In 2006; Alice Walker; working with Women for Women International; visited Rwanda and the eastern Congo to witness the aftermath of the genocide in Kigali. Invited by Code Pink; an antiwar group working to end the Iraq War; Walker traveled to Palestine/Israel three years later to view the devastation on the Gaza Strip. Here is her testimony.Bearing witness to the depravity and cruelty; she presents the stories of the individuals who crossed her path and shared their tales of suffering and courage. Part of what has happened to human beings over the last century; she believes; is that we have been rendered speechless by unusually barbaric behavior that devalues human life. We have no words to describe what we witness. Self-imposed silence has slowed our response to the plight of those who most need us; often women and children; but also men of conscience who resist evil but are outnumbered by those around them who have fallen victim to a belief in weapons; male or ethnic dominance; and greed.
#2313916 in Books Jewish Lights 2008-09-15 2008-09-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 22.86 x 1.57 x 6.00l; .85 #File Name: 1580233759160 pages
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A case for conscience as the source of common groundBy Maxwell GrantDrawing on Scripture; Talmud; history and literature; Rabbi Harold Schulweis has written a short book that celebrates the role of conscience as the essence of religion -- both in Judaism; specifically and religion; generally.Highly readable with short chapters and "pull quotes" (those boxes with a quotation from the text set in the margin of a page); the book seems designed for faith-based study groups in synagogues. Schulweis writes very clearly and uses quotations thoughtfully -- even a group with people of different ages and from very different walks of life would be able to read it together easily.Schulweis argues emphatically against a literal reading of Scripture. Specifically; he shows how Judaism has a rich tradition of reading the Bible that is willing to challenge even the words on the page in the name of the values that God stands for. Even explicit laws can be retired in the name of deeper principles.The challenge for faithful people; he argues; is to seek to live under the direction of those deeper principles; and to build a world that is based upon them.It is a good book; but not a great one. Simply; it is too short; and it leaves the reader wanting more...actually; a little too much more.Nevertheless; fans of Schulweis' work; especially the magnificent "For Those Who Can't Believe;" will be glad to have another useful; thought provoking volume to add to their libraries.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. It Depoends What You WantBy MARK LIEBERMANThis is a serious discussion on Jewish attitudes toward obeying and disobeying Torah commandments. It covers the bases very thoroughly and without any particular bias. It's eclectic and well documented. Best of all; it's clear and concise. However; it doesn't offer any fresh point of view or much in the way of modern viewpoints. If your looking for a survey of attitudes; this does the job. If you are looking for guidelines for spiritual actions; this is the wrong book.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Conscience: How Jewish Law; traditional Jewish sources and conscience interactBy Michael BrochsteinIf you just wish to know simple straightforward halakha (Jewish law) then don't bother with this book. If you wish to see ways that conscience can play a role then read this book. It draws from traditional Jewish sources as well as others. It is a bit too short and I wished the early sections were more fleshed out. Still; definitely worth reading if this subject interests you.
