Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection, as we make our way toward Shabbat. You can also listen to it as a podcast.

We are in the lowest moment in the Jewish year, but, maybe also in this year, too. In the middle of the heat of the summer (in the northern hemisphere), in what feels like a draining of the life force, we commemorate destruction. On the ninth of Av which begins tomorrow night, we recall the devastation of the first and second Temple, by the Babylonians and then hundreds of years later by the Romans. In both instances, it felt like all was lost including the community of people involved. The Jewish people fought against forces not only from the outside but also from the inside. Pessimism and despair were rampant then as it is now.

We cannot look away from the starvation happening in Gaza. We are at a low point. I share with you this statement from the leadership of the Reform movement:

***

Reform Movement Statement on Starvation in Gaza

July 27, 2025

The ongoing crisis in Gaza is a devastating reminder of the immense human cost of war. Nearly two years into Israel’s war against Hamas, Israelis are still waiting for the return of their loved ones held hostage, and innocent Palestinians are caught in a mounting humanitarian catastrophe. Hamas has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to sacrifice the Palestinian people in its pursuit of Israel’s destruction, but Israel must not sacrifice its own moral standing in return. Neither escalating military pressure nor restricting humanitarian aid has brought Israel closer to securing a hostage deal or ending the war.

While long-delayed and not-yet-certain to be more effective than previous efforts, we are encouraged by Saturday night’s announcement that the Israeli military would revive the practice of dropping aid from airplanes and make it easier for aid convoys, including those from the UN’s World Food Program, to move through Gaza along “designated humanitarian corridors,” and to temporarily cease fighting in Gaza for a humanitarian pause.

No one should be unaffected by the pervasive hunger experienced by thousands of Gazans. No one should spend the bulk of their time arguing technical definitions between starvation and pervasive hunger. The situation is dire, and it is deadly. Nor should we accept arguments that because Hamas is the primary reason many Gazans are either starving or on the verge of starving, that the Jewish State is not also culpable in this human disaster. The primary moral response must begin with anguished hearts in the face of such a large-scale human tragedy.

Our tradition teaches that all people are created b’tzelem Elohim — in the image of God. One consequence of this is the moral priority, which is affirmed throughout the Bible and rabbinic tradition, of feeding the hungry — both for the individual and for the self-governing Jewish community.

More than a few members of the current Israeli government have publicly called for Israel to decimate the Gaza strip. The most recent was Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu who, on Thursday lauded the Israeli government for “racing ahead for Gaza to be wiped out.” He added: “Thank God, we are wiping out this evil.” Of equal concern are far — right Israeli politicians who advocate for Israel to permanently push most Gazans from much of Gaza and replace them with Jewish settlements. We condemn all such statements. They do not represent Jewish values nor those embodied in the Zionist vision that produced Israel’s Declaration of Independence.

Despite PM Netanyahu’s calls to ignore these full members of his cabinet, their presence in this government has consistently morally compromised Israel’s actions.

Starving Gazan civilians neither will bring Israel the “total victory” over Hamas it seeks, nor can it be justified by Jewish values or humanitarian law. It’s hard to imagine that this tragic approach will bring home the 50 remaining hostages, including the 20 whom we pray are still alive.

It’s imperative that the Government of Israel ensures that the recently announced plans to deliver humanitarian aid succeed as Israel works with international partners to ensure its safe and sustained delivery and do whatever possible to reduce or eliminate the shootings and other injuries sustained at food distribution centers. We applaud Israel’s green light for foreign nations to resume providing humanitarian aid to the Gaza population desperate for food and are confident that they will do all they can to ensure that such aid does not fall into the hands of Hamas…

…Finally, while it is imperative that Israel and the U.S. resume diplomacy to bring home all hostages and end this war, denying basic humanitarian aid crosses a moral line. Blocking food, water, medicine, and power — especially for children — is indefensible. Let us not allow our grief to harden into indifference, nor our love for Israel to blind us to the cries of the vulnerable. Let us rise to the moral challenge of this moment.

Union for Reform Judaism
Central Conference of American Rabbis
American Conference of Cantors

Read the full text of the statement.

