Rabbi warns the cost of living crisis will have shocking impact on Jewish communities
Rabbi Jonathan Romain has spelled out a stark warning of the impending social catastrophe from the cost of living crisis on Jewish communities. With millions of people struggling to pay vastly increased energy bills and food prices hit by soaring inflation, he has written an article in the Jewish Chronicle, giving advice to synagogues on helping the vulnerable. It includes giving people a present of a hot water bottle so they can at least keep their body warm. He urges leaders to ensure they let people know they are in a safe place and cared for. Synagogues should consider reducing subscriptions and stay open as places of warmth, food and drink; and they should offer support to those in debt and people suffering from mental health issues or marital breakdown due to the stress. Rabbi Jonathan Romain, of the Maidenhead synagogue in the Reformed tradition, warns that the crisis will impact Jewish schools, businesses and synagogues, which may have to make savings including redundancies.
Pope Francis meets transgender people sheltering in Rome church
The Associated Press reports that Pope Francis has met a group of transgender people who found shelter in a Rome church. Quoting L’Osservatore Romano, AP said the meeting took place on Wednesday on the sidelines of Francis’ weekly general audience. It said the Blessed Immaculate Virgin community in the Torvaianica neighbourhood on the outskirts of Rome, opened its doors to transgender people during the coronavirus pandemic and the Pope has met them previously on three previous occasions.
Spanish Catholic church to investigate continuing blood libel myth claims
The Guardian reports that the Catholic church in Spain is to investigate antisemitic rituals after the Ha’aretz newspaper said towns and villages continue to commemorate the “blood libel” , that Jews use the blood of Christian children in religious rituals. Ha’aretz said the myth is perpetuated each year with rituals supported by both the church and the local authority. The libel was used to justify the expulsion of Spain’s Jewish population in 1492.
Urgent restoration project to repair a shrine to Our Lady in Spain
The Spanish Bishops’ Conference has acquired ownership of the Shrine of the Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in Pontevedra, Spain, which requires repairs in the region of $900,000. It marks the place where the Virgin Mary with the child Jesus appeared to Sister Lucía in 1925 and has attracted 10 million visitors annually. The Catholic News Agency says the wood supporting the roofing is rotten from water leaks and the structure supporting stone walls has deteriorated. The repair project has an estimated cost of about $900,000, of which only about $200,000 has been collected.
Veteran religion reporter urges US church to wake up to disintegration
Religion News Service correspondent Bob Smietana has spent decades reporting the American church and in his recent book warns that it is disintegrating, but the church is not paying attention. “Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why it Matters” says the USA is in the midst of an unprecedented spiritual and social transformation which older, predominantly white churchgoers are negotiating. At the book launch, it was said that the average size of an American congregation is 65 and between 30-40 per cent of congregations will be gone in 20 years time. Bob Smietana said the response to falling numbers has been to close, do things differently for example online, or turn on each other over issues such as politics or sexuality. Speakers at the launch said this alienated church goers and was one reason for decline in affiliation. Yet the book outlines how organised religion has benefitted individuals and the community over years, and Bob Smietana charts positive ways of re-organising, reflecting the hope that “perhaps people of faith can learn to become, if not friends with the larger culture, then at least better neighbours”.
The historic legacy of Buddhist Temples in England
Historic England has produced a blog charting the history of England’s 190 Buddhist buildings, which include adapted historic buildings to purpose-built temples and pagodas. It says Buddhism came to England as a result of the British colonial presence in Asia and trading with the Far East. The first ordained English Buddhist monk was Allan Bennett, who travelled to Sri Lanka and Myanmar, before returning in 1908 to set up a monastery here. Immigrants from Myanmar, Hong Kong. Japan and Tibet brought the three main traditions of Buddhism: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. The blog tells in words and pictures the story of temples created in former swimming baths, library, school, courthouse, church building and mansion, as well as newly built ornate temples in several cities.
Hindu festival celebrating brother and sister loyalty re-unites families across the world
Hindu brothers and sisters have been travelling across the world, ensuring they are together for the festival of Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, when sisters wrap a bracelet of friendship around the wrist of their brother, or other family members, to symbolise responsibility and family values. Families gather in prayer and a special ceremony is held to mark the occasion. The festival falls on the 11 and 12 August this year, the time of the new moon, and it’s reported that UK students have returned home for the festival, or in other cases, bracelets have been posted to family in India.
