TIMELY FORGIVENESS, RECONCILIATION
JEWISH HIGH HOLIDAYS—Some of the Jewish writers who work with our online magazine and publishing house are contributing this week (and next week) new year’s reflections as Rosh Hashanah nears on the evening of Sunday, October 2. While the majority of our writers and readers are not Jewish, this is a great opportunity for all of us to reflect on the High Holiday themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. Start with this column by Stephanie Fenton and Joe Lewis on the start of the High Holidays. Look ahead, then, to their column on Yom Kippur.
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GEFILTE FISH ANYONE?
FEED THE SPIRIT—A group of smart young foodies are reinventing some of the traditional Jewish foods for future generations and they’ve started with those fish patties known as gefilte fish. They call their movement, which caught the eye of the Wall Street Journal, The Gefilte Manifesto. Whether you’re Jewish or not, you’ll also want to try the delicious apple strudel columnist Bobbie Lewis shares from the group’s cookbook.
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HATE2HOPE: YES, THAT’S POSSIBLE
YOU’LL WANT TO SHARE—this inspiring story by author and peace activist Brenda Rosenberg, who published a book about overcoming tension in 2015 … and then discovered that the greatest tensions were here in the U.S. between police and community leaders. With so many tragic stories in the news about conflicts with law enforcement officials, we find this pilot program remarkable! Please, tell friends about this news. You might find this program could be very helpful in your part of the country.
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PICTURES AND CONVERSATIONS
DEBRA DARVICK—The author of This Jewish Life, Debra Darvick writes about a remarkable year in which she and her photographer husband have launched: Pictures and Conversations. It’s a method of starting thoughtful dialogues with friends. She also remains an active advice columnist. And, yes, she provides helpful links to those intriguing pursuits.
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COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS
GOD SIGNS—”Twelve years cancer free.” If you’re among our many readers who have been inspired by Suzy Farbman’s funny and downright honest memoir, God Signs, those four words say it all in summing up the past year. Even if you haven’t been touched by cancer in your home, then you’ll still enjoy Suzy’s look at the year as Rosh Hashanah rolls around again. And, if you’re not Jewish, as Suzy points out, it’s always a good time to stop and … count your blessings.
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CONGRATULATIONS
DAVID GUSHEE—Author of the influential book, Changing Our Mind, Mercer’s Dr. David Gushee will deliver the annual Matthew Simpson lecture at Simpson College in Iowa on October 6.
GLENN WAGNER—Author of the new God Incidents, the Rev. Glenn Wagner’s work in reaching out to Americans who have walked away from religion was covered in a Michigan United Methodist news story by Kay DeMoss.
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HOLIDAYS and FESTIVALS
Check out all the holidays! Tell friends about the simply Web address: www.InterfaithHolidays.com
NAVARATRI—Hindus are celebrating the 10-day festival of Sharad Navaratri, emphasizing the motherhood of the Divine.
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ST. FRANCIS DAY— Our friends at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) are reaching out again this autumn to help communities mark St. Francis Day. October 4 is the official “feast day” for the saint, but many congregations nationwide will be remembering Francis—or hosting animal-blessing services—on various dates this autumn. Visit this page to order a free kit, called St. Francis in a Box, from HSUS. If you’d simply like to read more about Francis, the HSUS has lots of information right here. And, if you’d like to read the HSUS book that collects faith statements from many different denominations, then check out Every Living Thing.
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FILM, FAITH
& POPULAR CULTURE
ED McNULTY—Enjoy all of the free resources from Ed McNulty’s faith-and-film website: VisualParables.org.
Among Ed’s latest movie reviews are:
- THE LADY IN NUMBER 6—To mark the Jewish High Holidays, Ed reviews and highly recommends this Oscar-winning short documentary, which currently is streaming for Netflix subscribers. He recommends the film as a testament to hope and thankfulness, even in life’s darkest moments. (5 out of 5 stars)
- MAGNIFICENT SEVEN—Ed agrees with most critics that this remake of the classic Western is just so so. (3.5 stars)
- SNOWDEN—Is Edward Snowden a patriotic prophet or the worst kind of traitor? Ed says the Oliver Stone movie raises those questions in a powerful way. (4.5 stars)
- AMAZING GRACE and CHUCK—Given racial tensions this autumn, Ed reaches back to 1987 to recommend this inspiring drama. (5 stars)
- LITTLE MEN—A tale of two boys in Brooklyn. (4.5 stars)
- SULLY—There’s a whole lot more to the story of this hero that most of us realized, at the time. Ed gives this suspenseful drama, directed by Clint Eastwood, 4 out of 5 stars.
- A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS—This is Natalie Portman’s debut as a director. It’s the story of the childhood of famed Israeli author Amos Oz. (4 stars)
- DIARY OF A CHAMBERMAID—This fourth remake of the 1900 French classic gets 4 stars.
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