***

The Biblical book of Lamentations we read at Tisha B’Av begins with the Hebrew word how — eicha אֵיכָ֣ה. It describes how Jerusalem sat empty of her people carried into exile, void of moral clarity and justice. Yet, eicha  אֵיכָ֣ה, how, is also a question. How shall we go on? How can we rise together as a Jewish community, despite our differences, to ensure a future for us all? How can, as our leaders have implored,  “we not allow our grief to harden into indifference, nor our love for Israel to blind us to the cries of the vulnerable?”

Our voices matter. We raise them together.

Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and impressions. Share with me what you think. Your email goes directly to me!

Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום

Rabbi Elaine Zecher

The post “How,” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings appeared first on Temple Israel of Boston.

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection, as we make our way toward Shabbat. You can listen to it as a podcast here.

This week, I offer this poem by Mary Oliver as I make my way toward my daughter’s wedding on Saturday night with great excitement and my strong desire to be mindful.

Mindful

Every day
I see or hear
something
that more or less

kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle

in the haystack
of light.
It was what I was born for —
to look, to listen,

to lose myself
inside this soft world —
to instruct myself
over and over

in joy,
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful,
the very extravagant —
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help

but grow wise
with such teachings
as these —
the untrimmable light

of the world,
the ocean’s shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?

— Mary Oliver
(“Why I Wake Early”)

Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום

I welcome your reflections and responses, Connect with me with comments and reflections here.

Rabbi Elaine Zecher

The post “On My Way to a Wedding,” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings appeared first on Temple Israel of Boston.

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection, as we make our way toward Shabbat. You can listen to it as a podcast here.

“Where is Superman?” This question often animates a scene of people in distress in a movie. Imagine a world where out of nowhere, a man of steel saves the day, even if it means rescuing a kitten? But Superman did not start in his cape and tights, his origin story is a familiar one. It mirrors what happened to Moses from the Torah.

A baby, in danger in a world that will collapse, was placed in a vessel. His parents don’t know if he will survive or where he will end up. He is discovered and adopted, allowed to grow in the open field of opportunity in the palace. Protected until he is grown, he soon learned that he has a gift that he can hear the voice of God and takes on the role of rescuing and redemption. There will be opposing forces that will challenge him, but he will have to garner his strength.

Was Superman Moses? Was Moses Superman?

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, children of immigrants who grew up in Ohio, had a front row seat to the idea of coming from the outside to find a new home and perhaps to start anew. Were they Torah scholars? I don’t think so. Might they have known the story of Moses even from a Passover seder? Probably. Their creativity perhaps informed by their Jewish knowledge birthed Superman. It is an important story to inform how to see the world.

Isn’t this also the immigrant story for many of our ancestors and many today? They faced a world of danger. They left behind a world they knew to find a new world who they hoped would adopt them. They did not forget their past but looked to the future and what they might be able to bring of their own talents and abilities to contribute. The Superman tale is a way to elevate the immigrant experience rather than to denigrate it.

The most recent Superman story shows a dark side through the ill regard of those in power for someone like Superman. With no spoiler alerts necessary, our superhero is regarded as an “it, not a man.” He must declare that he is a human who laughs, cries, and despairs.” The message of the movie is how our actions make us who we are. But you already knew that.

Those who come into America deserve to be included, to be treated with respect, and not to be rounded up as if they are an “it” rather than a human being. We may not be made of steel, yet we do have our own individual superpowers that can bring out the best of us in the way we regard one another. To me, that is “truth, justice, and the American Way.”

Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום

I welcome your reflections and responses, Connect with me with comments and reflections here.

Rabbi Elaine Zecher

The post “Superman Is Our Story,” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings appeared first on Temple Israel of Boston.

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection, as we make our way toward Shabbat. You can listen to it as a podcast here.

The King of Moab, Balak, was deeply disturbed. He convinced himself that the Israelites threatened his very existence since they encamped at his border. His own insecurity and self induced dread caused him to descend into moral depravity. From a distance, without any attempt to understand the situation of the Israelites on their way toward the land of great promise, Balak immediately jumped to prejudicial conclusions that these people were no good and only wanted to take advantage of his own territory, fearing they would lick it clean like animals and cover it from view. (Numbers 22: 4-5) He wanted to weaken them and to reduce their integrity and humanity, so he called for the well-known prophet, Balaam, to curse the Israelites.

