Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism3 days ago
Among those cheering the passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), on November 7, were American Indians. Included in the sweeping legislative overhaul of the American health care system is the permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (H.R. 1328). Originally enacted in 1976 due to deplorable health conditions in Indian Country, this bill guarantees the federal delivery of health services and funding of tribal and urban Indian health programs. IHCIA was last reauthorized in 1996 and expired in 2000. As a result, Indian health care has been chronically underfunded over the last decade. In addition to expanding coverage for American Indians under Medicaid, Medicare and SCHIP, the reauthorized bill aims to recruit and retain professionals to work on isolated reservations. Despite efforts to eliminate disparities in the quality of health care, the life expectancy for Indians is still six years less than the national ...
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism4 days ago
Although women are the victims of discrimination the world over, it is particularly troubling when we see evidence of anachronistic gender-based inequity and abuse in a democratic state. There have been several disturbing reports of violations of women's rights in Israel in the last week: Last Wednesday, a woman was arrested at the Western Wall in Jerusalem for "acting provocatively and in a way which upset the public order." In simpler terms, she wore a tallit , a prayer shawl, and read from a sefer Torah. Nofrat Frenkel was arrested by Jerusalem police for publicly expressing her religion. Yesterday, a new study revealed that Arab Israeli women are employed at a rate 30% lower than Jewish Israeli women. Fewer Arab women are employed in the state of Israel than in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . This troubling fact underscores the urgent need for the Israeli government to "reduce the gaps between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel." ...
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism5 days ago
Gilad Shalit was born to parents Aviva and Noam Shalit on August 28, 1986 in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya. He was raised in the town of Mitzpe Hila and joined a combat tank unit in July 2005 for his army service, in which he served until his capture by Hamas terrorists in a cross-border raid. Since June 25, 2006, 23-year-old Israeli soldier and citizen, Gilad Shalit, has been held a prisoner of Hamas. I was born in July 1987. Despite our proximity in age, the length and circumstances of Gilad's captivity remain both disquieting and unreal, and my thoughts remain with the Shalit family. In the resolution in "Support of Israel" passed at the URJ Biennial in Toronto earlier this month, we resolved to "[c]ontinue to advocate for the immediate release of Gilad Shalit." Beginning this weekend and continuing today, news sources indicate that Israel and Hamas are, at long last, nearing a deal that would involve the exchange of hundreds of ...
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism5 days ago
This Saturday, the Senate voted to proceed with the health insurance reform debate around its proposed legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Senate has 60 Democrats (to be exact, 58 Democrats and 2 Democrat-leaning independents). It remains to be seen whether the Senate will have the 60 votes needed to pass an overhaul of the American health care system. While Saturday's vote in support of moving forward with debate was a crucial first step, that vote was the easy part. It is not clear whether Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will have the 60 votes necessary to pass a health reform bill. Though the Senate will not be in session during this Thanksgiving week, upon their return Senators will launch into weeks or more of unpredictable debate on the health insurance reform bill, with over 200 amendments expected from both sides of the aisle and more 60-vote hurdles along the way. Senate leaders hope to pass their bill by the end of the ...
