A Message from Marc

Marc's Message

Marc Baker headshot
CJP's President and CEO, Rabbi Marc Baker, writes and teaches about leadership, community, and civic life, bringing the voice of Jewish tradition to contemporary issues.

 

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Let There Be Light

Shalom Chaverim,

In normal years, there’s something cathartic about taking down our Sukkah at the end of the holiday season. The deconstruction of the physical structure mirrors the winding down of this period of heightened intensity and there’s a sense that we are ready to return to a …

History Has Its Eyes on Us (Sukkot Edition)

Shalom Chaverim,

This short week has felt like a roller-coaster,, as we emerged from Yom Kippur on Monday and prepare to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot this weekend.

As I thought about the health of our American democracy, the safety and well-being of the Jewish community and other vulner…

History Has Its Eyes on Us

Rabbi Marc Baker deliveres his keynote at From Strength to Strength, CJP's 2020-2021 kickoff event. Watch or read below.

This past winter, my grandmother Muriel passed away at the age of 97. Nothing gave her more nachas (joy) than her 8 grandchildren and 13 great-grand-children. I’m…

Choice Points

Shalom Chaverim,

I hope you all had a healthy and restful summer. 

After this week’s Massachusetts primary — and with just two months until the presidential election — I am thinking a lot about choices. At the heart of democracy is our right as citizens to choose the people who will…

Breaking Open

Shalom Chaverim,
 
Yesterday was the 17th of the Jewish month of Tammuz, a minor fast day on the Jewish calendar that marks the beginning of a three-week period leading up to Tisha B’Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar.
 
The 17th of Tammuz commemorates the breaching of the wa…