It didn’t work. It never does. As this week’s Torah portion details, (Numbers 22:2ff) Balaam ended up blessing the Israelites despite the consternation of the leader of the Moabites. As much as the King tried to use others to further his agenda of xenophobia, prejudice, and humiliation of the Israelites, Balaam ended up blessing the Israelite people. Balak thought he had the power to damn the people for whom he dreaded. He assumed that as King he had the most control. As the story unfolded, the will of a nefarious leader was no match for the Divine.

The presence of God in this story ensured that the potential for curse ended up in blessing. The Divine is an active player in the drama as God instructed the willing prophet throughout the narrative in full view to the reader of the story. And yet, I wonder if the sacred is unseen as well.

This portion contains an important declaration by Balaam as he gazes from on high at the Israelites encamped below. He says, “How wonderful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel.” (24:5) That moment transformed the Israelites from a dreaded and numerous collective to a collection of individual souls made in the image of the God and therefore precious in their humanity. This is where the sacred lies. Every person amidst the people mattered and was seen. What the King of Moab tried to do was to ignore that these were people who reflected a part of the divine. Instead, the king saw only himself. His egotistical needs clouded his ability to see anyone or anything else.

Every country deserves to defend its borders. How that happens and who decides depends on the moral integrity of the leaders. They need to be held accountable for decent and ethical behavior. We must expect them not to seek the best interests of their egotistical desires and wishes. We are active participants to ensure that curse turns into blessing as the ancient borders become our own wherever we live.

Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום

I welcome your reflections and responses, Connect with me with comments and reflections here.

Rabbi Elaine Zecher

The post “Disturbed,” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings appeared first on Temple Israel of Boston.

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection, as we make our way toward Shabbat. You can listen to it as a podcast here.

This week in honor of July 4^th, I bring back a piece I wrote that lifts up the words of Frederick Douglass for inspiration.

First, we look at the Preamble to the Constitution:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, [sic] promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Such are the foundational ideas that began this country. As we celebrate our independence on this day, it is a worthy endeavor to consider their meaning, but not in a vacuum and certainly not without the consideration of the world in which they lived and the one we do now. One particular phrase stands out like a flashing light of caution: “…secure the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…” They lived in a world where some received the blessing of liberty but many certainly did not. Therefore, in order to consider the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States, it is necessary to contemplate another document written sixty five years after the ratification of the Constitution but before the addition of the 13^th Amendment that abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except for those imprisoned through the conviction of a crime.

Frederick Douglass, the former slave, abolitionist, prolific writer, and defender of civil rights, delivered a speech given at Rochester, New York, July 5, 1852 entitled, “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro.“

I am grateful to our member, Joe Bower, who drew my attention to this particular speech.

Douglass lifted up the courage that the founding fathers asserted.

They were peace men; but they preferred revolution to peaceful submission to bondage. They were quiet men; but they did not shrink from agitating against oppression. They showed forbearance; but that they knew its limits. They believed in order; but not in the order of tyranny. With them, nothing was “settled” that was not right. With them, justice, liberty and humanity were “final”; not slavery and oppression. You may well cherish the memory of such men. They were great in their day and generation…

With eloquent and poignant prose, Douglass wove an argument for the abolition of slavery juxtaposed against the backdrop for the reason for the Fourth of July.

What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to Him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy — a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages…

He implored his listeners to abhor the slave trade, the flesh mongers, and the outright inhumanity that filled the streets. How could it be possible for the institution of slavery to blatantly contradict the Constitution?

In that instrument I hold there is neither warrant, license, nor sanction of the hateful thing; but interpreted, as it ought to be interpreted, the Constitution is a glorious liberty document. Read its preamble, consider its purposes. Is slavery among them? Is it at the gate way? or is it in the temple? it is neither…

Frederick Douglass concluded with hope that the meaning of the Preamble and all that followed it would pave the way for true blessings of liberty and our posterity. He believed true freedom must emerge out of the founding documents.

As we enter Shabbat to imagine a more perfect existence, we recall the promise of a vision of a more perfect union presented by our forebears. They bequeathed to us an ideal that every person regardless of skin color, socio-economic status, place of birth, gender or sexual identity or religious association must receive those blessings equally. We are far from there and we need to persevere to get there. It is the ultimate promised land.

Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום

I welcome your reflections and responses, Connect with me with comments and reflections here.

Rabbi Elaine Zecher

The post “Frederick Douglass and Today,” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings appeared first on Temple Israel of Boston.

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection, as we make our way toward Shabbat. You can listen to it as a podcast here.

This week’s portion is named after someone who challenged Moses’ leadership and authority. It wasn’t someone from the outside who tried to curse the Israelites. That was Balak, a king whom we will meet in a few portions who hired the prophet, Bilaam, to damn the Israelites. It is a great story but we aren’t there yet. It is also not Moses’ father-in-law, a Midianite priest named Jethro, who advised Moses with wisdom and insight about leadership. He also has a Torah portion named after him.

This portion is named after a member of Moses’ own family, a cousin descendant of Levi. Their fathers were brothers.

Korah was his name and his frustration with Moses exploded in this Torah portion.

Now Korah, son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, took for himself וַיִּקַּ֣ח קֹ֔רַח בֶּן־יִצְהָ֥ר בֶּן־קְהָ֖ת בֶּן־לֵוִ֑י

They combined against Moses and Aaron and said to them, וַיִּֽקָּהֲל֞וּ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵהֶם֮

“You have gone too far! For all the community are holy, רַב־לָכֶם֒ כִּ֤י כָ֖ל־הָֽעֵדָה֙ כֻּלָּ֣ם קְדֹשִׁ֔ים

all of them, and GOD is in their midst. וּבְתוֹכָ֖ם יְהֹוָ֑ה

Why then do you raise yourselves above GOD’s congregation?” וּמַדּ֥וּעַ תִּֽתְנַשְּׂא֖וּ עַל־קְהַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה׃

(Numbers 16: 2-3)

On the surface, it appeared that Korah witnessed with dismay and disappointment that Moses consolidated power by assigning the priesthood to his brother, Aaron.

Korah challenged that authority by recognizing that “the tribes would have been united by a far closer bond if all alike had possessed the right of the priesthood.” (Baruch Spinoza). In his eyes, holiness should not be retained by one lineage.

On the surface, it did not end well for Korah and those who joined in the revolt against Moses. The earth swallowed them.

There is more to the plain meaning of the text here. Korah disputed Moses and as a result paid the ultimate price. But we do not read the text only in one context. We bring our own world view, one that values resistance and challenge.

Korah posed an important question to Moses, “Why do you raise yourself above the people?” Don’t we all have access to divine holiness?

Korah deserves a second look and a different perspective.

When a leader attempts to appropriate power without regard, that is the most dangerous.

Korah is not lost to history even if the earth swallowed him. Those who created the sections of the Torah which designated the name of the portion by how it begins sent us a message about the power of Korah. The voice of dissent matters. Then, and today.

I welcome your reflections and responses, Connect with me with comments and reflections here.

Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום

Rabbi Elaine Zecher

The post “Power From the People,” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings appeared first on Temple Israel of Boston.

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection, as we make our way toward Shabbat. You can also listen to it as a podcast.

In this time of terror and war, I share with you an important statement offered by the collective voice of the Jewish Leaders of Major Jewish organizations. These organizations represent many perspectives and opinions, yet in this moment, they show strength by joining together printed below.

I have been pondering the metaphor of a polluted river where the focus has been to try cleaning it up downstream by getting rid of the toxic debris. Yet, it is much more necessary to go upstream and confront that which is causing the deadly rubbish. For too long, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis have served as the proxy, the toxic terrorism of Iran. They have poisoned the allegorical rivers in which they have occupied. Israel made the crucial decision to go upstream and seek to debilitate the cause and the very real threat of unbound nuclear proliferation.

The situation is precarious. War and escalation confront safety and security. Fear abounds. In this week’s Torah portion, those designated to scout out the land of Canaan before the Israelites would enter, returned to report that the situation was dire. The people in the land seemed like giants and they, incapacitated by their dread, felt as small as grasshoppers. Two of the leaders, Caleb and Joshua experienced the reconnaissance effort differently and they urged the people. “Do not fear!”

