San Diego Jewish World | By Donald H. Harrison | August 11, 2020
SAN DIEGO — We reported on Monday that Hillel International had announced a new nationwide initiative to combat antisemitism. Today, we’ve learned that StandWithUs, which has an active chapter in San Diego, has launched a new division called “Rabbis United.”
Jerry Rothstein , a co-founder of StandWithUs and the organization’s COO, commented: “We developed Rabbis United to offer resources to Jewish communities around the world that will help to unify us as a diverse people. The response from rabbis from the full variety of denominations has been extremely exciting.”
Rabbi Yonah Bookstein , co-founder of the Pico Shul in Los Angeles and director at Shabbat Tent and Camp Neshama, commented: ““Rabbis United brings together Jewish community leaders to share ideas about how to approach sensitive subjects that are, unfortunately, dividing communities. Greater unity is vital for Israel, for confronting rising antisemitism, helping those impacted by the pandemic, and building bridges with allies.”
Rabbi Cantor Alison Wissot of Temple Judea in Tarzana, Californa, commented: ““I am so grateful that StandWithUs continues to find new ways to inspire and teach communities around the world about Israel and to fight rising antisemitism. The dream of greater unity is always such a worthy goal.”
Rabbis United will be directed by Evey Rosenbloom , who also heads StandWithUs’s community outreach. “As part of the launch we created a video to express the importance of unity, despite our differences,” she said. “It features rabbis from all denominations and spiritual community leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America celebrating their connection to Judaism.” The video was produced in cooperation with Kulanu, the organization that supports isolated, emerging and returning Jewish communities globally.
Rabbis United will provide rabbis and Jewish community leaders with the following:
A multimedia library of educational materials, programs, speakers, and virtual tours to strengthen their communities’ connection to Israel
· Access to free legal assistance related to incidents of antisemitism or anti-Israel bullying
· Safety and security information and resources
· Innovative Israel-related project ideas for b’nai mitzvah students
· Fundraising and sermon ideas
Read the full article here .
