Why Do You Slumber?
This new Yom Kippur meditation is inspired by the two Haftorot we read on that day. In the morning, we hear Isaiah’s great call to justice…
Read articleThe Dissenter’s Hope: In Memoriam, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, z”l
“…that’s the dissenter’s hope: that they are writing not for today, but for tomorrow…” – Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, z”l, NPR interview, 2002 This prayer for…
Read articleWe Will Be Heard: Psalm of Protest 18
This Psalm of Protest was first posted here as part of my three-prayer Liturgy for Inauguration Day 2017. With a few new lines and several other…
Read articleFor Whistleblowers and Watchdogs: Psalm of Protest 16
Here’s a new Psalm of Protest celebrating the role of watchdogs and whistleblowers in defending democratic ideals and institutions. See also: “Sing with Liberty: Psalm of…
Read articleO Freedom: Psalm of Protest 14
A Psalm of Protest for U.S. Independence Day 2019. It’s the 14th in a series of social protest prayers using the voice of the Psalmist. See…
Read articleFor Children at Our Borders
A prayer against the injustice of children taken from parents by U.S. immigration authorities, parents seeking asylum in this free democratic nation. In six weeks, some 2,000…
Read articleLesser Children
This is a new prayer about social justice and tikun olam, repairing the world. Let us build a sukkat shalom, a tabernacle of peace, over the “lesser children” and all of…
Read articleShofetim: To the Streets
One of Torah’s famous instructions appears in this week’s parsha: “Justice, justice shalt thou pursue…” (Deut. 16:20) The context is establishing a legal system, but our ethos…
Read articleVayigash: Against Worker Exploitation
This is a social justice prayer for Shabbat Vayigash. In this week’s Torah portion, Joseph saves the Egyptians. He also also enslaves them. In his weekly commentary,…
Read articleTo the Streets, Revised
This is a call to leaders to leave the safety and cloister of their institutions, to go into the streets to learn from the anguish of…
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