How is it possible to instruct a feeling, especially when it has to do with what feels like a power or situation greater than oneself? Their fear was real. Yet, their interpretation of the circumstances differed from their leaders. The instruction of not to fear cannot stand alone.

Caleb and Joshua did not urge the people not to fear at first. Their response was an intention of encouragement about the attitude their fellow Israelites might consider. They invoked the idea by their choice of language that they could elevate themselves by lifting themselves up-alah עָלֹ֤ה נַעֲלֶה֙ and being able to do it-yachol– יָָכ֥וֹל נוּכַ֖ל

וַיַּ֧הַס כָּלֵ֛ב אֶת־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר עָלֹ֤ה נַעֲלֶה֙ … כִּֽי־ יָכ֥וֹל נוּכַ֖ל לָֽהּ׃
Caleb hushed the people before Moses and said, “Let us by all means go up…for we shall surely
overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30)

After more complaining by the Israelites, Caleb and Joshua then offered this exhortation:
אַל־תִּֽירְאוּ֙
Have no fear then of the people of the country
(Numbers 14:9)

Did their words dilute their fear and dread? It took God’s intervention, but I would argue that fear can be soothed with reassuring words.

What this document offers is a combined voice of Jewish leaders who often disagree, but, here their intention is to elevate and raise us up in our reaction. I hope you will read it and share it.

Our concern grows for the safety and peace in the Middle East, especially for Israel. We must lift
and hold one another up.

Joint Unity Statement by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations supporting Israel’s Defensive Actions Against the Iranian Nuclear and Regional Threat
June 18, 2025

New York, NY—The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and its member organizations—representing the broad mainstream of American Jewry—stand united in support of Israel’s defensive actions against Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure.
Iran’s ongoing violations of international agreements, rapid progress toward weaponizing nuclear capabilities, expansion of its ballistic missile arsenal, and deployment of terror proxies pose an existential threat to Israel and a grave danger to regional and global stability. These actions come in response to an unrelenting campaign of attacks backed and directed by the Iranian regime, including Iran’s direct sponsorship of the October 7 massacre—carried out by Hamas—and its continued aggression through the so-called “3-H” axis: Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. These coordinated assaults sustain a state of continual warfare against the Jewish state and threaten peace and stability across the Middle East and beyond.

The Iranian regime wages war against its own people—brutally repressing dissent, persecuting women and minorities, silencing opposition, and pouring resources into terror while neglecting the basic needs of its own citizens.

The Islamic Republic’s response—launching hundreds of missiles and drones at civilian targets in an unprecedented cross-border assault—underscores the severity of the threat and the urgency of strong, sustained international resolve.

We are deeply grateful to the United States government for its immediate and essential role in supporting Israel’s defense, including through joint missile interception and strategic coordination. We also commend the bipartisan support from Congress during this critical time. The actions taken by President Donald J. Trump and his administration during this crisis helps protect civilian lives, bolster deterrence, and reinforce Israel’s ability to confront one of the most serious threats it has ever faced. This partnership reflects not only a vital alliance between democracies but also a shared commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation and defending global security.

The stakes could not be higher. The world must not allow the most dangerous weapons to fall into the hands of this treacherous regime. The international community must hold Iran accountable for its continued defiance, aggression, incitement of antisemitism, fostering of global terrorism, and its declared intent to wipe Israel off the map. Iran’s actions also threaten American lives, American allies, and American national security. A regime that arms proxies from Gaza to Yemen cannot be trusted with the world’s most dangerous weapons.

The Conference of Presidents and the undersigned organizations reaffirm our solidarity with Israel. We support its right to self-defense, its long-term security, and the pursuit of peace and stability in the region.

Signed,
The undersigned member organizations of the
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
Alpha Epsilon Pi
American Friends of Likud
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Congress
American Sephardi Federation
American Zionist Movement
AMIT
Anti-Defamation League
Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA)
B’nai B’rith International
BZ Media
CAMERA
Emunah of America
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America
Hillel International
Iranian American Jewish Federation
Israeli-American Council
JCC Association of North America
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Federations of North America
Jewish Institute for the National Security of America
Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish National Fund – USA
Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Jewish Women International
Mercaz USA, Zionist Organization of the Conservative Movement
NA’AMAT USA
National Council of Young Israel
NCSEJ – National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry
ORT America, Inc.
Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbinical Council of America
Religious Zionists of America
UJA-Federation of New York
Union for Reform Judaism
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
WIZO
Women of Reform Judaism
Women’s League for Conservative Judaism
World Zionist Organization Executive – North America
Zionist Organization of America

Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום

Connect with me with comments and reflections here.

