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The Shalom Center
@theshalomcenter.bsky.social
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The Shalom Center reimagines Jewish holidays as portals for public prophetic action. Through actifests, we are building a national movement of sacred justice rooted in the Jewish calendar cycle.
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The Shalom Center is leaning tender-heartedly into the notion that our work is about receiving the nourishment that is Arthur’s legacy, and transforming it into new growth, new life, and new possibilities. We hope you’ll join us in doing just that. More: theshalomcenter.org/shalomreport...
Black and white photo of Rabbi Arthur Waskow at a lectern looking out into the distance.
November 19, 2025 at 6:05 PM
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We are writing to share the news that Reb Arthur Waskow z"l died peacefully this morning, Monday, October 20. Just days after celebrating his 92nd birthday, Arthur left his body this morning with ease.

You can read Arthur’s full obituary at: theshalomcenter.org/shalomreport...
A headshot of Rabbi Arthur Ocean Waskow, wearing one of his favorite rainbow-colored caps, a navy blue shirt, and smiling into the distance.
October 20, 2025 at 9:44 PM
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A note from Rabbi Nate about Reb Arthur, and an invitation for today, Sunday October 12 -- Arthur's birthday!

See images (6 images in two posts) for full message
Event registration at theshalomcenter.org/92books

Post 1 of 2
Tender news about Arthur, invitation for today, Sunday 10/12 Dear companions in love and justice, I am writing to share the tender news that our dear Reb Arthur entered into hospice at his home in Philadelphia last week. He and I have spoken and his spirit seems strong and he seems quite at peace. I trust that you will join me in sending prayers of love and deep care for him and his family. I know Arthur has had such a profound impact on so many of you and I imagine you might want to connect with him during this time. Please note, he will no longer be monitoring his email or texts and any communication with him - including phone calls - will be coordinated through his beloved wife Phyllis. If you live in Philly, please do not drop-in for a visit. To share words with him, please write him a blessing at https://theshalomcenter.org/ legacyfund#legacyfundblessings or email office@theshalomcenter.org for further instructions.
October 12, 2025 at 4:24 PM
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Today before sunset, before we begin Jewish year 5786, a thank you for your ongoing support, and an opportunity to join us for two exciting new programs!

Read all about it here:
theshalomcenter.org/shalomreport...
September 22, 2025 at 6:36 PM
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The Shalom Center is making Reb Arthur’s two newest books available for preorder and celebrating his 92nd birthday by hosting a books launch birthday party on October 12th.

Find everything you need to know to register for the program and preorder the books at theshalomcenter.org/92books
Event flyer for book launch/birthday party for Reb Arthur Waskow's two forthcoming books, happening October 12, 2025. The title reads, (Ninety)Two Books Launch Birthday Party, over an image of a book open to a page, with an image of one book cover on each side. On the left is the cover of Tales of the Spirit Rising.. and Sometimes Falling, with colorful text over an image of Reb Arthur Waskow's face. On the right is an stylized image of stone tablets with symbols on them, wrapped in greenery, with the title "Handbook for Heretics and Prophets: A New Torah for a New World" in white text above them. Promo image for the "(Ninety)Two Books Launch Birthday Party", the title of which is printed at the top, next to a circular headshot image of Reb Arthur Waskow, against a solid gold-yellow background. Below that are the images of 8 special guests who will be on the program, in similar circular headshot style: Rabbi Amichai Lay Lavie, Rabbi/Kohenet Jill Hammer, Phd, Rabbi Shefa Gold, Student Rabbi Hadasah Yaqob-Johnson, Rabbi Elyse Wechterman, Rabbi Nate DeGroot, Rabbi Phyllis Berman, and Batya Levine. The date and time of the event are listed at the bottom -- October 12, 2024, 6:30-8:30pm ET. Against a solid green background under the title "(Ninety)Two Books Sales, text reads "Buy Arthur's two newest books, both written before his 92nd birthday, while supporting The Shalom Center. Below this text are the two cover images of the books. On the left is the cover of Tales of the Spirit Rising.. and Sometimes Falling, with colorful text over an image of Reb Arthur Waskow's face. On the right is an stylized image of stone tablets with symbols on them, wrapped in greenery, with the title "Handbook for Heretics and Prophets: A New Torah for a New World" in white text above them. Alongside the book images are callouts. Next to the left image, a callout reads "Arthur's memoir as Hasidic tale". Next to the right image, one callout reads "New Torah! Featuring Arthur & esteemed Torah-lovers", and a second callout reads "Available only through this offer!"
September 17, 2025 at 10:21 PM
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This Tisha B’Av, we’re not just mourning the past. We’re rising to protect the future.

