Commentary

[Some passages below are from Rabbi Arthur Waskow's book Godwrestling (Schocken, 1978) and were incorporated in Godwrestling -- Round 2 (Jewish Lights, 1995), along with other thoughts on the Song of Songs. This book can be ordered from The Shalom Center. Send a check for $12.95 per copy plus $3.50 postage per package to -- The Shalom Center, 6711 Lincoln Drive, Philadelphia PA 19119.]

According to tradition, during Passover every year there is a special reading of the Song of Songs—just as the Book of Esther is read for Purim and the Book of Ruth for Shavuot. So in the spring of 1973 the women and men of a Washington havurah, Fabrangen, gathered in the house of one member family to sit in a circle on the floor, munch fruit and matzah, and for the first time fulfill the mitzvah of reading the Song of Songs together. …

Rabbis Berman & Waskow; National Organizer Lenchner, 8/25/2004

Rabbi Phyllis Berman and Rabbi Arthur Waskow have been leading prayer services and teaching in both mulltireligious gatherings (e.g. conferences called by Jobs with Justice, the Religiou

12/3/2003

Dear friends,

Please read the following report from Gila Swirsky, a strong veteran member of the Israeli left, creative co-worker with Israeli and Palestinian women, co-founder of Bat Shalom and Jerusalem Link, on the Geneva Initiative.

Gush Shalom (Uri Avneri) has also welcomed "Geneva" without endorsing all its provisions.

And dozens of former presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers of many countries have approved it, including Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter.

Once again, The Shalom Center urges as strongly as possible that all progressive groups strongly consider supporting Geneva, even if they disagree with some of its parts — and even if some end up unable to simply endorse Geneva, that they join in encouraging it asnd insisting it be put on the official table by the US government.

There can be no better tactic for organizing widespread opposition to the Occupation, by Americans as well as Israelis. And this approach also helps in opposing the Bush Administration as it tries to consolidate support behind efforts for a new global empire. Making Geneva a sharp political issue in the US will force Bush either to abandon Sharon and infuriate his Christian Right supporters, or alienate sensible mainstream Americans who are opposed to the Occupation.

Geneva is totally unlike Oslo in that it defines with total precision what the goal is. Oslo refused. And it provides for enforcement of the steps (such as removing settlements) which Oslo also failed to do.

What follows is from Gila Swirsky.

Shalom, Arthur

Rabbi Arthur Waskow, 4/3/2003
Where is God in the desert of Iraq?

Our God is YHWH, the One Who Breathes.
The Holy Wind that Breathes all life,
Who breathes all peoples and all life-forms.

The Holy Wind is breathing in the desert.

Our Torah