Still in Israel/Palestine: Report Back Coming June 10
by Rabbi David J. Cooper By the time you read this, I will be back in Berkeley, but I am writing from a hotel in Bethlehem and on the road in the West Bank. Jim Haber and I will do a report back in greater detail on June 10 (see p. 9) about the trip […]
Facing my Return to Israel/Palestine
by Rabbi David J. Cooper It was only three years ago that I wrote in Kol Kehilla in regard to the 50 years since my celebration of becoming bar mitzvah. Now I’m writing that it is 50 years since I arrived in Israel as a 16-year old a few weeks after the Six Day […]
The Prophet’s Warning
Remarks by Rabbi David J. Cooper at the celebration, February 12, 2017 I think my path to social activism began in a moment when I was about eight. I remember being in a car going through the Bowery in Manhattan. We stopped at a light and looking out the window, I saw a man eating […]
Two Stories of a Rabbinic Activist
by Rabbi David J. Cooper As I was applying for the position in 1999, the Rabbi Search Committee interviewed me. They asked, “What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?” Huh? I guess this was what they asked all the candidates. I stumbled for a second and then said what was obvious to […]
High Holy Day Sermons 5777/2016
Our High Holy Day Sermons are now available to read online: Erev Rosh Hashana Sermon by Rabbi Dev Noily: “A River Goes Out From Eden” Rosh Hashana Sermon by Rabbi Avi Rose Kol Nidre Sermon by Rabbi David Cooper: “God, the Covenant, and the Inside-Outsider” Yom Kippur Reflection by Scott and Rose Gelfand Yom Kippur […]
Kol Nidre Sermon by Rabbi David Cooper: “God, the Covenant, and the Inside-Outsider”
Ellis Island Story Referenced in Sermon Introduction to Hagar & Ishmael Torah Excerpt (Genesis 21:9-21) A few years ago, I was dropping my son Lev off at college. I helped set up his part of the dorm room and it was time for me to leave. I turned to look at him and I thought, […]
How Was The Values Statement Developed?
by Rabbi David J. Cooper The Kehilla Statement of Values on Israel/ Palestine was passed by the Kehilla Board of Trustees in September. That Board resolution was only the last stage of a long process. It was in the making for several years and has involved many educational gatherings, surveys of the community, open […]
A Note on the Israel/Palestine Values Survey
by Rabbi David J. Cooper Last month we sent out to every member household a survey to determine support for a statement of values on Israel/Palestine. One could indicate where one stood on a spectrum from very much disagreeing to strong agreement (scale of 1 to 5). As of this writing, 141 responses have been received. […]
Mourning the Dream on Tisha B-Av: The Holiday of Lamentations
Saturday, August 13, 6:30pm by Rabbi David J. Cooper & Rabbi Burt Jacobson During the last years, especially during the Netanyahu administration, big steps have been taken that are increasingly making an independent Palestinian state less and less possible. That failure can mean many more years of suffering and an absence of justice for Palestinians. […]
Coming to Your Email: Values Statement Survey on Israel/Palestine
by Rabbi David J. Cooper In a few days, Kehilla members will receive a survey to assess support for the wording of a statement reflecting our synagogue’s values in regard to Israel/Palestine. Standing up for our values is not just words, but an action. And silence too is an action. So I believe that we […]
