Tikkun Recommends

Rabbi Jill Jacobs, executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights–North America, reminds us how easy it is to become involved in demands for social justice in far-away places while ignoring outrages in our own communities. She recounts her own experience of living in West Jerusalem, drinking a soy latte at a bustling café and listening to the music of Billy Joel, even as the West Bank was closed due to Jewish Israeli fears about Palestinians interfering with their celebration of Passover. “I struggle to imagine the Palestinian women unable to drop in on their friends in neighboring towns,” Jacobs writes. “It’s much easier for me to block out this anonymous woman in favor of planning my daughter’s Purim costume, making plans with friends, and generally enjoying my West Jerusalem life.” This exciting “Hands-On Guide to Doing Social Justice in Your Jewish Community” is filled with provocative...