R' Arthur writes: "Gloria and I will be having a conversation for thoughtful and “feelingful” people the evening of Tuesday, October 22. It will highlight our free Hoshana Rabbah celebration, along with lots of music."

On October 22nd, The Shalom Center is hosting a Hoshanah Rabbah actifest in Philadelphia and online called The Great "Save-In." It is part of a broader GOTV-PA effort we are undertaking. Why connect Sukkot with voting?

A prayer/poem by Rabbi Elisheva Salamo for the High Holy Days liturgy.

A Hoshanah Rabbah actifest honoring Reb Arthur at 91 and marking the world at a crossroads.

Michael Walzer writes, "The theory of just war depends heavily on the distinction between combatants and civilians. In contemporary warfare, these two groups are often mixed together in the same spaces — often, indeed, deliberately mixed together, because the killing of civilians invites moral condemnation. . . . Still, a military responding to this strategy has to do everything it can to avoid or minimize civilian casualties."

In this time of jumble, both within and beyond, we are sharing teachings and opportunities that Shalom Center staff and lay leaders have recently offered into the world.

Feeling pumped up after last night's debate? Ready to do something ASAP? Sign up now for our Pennsylvania phone banking kick-off tonight with RAC-PA and OnePA 4All. No need to live in PA, just a belief that we are at our best when everyone's voice is included in our democracy!

We rarely think about voting as a non-violent action to change the world. Voting is in some ways parallel to a sit-in, a vigil, a teach-in, or other non-violent ways of changing the policies of those in power.

This year's Hoshanah Rabbah falls right in the heart of election season, with polls closing exactly two weeks from the start of the holiday. That’s why, at the Great “Save-In” in October - and all fall leading up to the election - we are partnering with RAC-PA and OnePA 4 All on a nonpartisan Get Out the Vote (GOTV) mobilization in Pennsylvania, which begins now!

R' Arthur writes: "The Israeli public, hundreds of thousands strong, went into the streets yesterday to demand accountability for Prime Minister Netanyahu — who along with Hamas bears responsibility for the murders of six hostages. They were denouncing the Netanyahu government for having refused to agree to a cease-fire that would have returned all the remaining hostages alive."

May the memory of this great justice-pursuer be a blessing to us all. And may the One who gave his teachings such an impact on the world fulfill the compassion and the truth that are embodied by his death.

Join us for a Hoshanah Rabbah actifest, celebrating Reb Arthur’s 91st birthday, and marking the world at a crossroads.

Two ideas for Yom Kippur. They are not brand-new, but connecting both of them with Yom Kippur is.

Peter Beinart writes, "There’s a solution that allows [a presidential candidate] to go beyond merely calling for a cease-fire and saying that 'far too many' civilians in Gaza have died — without supporting an arms embargo."

From R’ Arthur and R’ Phyllis, a Torah reading for Yom Kippur recalling how Isaac and Ishmael came together to bury their father, and what the story teaches about teshuvah – about turning in a new direction, of love not death.

Excerpts from a major article in the UK Guardian by respected Israeli American Holocaust scholar, Omer Bartov, in which he describes what he finds very alarming in Israeli culture and politics on his recent return there. We recommend reading the whole essay for its fine-grained and subtle report of emotional and cultural feelings among Israelis.

A madras from R’ Phyllis Berman going back to Sarah and Hagar.

From Rabbi Arthur and Rabbi Phyllis, a tale for Tisha B’Av

Rabbi Arthur writes that we are in the season when the sacred Jewish calendar ends the year with ten haftarot. “All ten share a basic understanding of the world. It is a zero-sum understanding. . . .I think this zero-sum assumption is a basic mistake.”

In reflection on the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, inspired by a poem by Rabbi Arthur, the National Council of Elders asks how will we enable ourselves “to make from fire… a light in which to see each other fully?”