Vayakhel-Pekudei and Coronavirus - Give until we are asked to stop giving
This week in Shul we will read Vayakhel-Pekudei. Although of course we wont. Some will read it at home. Some will read it with family. And some will watch it on a live stream. But however you are engaging with this week’s parasha, it almost certainly won’t be in a synagogue, anywhere in the world.
This has been a real topsy turvey week. Nothing makes sense. Nobody has seen this before. Not through two world wars, not through major world catastrophes. This really is unprecedented.
In Vayakhel-Pekudei the People of Israel are given the instructions on how to build the Mishkan (tabernacle). They are asked to donate the required materials. They give so generously that Moses has to ask them to stop giving.
Read more ShareIsraeli elections 2020 (a?) - Part 3
On the 2nd of march 2020 at 10pm the polls closed in Israel for the third time since there was a viable Government. Despite this being a third election in a year and expectations of "voter fatigue", we actually saw an increase in voter turnout -the highest since 1999. With the number of parties diminishing to 8 (lowest ever!), less votes are wasted on parties that don't pass the threshold and we get a more accurate representation of Israeli society.
Read more Shareהקול שלי בשביל כל אישה – My voice for every woman
A few weeks ago, we started to talk about International women’s day in the office and the first thing that popped into my head were the words of “Kol Isha” (קול אישה). Literally those words mean “the voice of a woman” in Hebrew – in Judaism, “Kol Isha” is the concept that a man is prohibited from hearing a woman’s voice in song or prayer. Now, I won’t be discussing the actual concept; that is a topic I will let myself grapple with at another time. Rather, it made me think how we are using our voice as women.
Read more ShareUJS President addresses Board of Deputies
Multifaith Monday - Shoshana Cohen
Running interfaith events can, like all other events, be both challenging and extremely rewarding. Planning interfaith events takes time and effort, especially because it’s important to be aware of, and sensitive to, the religious requirements of those participating. However, it is very satisfying when all the elements of an event come together and the event runs smoothly.
Read more ShareLGBT+ History Month 2020
Our job as student leaders is to fight for those in our society who need us most, leading a student culture which celebrates diversity and standing up for each other when we need it most. That’s why we are proud to mark LGBT+ History Month, both as a celebration of our LGBT+ Jewish community, and as a focus on how much further we can go to expel homophobia, transphobia and biphobia from our Jewish student society and beyond.
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