Tag: Progressive Judaism
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The Afikoman We Carry | Pesach Sermon by Rabbi Adrian M. Schell
In this Pesach sermon, Rabbi Adrian M. Schell reflects on a deeply personal and poignant Seder night in Berlin, where a table of rabbinical students, each carrying their own stories and silences, unknowingly held the broken pieces of our collective Jewish memory—and helped one another carry them. Using the powerful symbol of the Afikoman, Rabbi…
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The real test of morality
There’s a reason we come back to the following teaching again and again: Love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. It’s the most often repeated commandment in the Torah—more than keeping Shabbat, more than kashrut, more than any ritual law. Thirty-six times, the Torah reminds us that the way we…
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Jewish Perspectives on the Assisted Dying Debate
As the assisted dying debate is currently being discussed in Parliament, I wanted to share a summary of Jewish perspectives on this important and complex topic. The attached paper offers an overview of how Judaism approaches the sanctity of life, the alleviation of suffering, and the ethical challenges surrounding end-of-life decisions. While this document is…
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2019 is a year of celebration and a chance in bringing South Africa together
Chaverim Yakarim I have been asked to share my sermon from last Friday via the AdKan with all of you. Please let me and/or ManCom know what your thoughts are on the subject, and please join the conversation. Shabbat Shalom—Rabbi Adrian M SchellWelcome back – and it is good to be back.Summer in Johannesburg is…
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Because they lived, we will too
Chaverim—Beloved Friends, Normally, when Jews die, we recite a prayer: ‘baruch dayan ha’emet’ – blessed is the True Judge. It’s a way of saying: “the good and the bad they did, can pass with them — their soul is in God’s hands now“. When Jews are slaughtered by anti-Semites, however, there is a different prayer: ‘hashem…
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Happy pride day Johannesburg
Chaverim—Friends, This weekend, Johannesburg is celebrating Pride day, and by that diversity in our South African society. While the legal position of people, who identify as LGBTI* in South Africa, is not bad at all (not only in comparison to other African states but also in comparison to Worldwide standards), still many of the queer, gay…
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Parashat Bechukotai – I will look with favour upon you
Chaverim, friendsIt has taken the orthodox community in Johannesburg almost 3 ½ years to realise that Bet David has an openly gay rabbi. To be honest, I am not so sure if this news went around earlier, but to me it looks like that this became a topic in the wider – not progressive community…
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A place of hope and unity
Chaverim,There are a number of Shabbatot throughout the Jewish calendar that have special names. The most familiar of these is probably Shabbat Shuva, the Shabbat of Return, which takes place between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These special Shabbatot each serve a purpose, some historical, some still relevant today. On Friday evening begins Shabbat Shekalim, the Shabbat of…
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Parashat Miketz: Jew by choice should feel pride and be viewed as courageous
In this week’s portion, Miketz, Joseph moves from being falsely imprisoned to becoming second in command in Egypt. As Joseph settles into his new life, he is given a new name by Pharaoh: Zaphenath-paneah. This name reflects Josephs new status in life and the journey on which he has embarked. We, as a congregation, as the Jewish…
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Gusti Braverman’s encouragement for unity and engagement
Last Shabbat we had Gusti Yehoshua Braverman (pictured above) from the World Zionist Organisation visit Bet David. In her talk prior to the Shabbat service she highlighted the importance of the World Zionist Organisation and of the Progressive Judaism in Israel, and how important it is that we—Progressive Jews—need to made our voices be heard…