Rabbi Elaine Zecher

The post “In a Time of Terror and War: Our Voice is Stronger Together” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings appeared first on Temple Israel of Boston.

Recently, TI members have participated in training in community organizing and listened and shared with fellow congregants following Friday night services, and the TI GBIO core team has worshipped with our friends at Saint Katharine Drexel Church at their home in Dorchester and here at TI. Our activities, including more training offered on June 16, 17, and 18 via zoom in the evening and a potluck dinner on July 24,  will continue over the summer as we prepare to go into action later this year. As someone in the Temple Israel orbit, you are a member of GBIO. Join us as we work locally for justice with thousands across Greater Boston.

To learn more, contact Tali Puterman or Anne Licciardello.

GBIO: 25 years of impact!

HOUSING
2002 MA Affordable Housing Trust Fund created
2016 Community Preservation Act (CPA) passed in Boston, a new source of housing funds
2017 $3.8M of CPA funds allocated to support 1st time home buyers
2020 COVID Eviction Moratorium; $20M for Emergency Rental & Mortgage Assistance
2021 $50M for Mildred C. Haley public housing in Boston
2024 $2.2B in bonds over 5 years approved for public housing capital improvements in MA

HEALTHCARE
2006 MA Ch. 58: An Act Providing Access to Affordable, Quality, Accountable Health Care; landmark reform in MA and model for the US Affordable Care Act

2012 MA Ch. 224: Landmark Health Care Cost Containment

2018 Consumer Cost Protection Agreement saved $1B for MA consumers

2019 MA 749 Pharmaceutical Access, Cost and Transparency Act saved $100M
by allowing MA to negotiate drug pricing and cap insulin co-pays in MassHealth

2021 MA Ch. 260: An Act Promoting a Resilient Health Care System that Puts Patients First prevents surprise out-of-network billing and guarantees telehealth access (important for behavioral health care)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
2016 Drivers License Reinstatement for returning citizens

2018 Ch. 69: An Act Relative to Criminal Justice Reform provided solitary confinement and bail reforms, repealed mandatory minimums, and reduced post-release fees and fines

2020 Ch. 253: An Act Relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement

2022 Boston Office of Returning Citizens

EDUCATION
2002 $2M for Boston Public Schools textbooks

2011–2018 $72M to Roxbury Dearborn School, transforming it from a “failing school” to new 6–12 STEM school

2021 Boston Public Schools commit to staffing at least 1 social worker per school

GUN SAFETY
2014 Ch. 284: An Act Relative to the Reduction of Gun Violence

2015 ‘Do Not Stand Idly By’ Campaign informed President Obama’s ‘Smart Gun’ initiative

ECONOMIC JUSTICE
2005–2015 Debts to Assets, multi-language financial literacy program – 996 graduates over 10 years

GBIO builds power for the common good.

GBIO’s mission is to make Greater Boston a better place to live, work, and raise a family. 

Our mission is to build power by developing local leaders so we can act together on issues that matter to our communities. 

Upcoming ways to get involved include:

• Potluck with other GBIO members on July 24

• Trainings on organizing power offered three times in June: 16, 17 and 18, 7-9 pm via zoom; August dates TBD

• Listening campaign in the Fall of 2025

The post GBIO: Building Power for Justice by Reaching Across  appeared first on Temple Israel of Boston.

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection, as we make our way toward Shabbat. You can listen to it as a podcast here.

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection as we enter Shabbat.  This week I share with you my words from our Annual Gathering held on Thursday night, June 12, 2025.  There is much instability in the world and in particular, Israel’s pre-emptive strike on nuclear targets in Iran puts us on the precipice of escalation but also, perhaps security.  Nevertheless, turning to our learning has the potential to ground us.  Last night, we celebrated the strength and light that permeates our community.  It’s a worthy focus in these trying times.

