Joy is Central
We Pray for Peace in Jerusalem
Posted May 13, 2021
My heart is in the East and I am at the end of the West.” These words of the 12th Century poet Rabbi Yehuda Halevi capture the feeling of distance and despair I feel in this moment of devastating violence in Israel this week.
Read moreReflections from Shani Ben Or Regarding The Outbreak of Violence in Israel
Posted May 13, 2021
Every week, I lead a women’s circle of Palestinian and Jewish students at Hebrew University, where we come together to explore the unique dimensions of our identities as women.
Read moreAn Important Message from Central Synagogue
Posted April 27, 2021
We are writing to you today as your Senior Rabbi, Executive Director, and congregational President from a place of communal sadness, anger, shame, and Teshuvah.
Read moreComing Together in Mourning and In Resolve
Posted March 22, 2021
On Tuesday, March 16th eight people were murdered by a gunman in Atlanta. This brutal and horrific attack stands out as one among many, growing instances of violence targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) over the last year. And, as Central member Qian Julie Wang wrote in a recent New York Times op-ed, “though Anti-Asian sentiment has increased during the pandemic, it is woven into the very fabric of this country”. Read more
Advocate with Central to Fight Hunger in NYC
Posted February 23, 2021
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to drag on and the size of the food insecure population continues to grow from 1.2 million New Yorkers to 1.6 million New Yorkers, we must immediately do more to help those in desperate need of help to meet basic nutrition needs. Join with emergency food providers across the city and Central members to ask Mayor DeBlasio for additional fund to ensure all New Yorkers have access to food. Read more
#LessIsMoreNYC: Community Supervision Revocation Reform Act
Posted July 20, 2020
There are approximately 35,000 people under active parole supervision in New York State who at almost any time can see their efforts to successfully rejoin the workforce and reintegrate into their families and their communities disrupted by reincarceration for a technical violation. This not only harms individual lives and families without commensurate public safety gains, but also drives up the population in the state prisons and local jails, wasting taxpayer money. The Less is More: Community Supervision Revocation Reform Act would fix this problem. Read more
Action Items You Can Take in Response to Recent Protests
Posted June 7, 2020
This letter was sent to the congregation on Thursday, June 4, 2020
As Rabbi Buchdahl so beautifully said, "The work of fighting racism cannot be left only to the Black community, just as we know that antisemitism cannot be fought only by Jews. As we look at these recent turbulent days, we have to separate the violence and looting from the call for change echoing across the country. We must hear the groundswell of voices and listen to the pain and protest emanating from every corner of our beloved nation."
Our Central community is committed to fighting racism in America and helping to make our city, state, and country more just and equitable for every person. We are stronger when we learn and work together.
Below, please find just a few ways we can take action, advocate, and learn together... Read More
Central in Action: Here’s What We’ve Been Up To
Posted April 20, 2020
The past few weeks have been overwhelming for all of us. In this time of anxiety and uncertainty, many of us have found great comfort in our virtual Central community. We write to you now to share the continuing work of Central in Action and to let you know that our efforts are more important than ever in the face of this unprecedented crisis. Below are some updates on our social justice initiatives and opportunities for you to engage in some of our work. Read more
Continuing the Work in Criminal Justice Reform During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Posted March 25, 2020
Central sees our work in criminal justice reform as part of our commitment to ending the tools of systemic racism in our country. We have continued to engage in advocacy work on this issue during the pandemic. Read more
Central and Other NY Faith Leaders Turn on the TAP
Posted March 5, 2020
Central Synagogue has added its name to a growing list of NY faith leaders who want to Turn on the TAP. Central is part of a coalition to restore the public Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to men and women who are incarcerated in New York State.
The Turn on the TAP campaign supports a bill that would grant thousands of men and women access to higher education. College-in-prison programs have proven to ease returning citizens’ reentry into society and increase safety within prisons. Read the letter that will be delivered in person to legislators onTurn on the TAP Advocacy Day in Albany on March 17.
Read more
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