By JOSH GERSTEIN |2/22/12 5: 03 PM EST Another federal judge has found unconstitutional a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal law which forbids providing federal government benefits to same-sex spouses. U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey White, who sits in San Francisco and was appointed to the bench by President George W. Read More »

The anti-marriage forces are at it again. Today they asked the 9th Circuit for an en banc hearing. This is one step before the Supreme Court and would re-hear the case they just ruled upon by the entire 9th Circuit of 25 judges rather than the 3 who heard and ruled on the case. Read More »

Lest we think the war in Afghanistan is over-IT IS NOT. American troops are still in harms way and a war that is over a decade old still takes the lives of our soldiers-heroes. Please say a prayer for the souls of those who died in service of our country. They gave the ultimate sacrifice. Subject: U.S. Read More »

Parshat Mishpatim Exodus 21: 1 -24: 18 Our Torah portion this week, Parshat Mishpatim expounds and expands the Ten Commandments given in last week’s Torah portion, Yitro. The Jewish people are blessed with a system of law and rules to live by. Read More »

It is so sad to think of Whitney Houston’s death. A beautifully talented but tortured soul. May the many who loved her, her daughter, mother, family and friends and her many fans around the world take some comfort in the fact that her voice and image will live on in our lives. She had a gift from God. Read More »

I have written several posts about funeral etiquette in the past. One area that is always confusing is what to say to the mourners. In Jewish tradition we are not supposed to greet the mourners. This means the primary mourners which are the immediate family (spouse/partner, children, siblings, parents). Read More »

Court Ruling Strikes Down Proposition 8 in Narrow Decision; Important Step Forward Rabbis Rick Jacobs and Jonathan Stein: While the decision is narrow, it is nonetheless an important step forward in the achievement of marriage equality. Contact: Sean Thibault or Noah Baron202.387.2800 | news@rac.org Washington, D.C. Read More »

What a week! The march of progress toward full equality for LGBT folks continues and this week saw some important gains. Of course the much heralded decision of the the 9th Circuit Federal Appeals Court that stuck down Prop 8 is one of the most significant decisions for LGBT equality that has come at a federal level. . Read More »

Parshat Yitro Exodus 18: 1-20: 23 This week the rule of law won out. The release of the decision of the 9 th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn Proposition 8 by a vote of 2-1 reaffirmed that justice and legal logic have a place in our society and our world. Read More »

UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!!! News » Live Webcast: 9th Circuit Rules on Prop. 8 | American Foundation for Equal Rights . . Read More »

In a short hour and 15 min it’s coming. The ruling from the 9th Circuit court of appeals on the California Prop. 8 case will be released. Soon we will know from a federal appeals court whether or not Judge Walker’s ruling stands. Read More »

I am still in Israel. There is an ongoing discussion here about what kind of country must Israel be. The right and the left of politics are clashing I think even more than in the U.S. In the US the election cycle really makes the clash between conservatives, progressives and moderates more evident. Read More »

Parshat Beshallach Exodus 13: 17-17: 16 Our Torah portion contains one of the most well-known moments in the Bible. This week the Children of Israel walk between walls of water on dry land to escape Egypt and Pharaoh’s army. Read More »

Greetings from Jerusalem. I am so busy learning that I have had little time to reflect and write as I often do when I am here! Yesterday we had an amazing field trip to the town of Beit Shemesh. This town has recently been in the news in Israel with a clash between the far right wing Charedi Jews and Modern O rthodox Zionist Jews. Read More »

Shalom from Jerusalem. It is Sunday Morning and I finally made it to my Winter Session of the Rabbinic Leadership Initiative at the Machon Shalom Hartman. This session we are discussion everything from conversion and intermarriage to the increasing gender divide in the Charedi community. Read More »

Parshat Bo Exodus 10: 1-13: 6 This week’s Torah portion is Bo. The last four plagues descend upon Egypt because of Pharaoh’s obstinacy. He did not want to see what was before him. That a power greater than himself was demanding that he change his frame of reference. Read More »

Etta James died on Friday. She was an amazing master. A beautiful singer that brought delight to so many including me. Her smoky sounds marked a genre. Enjoy this clip of an truly gifted musician. ADDigK8LwyE . Read More »

The Federal Court Case about Prop 8 will be handed down any time now. If so there are plans to gather the day of the decision. Here is the latest information about the local gathering. This will be on tap no matter which way the decision will go. Read More »

Even as the U.S. has pulled out of Iran, there is still a war in Afghanistan. With sadness I report here this week’s military casualties. Let us remember the great sacrifice these individuals and their families have made to keep our nation and the world safe. May their memories live for a blessing. Read More »

Parshat Va-eira Exodus 6: 2-9: 35 The plagues descend upon Egypt in this week’s Torah portion Va-eira. Six of the ten plagues are described. Moses with the help of his brother and spokesman, Aaron confront Pharaoh at the behest of God. Read More »