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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Purim and Spiritual Resistance

Part of me struggled with celebrating Purim this year, given how closely we continue to follow the horrific conflict in Ukraine. In the face of fighting and suffering and the urgent critical work we are doing every day with our partners to support people in need -– how was it appropriate t…

Ukraine: Our Community Responds as War Rages On

Dear Friends,  

As the war in Ukraine rages on, we watch the humanitarian disaster with fear and disbelief: What seemed like a world order has so quickly shattered.  

We are human beings and citizens of the world, and our hearts break for all Ukrainians. As Jews, we feel responsible fo…

Ukraine: I Am My Brother’s Keeper

Dear Friends,  

We continue to watch with grave concern the buildup of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border and the threat of an invasion. For our community, this is more than an international crisis — it is personal.  

Core to CJP’s mission and to being a vibrant Jewish communit…

Remembering Cheryl Aronson (z”l)

Dear Friends,

It has been an incredibly sad week for the extended CJP and Hillel International families who are shocked and grieving at the sudden passing of Cheryl Aronson (z”l). Cheryl was an extraordinary human being and a passionate warrior for the Jewish People and Israel, whose impa…

Beloved Community

Dear Friends,  

Last Shabbat’s horrific events in Colleyville, Texas, reverberated all week as Jewish communities around the country, including ours, gathered to decry this act of Jew-hatred and double down on our commitments to safety and security. It was a difficult week of reckoning …