More than 65 congregations celebrate Human Rights Shabbat, December 12-13

We are pleased to report that more than 60 congregations from coast to coast participated in our first Human Rights Shabbat, December 12-13, celebrating 60 years since the passage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. Communities invited speakers on a diverse range of human rights topics, celebrated human rights during services, and studied texts on Judaism and human rights. We are thrilled by all the different directions the program took in participating communities.

Save the date now for Human Rights Shabbat, 2009, December 11-12.

Resources for Human Rights Shabbat          Resources from ReneCassin (UK)

 Some highlights:
•    In Irvine, CA, Colonel Stephen Abraham, a military lawyer in Guantanamo who became a whistle blower against the treatment of prisoners, spoke at the University Synagogue.
•    Beth Emunah Synagogue, Agoura Hills, CA, heard a special d'rash by a human rights attorney who handles impact litigation on behalf of refugees fleeing torture and severe forms of gender based violence for Human Rights USA.
•    At Amherst College Hillel, Amherst, MA, students participated in a learning & discussion in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in memory of the victims of terror in Mumbai.
•    Kehilla Community Synagogue, Piedmont/Oakland, CA, read from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights instead of their haftorah. Rabbi David Cooper deliveried his drash about human rights, and their selection for Torah reading was from Chapter 33 of Breishit where Jacob and Esau meet near the Jabbok river and especially in verse 10 where Jacob expresses that looking at Esau's face is like looking at the face of God.
•    Temple Sholom, Floral Park, NY, announced Human Rights Shabbat and used the materials prepared by RHR-NA.
•    At Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek, Chester, CT, Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg spoke about human rights. A special screening of “Taxi to the Dark Side” was held on December 14th.
•    At Woodlands Community Temple, White Plains, NY, the cantor gave the d'rash, focusing on his recent project involving helping recently released criminals successfully move back into society.  Along with that, 22 high school students recently returned from the L'taken political action seminar in DC, where each made a presentation in the office of one of their elected representatives, reprised their presentations for the congregation. 
•    Progressive Temple Beth Ahavath Sholom, Brooklyn, NY, included special readings for human rights in their service.
•    Congregants at Kol HaLev in Houston, TX, did role playing about peace, justice, and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
•    Ohavi Zedek, Burlington, VT, hung a Stop Torture banner, and showed the movie “Paper Clips.” They also heard a drash about human rights and used RHR-NA materials in their Shabbat services.
•    At Mishkan Shalom, Philadelpha, PA, Rabbi Linda Holtzman reports: “We started with a short service during which we read the Declaration of Human Rights. We then had a potluck dinner, and watched the movie The Visitor. We then discussed the issues it raised. Peter Pedemonti, the co-director of the Philadelphia New Sanctuary Movement spoke and helped lead the discussion. He told us about a Pakistani family in the area that is having many problems since the father's been in detention. That night, we decided to help them by collecting Christmas presents for them.”
•    Congregation Tikkun v'Or, Ithaca, NY, incorporated Human Rights Shabbat materials into all facets of their service, and discussed “Four Questions for International Human Rights Day.”
•    Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, New York, NY, heard from congregant Judy Hollander, who had just returned from the RHR trip to Israel. Human Rights Shabbat liturgy were incorporated into both Friday night and Saturday services, and a lunch discussion was held on the text study.
•    Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston, IL, celebrated human rights over Shabbat using the RHR-NA materials, and on December 14th held a program showing the trailer for Beneath the Blindfold, a new film that sensitively but powerfully presents the stories of several torture survivors, each of whom have been forever transformed and are responding differently to the reality of their experiences. More information can be found on Rabbi Brant Rosen’s blog.
•    At Congregation B’nai Tzedek, Fountain Valley, CA, Naama Haviv, Assistant Director of Jewish World Watch, spoke on "Encountering and Countering Genocide." 
•    At Congregation Shir Chadash, Lakewood, CA, readings for Human Rights Shabbat were incorporated into the service and 3-4 adult sessions were devoted to human rights at the first annual congregational retreat.
•    Members of the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, Pasadena, CA, heard from Debra DeLee, CEO and President of Americans for Peace Now. Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater also led a discussion on “Torah and Torture: Human Rights Issues for Today.”
•    Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, West Newton, MA, held small group discussions of the UDHR, and delved into ways that members of the community could become more involved in human rights work.
•    At Kolot Chayeinu, Brooklyn, NY, RHR-Israel Executive Director Rabbi Arik Ascherman spoke. The UDHR was used as part of morning services, along with other readings.
•    Congregation B'nai Tikvah, Sewell, NJ, held a human rights study session.
•    Temple Beth Emeth, Ann Arbor, MI, heard a sermon from Rabbi Robert Levy on human rights, and members of the congregation prepared educational materials for distribution.
•    At Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, Bethesda, MD, Rabbi Fred Dobb spoke about the UDHR in his sermon.
•    Temple Hillel B’nai Torah, West Roxbury, MA, held a special human rights Shabbat service.
•    Beth Israel Congregation, Ann Arbor, MI, held a special seudah shlishi and discussion in honor of Human Rights Shabbat.
•    At Temple Sholom, River Edge, NJ, Rabbi Joy Kurland, Director of the local Jewish Community Relations Council, spoke during Friday night services.

