Rachel Kahn Troster
S Blog: Finding My Torah
BY: RACHEL KAHN TROSTER
I do Jewish social justice for a living—deep, complicated campaigns that require a grasp of political and legal issues beyond the headlines and shouting points. Since my ordination as a rabbi four years ago, my work at Rabbis for Human Rights-North America has enabled me to delve into philosophic books about torture, [...]
S Blog: Hachnasat Orchim
BY: RACHEL KAHN TROSTER
Growing up, my grandmother’s cooking was legendary, not just for what she created in the kitchen (especially her baked goods) but for the creative ways it was deployed. My grandfather—a farmer and cattle dealer—often brought his business associates home for dinner, in large numbers and at short notice. I would hear stories [...]
S Blog: Choosing Justice
BY: RACHEL KAHN TROSTER
Sometimes I feel like corporations think we can consume our way to a better world. If we only buy the right (green/local/organic/fair trade) products, we will make things better. Or we buy something and it makes a donation to a cause. What a bargain! I got to take something home and someone [...]
Sh’ma Blog: Vote because I can’t
BY: RACHEL KAHN TROSTER
I’m an anchor baby. Born in the U.S. while my Canadian father was in rabbinical school, I was supposed to be born in Toronto. Indeed, my mother had plane tickets for Canada three days after my sister and I came a month early, surprise twins. I’m not supposed to be an American. [...]
Sh’ma Blog: Destinations
BY: RACHEL KAHN TROSTER
The Torah is replete with hero narratives, stories of brave men who set out into the unknown and return changed men, rewarded by God for their daring to set out into the wilderness. Abram goes to the place God will show him in return for countless blessings. Jacob flees his brother, discovers [...]
Sh’ma Blog: Created In God’s Image: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
BY: RACHEL KAHN TROSTER
When I started working for Rabbis for Human Rights-North America over four years ago, I was told by our then Chairperson Rabbi Gerry Serotta that one of the goals of the organization was to make December 10, International Human Rights Day, a day of yom tov for the Jewish community. RHR-NA uses [...]
Sh’ma Blog: Forgotten Voices
BY: RACHEL KAHN TROSTER
Every year, I avoid the Akedah. In my student High Holiday pulpits, I preferred to give a sermon about anything but the Akedah. My usual self-doubt about having something unique to say about any subject at all would go into overdrive when it came time to writing a sermon for the second [...]
