The Vaccination Sweepstakes
November 26, 2021
Jewish ethics demands that we invest in producing and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to the developing world.
Rabbi David A. Teutsch is the Wiener professor emeritus at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, where he previously served as president for a decade, and later as director of the Center for Jewish Ethics. He also served as executive director of the Federation of Reconstructionist Congregations and Havurot, as program director of the National Jewish Resource Center (now known as CLAL) and as a congregational rabbi.
He is the editor in chief of the groundbreaking Kol Haneshamah prayerbook series and of a three-volume Guide to Jewish Practice, the first volume of which won a National Jewish Book Award, as well as dozens of other books and articles. His last book, co-written with Marilyn Price, is From Gratitude to Blessings and Back. He earned his A.B. with honors from Harvard University, his ordination from HUC-JIR in New York, and his Ph.D. at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where his dissertation was on organizational ethics. He also holds four honorary degrees.
An internationally known consultant, coach and trainer, primarily to not-for-profit organizations and synagogues, Teutsch has been helping organizations for more than 45 years. He was co-chair of JStreet’s Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet.
A past president of the Society of Jewish Ethics and of the Academic Coalition of Jewish Ethics, he has served on a broad variety of boards and editorial boards. He is also an avid biker.
Jewish ethics demands that we invest in producing and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to the developing world.
The latest Pew study suggests that the Jewish community in the United States will only flourish if we address the interests of unaffiliated young Jews: social justice and a willingness to criticize Israeli policies.
Jacob played an indispensable role in creating a generation of Reconstructionist rabbis that is moving this community forward. When Rabbi Ira Eisenstein retired as president
Annexing Jewish settlement in the territories ends the possibility of a two-state solution and seriously endangers Israeli democracy.
White supremacists are the greatest danger to the safety of Jews in the United States. The emphasis on antisemitic tropes among progressives is misplaced.
Saving a life is a preeminent principle of Jewish ethics, but there are circumstances in which other Jewish values may lead us to make ending a life the priority.
The results of global-climate chaos include death, malnutrition, homelessness, global migration, the extinction of species, and eventual worldwide economic and social displacement.
Most significant about Pittsburgh, as well as the mass killings in a Black church several years ago, is the massive outpouring of support from allies. We should continue to cultivate alliances with people with whom we share values.
Community can only exist on mutual interconnection and commitment, but more than ever, congregations fear asking for that level of engagement from members for fear of scaring them off.
Drawing from teachings in the Babylonian Talmud, Rabbi David Teutsch teaches that “silence is consent.” For American Jewish communities, keeping silent about injustice emerging in Israel makes Jews complicit in those acts of injustice.
Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement
Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis
Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues
Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives
