Jewish tradition compels us to protect the poorest, weakest and most vulnerable among us. But discerning how to make meaningful and effective change through social justice work-whether in community or on your own-is not always easy.

Confront the most pressing issues of twenty-first-century America in this fascinating book, which brings together classical Jewish sources, contemporary policy debate and real-life stories.

How can Jewish values inform our work to create a just world—and help us work together for the good of all communities? "Somehow, most Jews have decided that being a 'good Jew' means adhering to rituals such as Shabbat, kashrut, and prayer. But the word halakhah, generally translated as 'Jewish law,' literally means ‘the way to walk.’ Rather than a limited set of ritual laws, halakhah represents an all-encompassing way of life." —from Chapter 1 Jewish tradition compels us to protect the poorest, weakest and most vulnerable among us. But discerning how to make meaningful and effective change through social justice work—whether in community or on your own—is not always easy. This guide provides ways to envision and act on your own ideals of social justice by helping you navigate through such issues as: Creating a narrative mission statement that reflects your organization’s values Balancing the needs of your community with those of other communities Weighing the pros and cons of various models of social justice work (direct service, advocacy, investment and community organizing) Expanding the impact and efficiency of your work Locating your social justice goals and methods within the context of Jewish tradition Maintaining the motivation and inspiration to continue your social justice work Each chapter includes a set of discussion questions to prompt reflection and conversation, as well as tips, tools, processes and forms for getting your social justice project off the ground.

Five decades after the end of World War II, issues relating to the history and meaning of the Holocaust, far from fading from social consciousness, have, if anything intensified. New generations probe the past and its implications for understanding human behavior. As fresh information about the particularities of the Holocaust comes to light, we know more and more about how these events happened, but the deeper question of "why" remains unanswered. In this compelling volume, Jewish and Christian thinkers from Israel, Germany, and Eastern Europe, as well as the United States and Canada, among them scholars from the fields of history, theology, ethics, genetics, the arts, and literature, confront the legacy of the Holocaust and its continuing impact from the perspectives of their disciplines. The issue of religion is central, as the Vatican's 1998 statement We Remember: Reflections on the Shoah prompts Jewish and Christian contributors to address issues of responsibility, evil, and justice within their concrete historical and social settings. The essays in this important interfaith, international, and interdisciplinary volume will leave readers pondering the unavoidable question: what, in view of the crimes of the Holocaust, is the nature of human nature? -- Amazon.com.

The Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary includes the Missal, revised to conform to The Roman Missal, Third Edition, and its companion Lectionary. Printed in easy-to-read, two-color type, these well-crafted ritual books feature a blue hardcover stamped with the distinct and beautiful art of Martin Erspamer, OSB; silver-gilded pages; and ribbons. They provide the formularies required for celebration of the forty-six Masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which are distributed across the seasons of the liturgical year (three in Advent, six for the Christmas season, five in Lent, four for the Easter season, and twenty eight for Ordinary Time). The Lectionary contains the biblical readings for each Marian Mass, together with the Responsorial Psalms and the alleluia verse or Verse before the Gospel reading.