We are pleased to present you with the following d'var torah by Rabbi Jill Jacobs. Comparing the mourning of Tisha B'av with the promise of hope provided by Tu B'Av, it is a powerful reminder that we must move beyond a mournful attitude about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and once again focus on the possibility of change.

In Israel, the Noble vs. The Ugly

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

Published: July 7, 2010 New York Times

RHR-NA, along with more than 15 other religious institutions, have join in the Physicians for Human Rights complaint to the Office of Human Research Protections about illegal medical experimentation at Guantanamo. This video was shot at the June 27th NRCAT event in Pasadena, CA, and features religious leaders expressing their commitment to ending torture. 

Sign your congregation or Hillel up for Human Rights Shabbat,December 10-11, 2010! Our focus this year will be a Jewish commentary on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Join with more than 100 Jewish communities from around the world in this annual celebration of Jewish values and universal human rights.

Support critical legislation in the New York State Senate and Assembly that would revoke the licenses of medical professionals who engage in acts of torture. This ground-breaking legislation, the first of its kind in the nation, would create a mechanism for accountability for those who violate their professional ethics to engage in despicable acts.

This Shabbat, June 26th, is United Nations Day of Support for Victims of Torture. We urge you to commemorate this day in your community. Below is a sample d'var torah connecting Parshat Balak with the recent Physicians for Human Rights report on illegal human experimentation at Guantanamo, along with actions you can take to ensure an end to U.S.-sponsored torture.

Read the new report from Physicians for Human Rights on human experimentation and Guantanamo, take action to call for a Commission of Inquiry, and download RHR-NA's new curriculum on Jewish values and torture.

June is Torture Awareness Month. In this drash, Abby Cohen looks at the role of violence in God's response to the spies and its implications for those who promote violence as part of our national security strategy.

We are deeply saddened to announce the death of RHR founder Rabbi David Forman. We invite all those who knew Rabbi Forman to add their memorials and comments, and to read the following moving reflection by former RHR-NA chair Rabbi Gerry Serotta.

"Museum of Tolerance and Center for Human Dignity" Built on Intolerance and Indignity

A response to the IDF's adoption of an order allowing the deportation of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank by Rabbi Joey Wolf.

As the prophet proclaimed centuries ago in an era of obfuscation, when fundamental rights are trampled, it is inconceivable that the ones who participate in the crime will themselves be unscathed by it. Still today, those who promote democracy for people at the margins have witnessed it being undermined at the core of their own justice system.

In our effort to combat slavery and trafficking, we ask that you email your Senators and Representatives asking them to fund a variety of government programs that combat slavery and trafficking in the U.S. and around the world, as well as fund programs to help victims of slavery and trafficking.

Sign-up for our TEN-DAY HUMAN RIGHTS TRIP TO ISRAEL & THE WEST BANK

Stop Evictions in Sheikh Jarrah!

Executive Director, Steven Gerber, Back from Recent Trip to Israel, Part 2