NEWS STORY
RNS-Refugees-Help: How to help Afghans arriving in the US after fleeing the Taliban
(RNS) — As the U.S. continues its evacuations of American citizens and Afghans who have worked for the U.S. over the past 20 years from Afghanistan, faith-based organizations are leading efforts to help Afghans settle into the country. Here are a few of the faith-based organizations working with Afghans both overseas and arriving in the U.S. and some ways you can help them. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 1,250 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Yiddish-Week: Yiddish Week, a refuge for a beloved tongue, is also an extended family reunion
(RNS) — Yiddish-Vokh (Yiddish-week) has been an annual celebration of the tongue since 1975, when it was founded by Yugntruf, an organization that promotes the use of Yiddish among young people and families. For campers, the week is refuge from a world that too often doesn’t understand their devotion to a language that even many Jews view as archaic. By David Ian Klein. 1,175 words. (category: a)
NEWS BRIEF
RNS-Episcopal-Vaccine: Episcopal Diocese of Maine mandates vaccine for clergy
(RNS)—The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine mandated Monday (Aug. 23) that all staff and clergy in the diocese be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of September. It is one of the first vaccine mandates for clergy in the US. By Kathryn Post. 400 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Capuchins-Padrepio: Shia LaBeouf finds ‘something way bigger than myself’ as he preps for Padre Pio biopic
(RNS) – Capuchin friars in California hosted actor Shia LaBeouf in mid-August to help him immerse himself in the spiritual life of the community as he prepares to interpret Saint Padre Pio in an upcoming feature on the famed stigmatic friar. By Claire Giangravè. 800 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-RFC-Congregations: Texas churches identifying as ‘Reproductive Freedom Congregations’ to fight stigma on abortion
(RNS) — Similar to churches declaring as LGBTQ-affirming, houses of worship in Texas — where a new law allows any person to sue those who help a woman get an abortion — are affirming as Reproductive Freedom Congregations (RFC). This designation affirms that Texas houses of faith are working toward building trust and respect for women as well as removing the stigma on reproductive health, including abortion. By Alejandra Molina. 1,050 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Salkin-Oped: During the High Holy Days, ‘each of us is a cemetery’
(RNS) — This is always how I feel during the Days of Awe, but particularly and most poignantly, during the Yizkor service, the memorial service on Yom Kippur. For me, the “holy of holies” in that service is the silent meditation, in which some liturgies contain soliloquies addressed to the dead — “to my dear mother,” etc. During those moments of silence, I reflect on all those whom I have lost. My parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents – this year, a dear cousin. By Jeffrey Salkin. 540 words. (category: k)