Join Jews from your state for Jewish Earth Alliance’s Pre-Tisha B’Av Virtual Lobby Day for Climate Solutions on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

💻 Participate online from wherever you are.

Register: bit.ly/9avlobby
June 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
theshalomcenter.bsky.social
Thrive, the Jewish Coalition to Protect Trans and LGBQ+ Youth, is excited to announce a new event this Pride: Trans Pride Shabbat.

Full info and all the resources here from @keshetlgbtqjews.bsky.social! 👇
www.keshetonline.org/trans-pride-...
June 24, 2025 at 2:59 PM
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• Introducing Cohort א! •
As bombs fly and the world continues to spiral, we are sending deep care to each of you. It feels a bit disorienting to share great news in this moment, and yet we know how important it is to celebrate & uplift the places where deep wholeness & possibility is percolating.→
June 16, 2025 at 9:14 PM
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The Shalom Center’s Rabbi Nate DeGroot and several other Shalom Center clergy were among the 550+ Jewish clergy who signed this HIAS letter. To quote “When law becomes a source of abuse rather than of justice, it ceases to fulfill its intended purpose.”

Read the letter at hias.org
hias.org HIAS @hias.org · Apr 25
550 Jewish clergy agree: law should be a tool of justice, not a weapon of cruelty.

From deporting hundreds without due process to cancelling residents’ social security numbers, the Trump admin is actively weaponizing & eroding laws with the goal of instilling terror and distrust across the country.
April 30, 2025 at 8:51 PM
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In 1969, Arthur Waskow wrote and helped organize the original Freedom Seder, and in so doing, transformed American Judaism forever.

Read today's Shalom Report, with links to text (and footage!) of the original Freedom Seder, as well as texts of newer Freedom Seder editions, at bit.ly/WaskowSeder
"Shalom Report" title image for 4/11/25: Historical black-and-white image of the "Freedom Seder" held on 4/4/1969, depicting (left to right) Rev. Channing E. Phillips, Arthur Waskow, and Topper Carew, sitting side by side at a Passover seder table. They are simultaneously sipping from small cups of wine. In the background are photos and signs affixed to the wall. The most legible one reads, "Jews for Urban Justice". The image is overlaid with text on the lower right quadrant that reads, "The seder that transformed American Judaism" with "The Shalom Report" and "4/1/25" underneath.
April 11, 2025 at 4:27 PM
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Reb Arthur has said “My greatest dream is for The Shalom Center to continue to thrive into the future.” Join us on 4/16 for an event to launch the Reb Arthur Waskow Legacy Fund, raising $500,000 to ensure his legacy lives on for generations. Learn more and register: theshalomcenter.org/legacyfund
Event flyer for The Shalom Center's "Reb Arthur Waskow Legacy Fund Launch Call" Left to right, Cherie Brown, Arthur Waskow, and Mordechai Liebling are pictured in shots taken while speaking or addressing crowds. The tag line reads: "Lessons learned from lives of justice, friendship, and collaboration". Below this are named additional speakers/performers Shefa Gold, David Shneyer, Jessi Roemer, and Nate DeGroot.
April 7, 2025 at 11:39 PM
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As we turn our attention to Passover, we are pleased to share this piece from JLiving magazine by Casey J. Adler, in which he revisits the 1969 Freedom Seder and also talks with R' Arthur about pharaohs and plagues, both ancient and present-day.

jlivingmedia.com/the-freedon-...
March 28, 2025 at 8:19 PM
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Join The Shalom Center and ALEPH for Renewing Judaism, a 3-part webinar series featuring three generations of key practitioners reflecting on the past, present, and future of Judaism’s renewal. Full details and registration at theshalomcenter.org/renewing-jud...
March 27, 2025 at 9:18 PM
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Join Rabbi Nate's course at Kallah this summer - Towards a Jewish Post-Activism: Reimagining Jewish Holidays as Portals for Public Prophetic Action.

Explore the contours of post-activism and consider post-activism’s implications for Judaism and Jewish activism. Learn more: aleph.org/kallah
March 24, 2025 at 8:54 PM
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We take heart in seeing that The Shalom Center's Chapter 9 Project (link in comments) continues to resonate a year after its launch.

forward.com/opinion/7018...
Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza demands a new reading of the Purim story’s final chapter
The Purim story is not one of clear right and wrong, writes Michael David Lukas — and Israel's war in Gaza makes confronting that essential.
forward.com
March 14, 2025 at 9:14 PM
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Jumping the track: When one thing seems certain, when destiny seems like settled fact, and then all of a sudden facts give way to something totally new and unpredictable - unsettled potential.

Intrigued? Read more in today's Shalom Report:
theshalomcenter.org/shalomreport...
March 14, 2025 at 7:39 PM
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Have you ever wondered why Trump and Bibi are pals? Are you confused why there were Israeli flags next to Camp Auschwitz sweatshirts at the January 6th insurrection? Do you know what the 7 Mountains are? Curious what happens at pro-life Jesus Camp?

Yes? The Shalom Center has the webinar for you! ⬇️
March 10, 2025 at 1:51 PM
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On this anniversary date of Bloody Sunday, we are proud and glad to say we are an organizational cosponsor of this event. Follow @ncjw.bsky.social to stay updated on what’s going on this weekend!
ncjw.bsky.social National Council of Jewish Women @ncjw.bsky.social · Mar 7
NCJW will be in Selma this weekend to honor the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. Sixty years ago, women of faith marched for justice—risking everything for a better future.
March 7, 2025 at 11:06 PM
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TOMORROW! Register now -- Peter Beinart and more

A New Jewish Story
(and why it’s so desperately needed)

Featuring: Peter Beinart, Devon Spier, Rabbi Tamara Cohen, Graie Hagans, & Rabbi Nate DeGroot
Thursday, March 6, 2025, 7pm ET

Learn more & register: theshalomcenter.org/events/new-jewish-story
March 5, 2025 at 5:16 PM
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THIS THURS 3/6! — Panelists will unpack the stories we’ve inherited, reckon with harm they may cause, and dream about new Jewish stories we might tell going forward, for a world that desperately calls us to see that we are all in this together. More: theshalomcenter.org/events/new-jewish-story
Event flyer for The Shalom Center's event "A New Jewish Story (and why it's so desperately needed)". Event description reads "A pre-Purim book talk with Peter Beinart, Rabbi Nate DeGroot, and authors from The shalom Center's Chapter 9 Project. 3/6/26 | 7pm ET". Text is in black in white boxes. The image has the faces of all the presenters, as well as the book covers of Peter Beinart's "Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza" and The Shalom Center's Chapter 9 Project, against a gradient background of blue to purple.
March 4, 2025 at 9:21 PM
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UPCOMING! Thurs 3/6 — Panelists will unpack the stories we’ve inherited, reckon with harm they may cause, and dream about new Jewish stories we might tell going forward, for a world that desperately calls us to see that we are all in this together. More: theshalomcenter.org/events/new-jewish-story
March 2, 2025 at 7:03 PM
theshalomcenter.bsky.social
On Refugee Shabbat (2/283/1) global Jewish communities dedicate a Shabbat to learning, reflection, and action in support of refugees & asylum seekers.

Plan a full community event or simply add a moment of awareness to your Shabbat — tons of resources to support you here: hias.org/refugee-shabbat
Promo image: main text is pink on solid blue background, reads: "7th Annual Refugee Shabbat" Subheading reads "A project of HIAS".
February 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
theshalomcenter.bsky.social
Congratulations to all who participated with Jewish Earth Alliance in Tu Bishvat Virtual Lobby Day last week! 400+ Jews in 42 Senate meetings (26 states), raising a powerful Jewish voice to the US Senate, reminding legislators that climate change is a moral challenge that requires them to act.
Promo image for Jewish Earth Alliance's Tu Bishvat Virtual Lobby Day for Climate Solutions, showing a screenshot of a zoom meeting with 12 individual participants' Zoom screens in gallery style, centered in a blue background with orange accents. The title event is printed across the lower half of the image in white capital letter text.
February 24, 2025 at 9:42 PM
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It’s almost time for #ReproShabbat! The Shalom Center is excited to partner with @ncjw.bsky.social for this nationwide event celebrating the critical importance of reproductive freedom and Judaism’s teachings about reproductive health, rights, and access. Learn more and join us! ReproShabbat.org.
February 19, 2025 at 7:35 PM
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As anti-trans rhetoric and policies escalate, Jewish tradition calls us to respond with courage and compassion. Join @keshetlgbtqjews.bsky.social‬ & The Shalom Center on Wed 2/19 for an empowering evening of learning and action to affirm trans dignity. More: www.keshetonline.org/event/2-19-j...
Announcement flyer for "Jewish Pledge for Trans Dignity" event, happening Wed, 2/19 at 7pm ET on Zoom. White text against a blue background reads: "Join Keshet for an empowering evening of learning and action as we pledge to affirm trans dignity and be in solidarity with the trans, nonbinary, and intersex community." The link to register is also given: bit.ly/JPledge4TransDignity
February 18, 2025 at 5:44 PM