Tag: Soviet Jewry

October 14, 2016

Spiritual Heroes: A Kol Nidre Sermon

sid.schwarz Sermons and Speeches activism, human rights, moral courage, role models, social justice, Soviet Jewry

For many years, the organization that I led-PANIM- ran 4-day seminars on Jewish values and social activism for teens who came to Washington D.C. from around the country. When I would speak to the students, my lead-off question would be: Who are your spiritual heroes? It was a question that gave pause. Most American teens […]

July 19, 2016

Elie Wiesel: The Echo Chamber of Moral Witness

sid.schwarz Articles Elie Wiesel, human rights, moral witness, political activism, Soviet Jewry

Although I had the privilege of hearing Elie Wiesel speak at least a dozen times and had the opportunity to once have a private meeting with him in conjunction with a book that I was writing, my thoughts about him actually relate to how much impact he had on those who never met the man. […]

October 8, 2012

Welcome to the Tribe

sid.schwarz Sermons and Speeches covenental, Haiti, Israel, Kol Nidre, Millenials, peoplehood, Soviet Jewry, tribal identity, Yom Kippur

Kol Nidre, 2012: Some years ago the Jewish Week asked me to write an op-ed before the High Holydays. At the risk of being thrown out of the rabbi’s union I said that I wasn’t quite sure how many of the Jews showing up for Rosh haShana and Yom Kippur were there for the prayers […]