This evening we begin, as we do, with the Torah portion connected to this Shabbat called B’ha’alotecha.  The book of Numbers speaks of the finishing touches of the Mishkan.  One important act is how to ensure that the menorah, the seven-branch candelabra that connects heaven and earth is properly illuminated.  Most often when we go to light a candle, we use the Hebrew, lehadlik ner, to kindle a candle, but here, the instruction differs.  The Hebrew reveals a higher purpose with the use of the word Alah as in Aliyah, as in to ascend. It is the name of the portion, B’ha’alotecha.  We don’t need to be too scientific to know that flames rise but why use it instead of to kindle or just to light.  

Here is the text with the infused meaning of instruction:

 Numbers 1:2
GOD spoke to Moses, saying: 

 וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ 

Speak to Aaron and say to him,

 דַּבֵּר֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֵלָ֑יו

“When you cause the light of the lamps to ascend,

                                                              בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹ֔ת

let the seven lamps provide illumination 

at the front of the lampstand.”

 אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת הַנֵּרֽוֹת׃ 

For the ancients, the very act of bringing light into their sacred space elevated them all.  To recognize the power of the light illuminating what is above and what is within them brought them closer to the significance of the moment and to the divine.

We, too, symbolically raise ourselves up this evening to bask in the glow of how much light enhances our experience of belonging and contributing of ourselves to this community.  There are spiritual places within our community that may be dimmed by loss, sadness, and illness.  We know there are spaces that need more light. From where we stand, the radiance of your faces is like seeing divine light shining from and on each of you.  As many commentators and the midrash have noted, God doesn’t need light, the illumination is upon us.

Our sacred work, all of us, is to ensure that the rays of light shine everywhere through our values, our moral standards, and our commitment to a vital and gleaming experience of living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.  Sparks of light are everywhere, thanks to you and all of the synagogue, throughout the building and all the souls who inhabit and give it life.

Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום

Connect with me with comments and reflections here.

Rabbi Elaine Zecher

The post “Lift Up the Light,” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings appeared first on Temple Israel of Boston.

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection, as we make our way toward Shabbat.

We need some good news. The Reform votes cast in the World Zionist elections have shown a resounding victory for the Reform movement in Israel. Through the work of our congregation, we helped to contribute to this victory. This happened because of the important and devoted work and willingness of our community. It is a hopeful day.

Here is what we know from Rabbi Josh Weinberg:

Vote Reform won a commanding victory! Our slate received more votes than any of the 22 slates by a wide margin. We got the largest number of votes in the history of the WZC — and we did so by running a fair, honorable campaign and holding up our Reform Jewish values.

We are the largest U.S. voice at the World Zionist Congress. This is a victory for the democratic ideals and Reform Jewish values that we share. This will mean that we will fight for pluralism and democracy; and secure significant funding for Reform causes. Our community showed up and it made a powerful difference…This outcome shows that when we organize and act, our movement leads.

In this time of vulnerability, of increased antisemitism, our victory is an expression of our unwavering commitment to Israel.  We will use our strong showing to continue to push for the release of the hostages and the security of Israel as a Jewish and democratic State.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs emphasized that in a moment of global uncertainty and rising antisemitism, our community stepped forward with clarity and courage to say:

We will lead, we will protect democracy, and we will build a more just and inclusive future for Jews everywhere.

The 2025 election shattered turnout records, with over 230,000 votes cast — an 86% increase from the 2020 WZC election. The 152 U.S. delegates elected will join representatives from across the globe at the 39^th World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem this October, helping shape the allocation of more than $1 billion in annual support for Israel and world Jewry.

Vote Reform’s victory ensures that the Reform Movement will continue to:

• Promote religious pluralism, equality, and justice in Israel

• Secure critical funding for Reform institutions in Israel and worldwide

• Defend democratic values in the face of rising extremism

• Advocate for the safety and dignity of all Jews amid increasing antisemitic threats

• Fight for the release of all hostages still held in Gaza and a peaceful future for the region

In this way, we can be proud of the strength of our voice for Israel.

Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום

Connect with me with comments and reflections here.

Rabbi Elaine Zecher

The post “An Important Victory,” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings appeared first on Temple Israel of Boston.