Rabbis For Human Rights - North America

Human Rights Shabbat

“We pray for strength and steadfastness in the work of repairing the world. In all things, may we honor the dignity of each person.” (An Interfaith Human Rights Prayer from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture)

Human Rights Shabbat

Every year, more than 100 synagogues throughout North America commemorate Human Rights Shabbat, an RHR-NA initiative to educate Jewish communities about the intersection of Jewish values and universal human rights.

 

Human Rights Shabbat 2011

 

How do we live a life of k'vod habriot, respect for the inherent dignity of every person? How do we model this respect in our synagogues and communities? These are some of the key questions we will address during Human Rights Shabbat, 2011. Our focus will be embodying k'vod habriot and a life devoted to human rights.

 

Communities celebrating Human Rights Shabbat will ask:

• Why is it so hard for some Jewish communities to discus human rights? We will have a guide for leading constructive conversation in your community.
• What does it mean to Stand Together with the American Muslim community? We'll have a program aimed at older children/younger teens that addresses questions of solidarity and discrimination, along with a text study on religious tolerance?
• How do rabbis encounter human rights questions in their work? Look for sample sermons on slavery in the Florida tomato industry, human rights in East Jerusalem, and a visit to an interfaith clergy conference in Doha.

 

Click here to sign up today! Human Rights Shabbat will take place on December 9-10. This date is chosen to coincide with International Human Rights Day (December 10), which marks the anniversary of the passage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The alternate date is December 2-3, though communities should also feel free to pick a weekend that works for them.

 

Resources for Human Rights Shabbat 2011

 

Introduction

• Introduction to Human Rights Shabbat
• The Universal Declaraton of Human Rights

 

Prayers

• A Prayer for Human Rights Day , Rabbi Brant Rosen

• A Prayer for Human Rights , Rabbi David Freidenreich

 

Sample Sermons

• Forgiveness Beyond Borders, Rabbi Alana Suskin
• Who is Wise, Powerful, Wealthy, and Honored? , David Spinrad
• Jerusalem's Many Faces, Marisa James
• The Necessity of K'vod Habriot in an Age of Terror, Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster
• The Pain of Projection: Understading Islamophobia while in Arabia , Rabbi Simkha Weintraub

 

Study Materials

• Speaking about Human Rights from Your Pulpit, Rabbi Joshua Gutoff
• Manifesting K'vod Habriot in Your Community , Rabbi Gilah Langner
• Fair Trade and Human Rights, Ilana Schatz
• "You Be the Judge:" A Jewish Obligation to Act in Solidarity with Muslims, Rabbi Michael Ross
• Special offer for Human Rights Shabbat congregations: Show the groundbreaking film Budrus at a discounted rate!

 

Additional Resources from RHR-NA

Human Rights Shabbat materials as one PDF

 

What you can do on Human Rights Shabbat:

• Give a sermon (or ask your rabbi to give a sermon) on a human rights issue.
• Teach children about human rights in Judaism. Click here for resources for children and youth. (link to Rebecca Rosenthal stuff)
• Study the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and learn about Jewish values that connect to universal human rights.
• Teach your community about Rabbis for Human Rights-North America.
• Invite a speaker from a human rights organization.
• Read Jewish human rights prayers.
• Join together with other religious communities for an interfaith celebration of human rights.

Find out which congregations and communities have signed up for Human Rights Shabbat 2011 so far!

 

E-mail us for more information or to sign up for Human Rights Shabbat 2011.

 

Resources from Human Rights Shabbat 2010

 

Introduction

• An introduction to Human Rights Shabbat 2010

 

Prayers

• A Prayer for Human Rights Day by Rabbi Brant Rosen
• A Prayer for Human Rights by Rabbi David Freidenreich
• An Interfaith Human Rights Prayer from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture

 

Sample Sermons

• Modern Slavery and the Jewish Commitment to Human Dignity by Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster
• Reflects on Her Trip to Israel with Rabbis for Human Rights-North America by Rabbi Debora Gordon
• Human Rights vs. Human Obligations by Rabbi Barry (Baruch) Leff, Co-Chair of Rabbis for Human Rights in Israel
• Indefinite Detention and Jewish Sources on Justice by Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster

 

Learning about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Masekhet Zechuyot HaAdam: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights with Jewish texts
• Text Study on Masekhet Zechuyot HaAdam
• Background: What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Why Do We Celebrate It

 

Children's Programs

• Jewish Values and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Hanukah and Human Rights
• Children's Book Suggestion and Discussion Questions