Complete list of participating congregations (as of 12/17/08)
Beth Emunah Synagogue, Agoura Hills, CA
Beyt Tikkun, Berkeley, CA
Congregation B'nai Tzedek, Fountain Valley, CA
University Synagogue, Irvine, CA
Congregation Shir Chadash, Lakewood, CA
Congregation B'nai Horin- Children of Freedom, Los Angeles, CA
IKAR, Los Angeles, CA
Mendocino Coast Jewish Community, Caspar, CA
Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, Pasadena, CA
Kehilla Community Synagogue, Piedmont/Oakland, CA
Congregation Dor Hadash, San Diego, CA
B'nai Havurah, Denver, CO
Congregation Beth Evergreen, Evergreen, CO
Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek, Chester, CT
Temple Beth El, Stamford, CT
Congregation Or Hadash, Atlanta, GA
Temple Beth Tikvah, Roswell, GA
Congregation Or Chadash, Chicago, IL 
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston, IL
Congregation Shir Chadash of Metairie, LA
Amherst College Hillel, Amherst, MA
Temple Shir Tikva, Wayland, MA
Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, West Newton, MA
Temple Hillel B’nai Torah, West Roxbury, MA
Congregation Beit Tikvah, Baltimore, MD
Columbia Jewish Congregation, Columbia, MD
Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, Bethesda, MD
Shirat HaNefesh, Silver Spring, MD
Beth Israel Congregation, Ann Arbor, MI
Temple Beth Emeth, Ann Arbor, MI
Congregation Bnai Amoona, Creve Coeur, MO
Congregation Shaare Emeth, St. Louis, MO
Congregation M'kor Shalom, Cherry Hill, NJ
Temple B’nai Shalom, East Brunswick, NJ
Reconstructionist Temple Beth Israel, Maywood, NJ
Temple Sholom, River Edge, NJ
Congregation B'nai Tikvah, Sewell, NJ
Shomrei Torah, Wayne, NJ
Temple Concord, Binghamton, NY
Kolot Chayeinu, Brooklyn, NY
Progressive Temple Beth Ahavath Sholom, Brooklyn, NY
Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, Chappaqua, NY
Temple Sholom, Floral Park, NY
Congregation Tikkun v'Or, Ithaca, NY
Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, New York, NY
Kehilat Romemu, New York, NY
Kirtan Rabbi, New York, NY
The Society for the Advancement of Judaism, New York, NY
West End Synagogue, New York, NY
The Community Synagogue, Port Washington, NY
Woodlands Community Temple, White Plains, NY
Northern Hills Synagogue-Congregation B'nai Avraham, Cincinnati, OH
Anshe Chesed Fairmont Temple, Cleveland, OH (January)
Kol HaLev, Cleveland, OH
Beit Am Jewish Community, Corvalis, OR
Temple Beth Israel, Eugene, OR
Beit Haverim/South Metro Jewish Congregation, West Linn, OR
Or Hadash, Fort Washington, PA
Martins Run Life Care Community, Media, PA
Germantown Jewish Centre, Philadelphia, PA
Mishkan Shalom, Philadelphia PA
Kol HaLev, Houston, TX
Congregation Beth El, Bennington, VT
Ohavi Zedek, Burlington, VT
Congregation Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun, Milwaukee, WI