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Tzedek, tzedek tirdof

Rabbinical Assembly’s Tzedek Center marks America’s 250th   The Rabbinical Assembly’s public policy and social justice division is hosting a series of webinars to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. The Tzedek Center’s Summer Series will feature speakers talking about faith, democracy and civil life, highlighting the Jewish values, civic skills and practical actions needed to sustain …

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Guarding the flame of international ideals

Why nuclear proliferation is an FJMC imperative   By Dr. Steven Mandel “We may be the generation that destroys itself.” – J. Robert Oppenheimer, the “father of the atomic bomb.” What type of world would we be leaving for the next generation, if we do nothing about nuclear proliferation, terrorism, instability and global conflicts that …

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A time to lead, a time to shine

FJMC’s Leadership Development Institute   By Jonathan D. Epstein Planning has begun for next year’s Rabbi Joel S. Geffen Leadership Development Institute in Baltimore, FJMC International’s annual Shabbaton gathering to train our regional leaders, cultivate our emerging club leaders and build the next generation of younger men to take the reins in the future. Scheduled …

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Going global for High Holy Days

FJMC launches new Yizkor Book, promotes streaming services   By Jerry Brodsky FJMC’s International Region – our newest effort to expand our reach around the globe – is proud to introduce a pair of new initiatives for the High Holy Days intended to bring our worldwide community closer together as one. High Holiday services around …

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From the Pacific Northwest to sun-drenched L.A. and AZ

Greetings from Western Region!   By Mitch Elovitz With eight states from Hawaii to Colorado, the Western Region is, by far, the most spread-out region within FJMC International. So bringing us together for a Regional Retreat is no small feat! We held our 2026 retreat in the Simi Valley/Los Angeles area in mid-May. We hadn’t …

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A bilingual blessing for America

“God Bless America” in Yiddish, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in Hebrew   By Jason Hecht In Israel, Independence Day is celebrated on Yom Ha’atzmaut, a holiday filled with music, dancing and blue‑and‑white pride. Here in the United States, July brings its own celebration of freedom — but unlike Israel, there aren’t many songs …

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Pro-Semitism: Making a clean break

The story of Purell   By Jerry Brodsky What got you through the Covid-19 pandemic? What product did you purchase so much more during Covid than you’d ever purchased before, besides masks? That’s right – hand sanitizer. And what’s one of the best-known brands? Purell! So here’s the story: In 1946, Jewish-Americans Goldie and Jerry …

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Pro-Semitism: Scanning our way through life

How barcodes came to be   By Jerry Brodsky Maybe U.S. Patent No. 2,612,994 doesn’t mean much to you. Nor, perhaps, should it – at least not by its number. But have you ever seen or used a bar code? You can thank two Jewish-Americans, Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver, for developing the first …

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Eye on Africa

Teaching Judaism near the shores of Lake Victoria   By Jonathan D. Epstein FJMC International has been partnering with the Abayudaya Jews of southeastern Uganda for more than 10 years, working to support this unique Jewish community that chose Judaism more than a century, and that has embraced our faith with passion and enthusiasm. Today, …

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In the Spirit

El Bandido Yankee Reposado   By Al Davis I’ve become something of a tequila aficionado, having sampled many brands and expressions: blancos, reposados, añejos, organic and additive-free varieties, and even some infused tequilas. Some have been good, some awful and a few truly outstanding. Recently, while browsing at one of my favorite liquor stores, I …

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