at the helm—and with all of you working with us—we can carry forth Reb Arthur’s vision of a New Torah for a New World.

There are three ways to do that right now:

To begin with, tonight is the first night of the three-part series I am teaching on the Weaponization of Antisemitism. Nate and I talked it over and decided Reb Arthur would want us to carry on with the program tonight.

Arthur called me a few days ago to say goodbye. It was a moving good-bye call with a beloved comrade. On the call, Arthur told me how important the work I was doing on antisemitism is to him and asked me to promise him to continue that work.

So friends, tonight at 7:30-8:30pm ET, and dedicated to our beloved Reb Arthur, please join me in the first of three hour-long classes on the Weaponization of Antisemitism.

Secondly, you can visit The Shalom Center's new page highlighting Reb Arthur's legacy. There you can find links to moving, thought-provoking interviews with him, read loving tributes by those who have been inspired by him—and send in your own written or video tributes and blessings to the family. 

And finally, as a lasting tribute to Reb Arthur’s legacy, I encourage everyone who can to make a financial contribution to The Shalom Center.

It is one of the best ways we can honor Reb Arthur and see to it that his legacy continues on for years to come, which was Arthur's greatest wish.

Cherie Brown

The Shalom Center Board President