A Chaplain’s calling: ‘It drew me in’

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on December 12, 2012

For Rabbi Jason Weiner, his one-year chaplaincy internship at Beth Israel Medical Center on New York’s Lower East Side was a not-so-pleasant requirement while he was a rabbinic student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah.

Christians picking on Israel

By David Suissa
Published on October 16, 2012

With Christians being persecuted and threatened across much of the Middle East, guess which country the leaders of several major U.S. Christian denominations have decided to pick on?

Look between the headlines to understand the Presbyterians' vote

Published on July 16, 2012

The Presbyterian Church (USA)’s 220th General Assembly had just cast its first vote on an anti-Israel divestment resolution when the spin began. Major news outlets and activists on each side could hardly wait for the debate to finish the next day before declaring winners and losers.

Presbyterian committee approves Israel divestment

Published on July 3, 2012

The country’s largest Presbyterian church has agreed to vote by week’s end on divesting its portfolio from three companies that it is says has resisted the request to stop providing services that aid Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.

Divestment: What the Presbyterian vote could mean

Published on July 3, 2012

Delegates could pass any one of several resolutions calling for punitive economic measures against Israel.

New Presbyterian denomination launches in response to PCUSA dropping gay clergy ban

By Brad A. Greenberg
Published on January 22, 2012

Good friends and implacable foes

Published on July 9, 2008

Three days at the biennial General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in San Jose reminded me of the classic line about mixed emotions, which is watching your new Jaguar go over the side of a cliff with the tax assessor strapped to the seat. The very good results of the convention mingled freely with the very bad.

New Presbyterian statement irks Jewish groups, sparks divestment fears

By Ben Harris
Published on June 19, 2008

Just days before they are due to consider a range of motions on the Middle East at their biennial convention, the Presbyterian Church USA has released a document on combating anti-Jewish ideas. But Jewish organizational leaders say the statement is "infused with the very bias" it purports to condemn.

Truth Trumps Presbyterian Divestment Resolution

By Rabbi Abraham Cooper
Published on June 29, 2006

Last week, delegates to the Presbyterian Church USA's (PCUSA) General Assembly in Birmingham, Ala., voted to undo their hateful 2004 anti-Israel divestment resolution.

Interfaith Dialogue Can Bring Change

By Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis
Published on November 24, 2005

Institutions change. Change is not spontaneous, easy or automatic. It requires face-to-face encounters and a determination to dialogue. As Martin Buber famously put it, "All real life is meeting." Absent dialogue, the vacuum creates disinformation and resentment.

Presbyterians Won’t Budge on Divesting

By James D. Besser
Published on April 14, 2005

You have to hand it to those Presbyterians. Their leaders know what they want, and they won't be deflected by things like logic, fairness or the well-being of people in the Middle East.

We Must Renew Presbyterian Dialogues

By Mark J. Pelavin
Published on August 12, 2004

In response to these unprecedented overtures, some in our community have called for ending all dialogue with Presbyterians. I believe that is exactly the wrong response. What we need is a renewed dialogue that would occur on two levels.

Presbyterians Ignite Divestment Uproar

By Gaby Wenig
Published on July 29, 2004

Before the sermon at each of the three services at Bel Air Presbyterian Church last Sunday, the Rev. Mark Allan Brewer did something unusual -- he protested. Speaking in a clear, forceful voice, the reverend denounced the 216th annual General Assembly of the Presbyterian church's decision to selectively divest funds from companies doing business in Israel.