On Honoring Arthur's Legacy
by Rabbi Phyllis Berman
(Monday, October 13, 2025)
Dear Friends who spoke so movingly at last night's event, those who registered and attended the program, those who registered but are waiting for the recording, and those who haven't yet preordered Arthur Waskow's two new books from The Shalom Center:
Arthur, on a life transition journey now, has many legacies: family, intimate friends, colleagues, students, The Shalom Center which he founded 42 years ago, and his books old and new about to appear from the publisher in early January 2026.
What I failed to say last night in the immediacy of the program's emotional power is how important it is to Arthur that you honor his legacy by contributing to The Shalom Center so that its work continues especially in cruel and violent times like these in the world and in this country. And that you honor his legacy as a writer, theologian, humanist, ecologist, activist, deep ecumenist by preordering his two new books through The Shalom Center.
Tales of the Spirit Rising...And Sometimes Falling is an activist memoir of a lifetime of standing for justice often at great cost to his employment. Handbook for Heretics and Prophets: A New Torah for a New World is a combination of his poetic writing and the collaboration with about 36 others offering us both understandings of the original Torah and what's needed in a New Torah for the world in which we live and the one we're leaving to our children and grandchildren.
For the hundreds of people who have written to me, much of which I've read to Arthur, about his impact on your thinking, on your professional choices, on your actions, on your hearts and souls, please forgive me for not responding at this transitional moment in our lives. Know that I've received your notes and letters and that I'm reading them myself, reading them to Arthur, and hopefully (unless you've indicated not to) sending them on to Rabbi Nate DeGroot, executive director of The Shalom Center and to Linda Carranza, The Shalom Center's Chief Operating Officer, for a collection to be made available to Arthur's family and potentially beyond of Arthur's impact on your lives.
Many thanks for your part in his/our lives,
Phyllis
The Shalom Center is grateful to all who presented and participated in the October 12 Books Launch Birthday Party, making it a warm and loving, reflective and moving event.
If you missed the live program, you can still enjoy the moment by registering to receive the video recording of it, with or without a book purchase. Click the button below to register.
If you would like to preorder Arthur's two extraordinary new books, the two-book package is available for preorder through December by clicking the button below.
The books will be shipped to you as soon as they are available in January 2026. Preordering also gives you access to the video of the October 12, 2025 Books Launch Birthday Party.
As Phyllis mentioned, these two books are only one part of Arthur's many legacies; another large part being The Shalom Center itself.
If you would like to help ensure that Arthur's legacy continues for years into the future, please give to The Shalom Center's Arthur Waskow Legacy Fund.
On the Legacy Fund page, you can also:
Submit a written blessing to Arthur
Record a video message for Arthur, which we’ll compile into a tribute video.
Watch the teaser for our forthcoming biopic film chronicling Arthur's life and legacy
View a music video for Hazzan Jessi Roemer’s Psalm 24, which features Arthur’s preaching
and more.
If you would like to honor Arthur's legacy by supporting The Shalom Center via Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), IRA Charitable Giving, stock gifts, or planned/legacy giving, please reach out to us at office@theshalomcenter.org for more details.