The Jofa Weekly, 10/20/23: Libi Bamizrach

Libi Bamizrach:

Ways We Can Help Now

In this edition:

Message from Jofa
Women's Stories and Reflections
Ways to Support Israel Now
Divrei Torah by Women on Parshat Noach

Message from Jofa

Dear Friends,

As Rabbi Yehuda Halevi, the renowned medieval poet and philosopher, famously wrote, "Libi bamizrach, va'anochi b'sof ma'arav" -- "My heart is in the East, and I am at the edge of the West" -- capturing Am Yisrael's deep, abiding longing for Eretz Tzion, Zion, our nation's eternal homeland.

For many of us, this refrain keeps replaying in our minds over and over again, as the days turn into weeks, and we feel the pain from a distance. We keep watch of news updates, and grasp for ways to help and support our people. We seek strength from our tefillot and tehillim for the courage and safety of the IDF soldiers; the safe return of the hostages, and the restoration of tranquility and security for all of Israel.

With our hearts and minds on all of the men, women, and children who are fighting, suffering, and enduring, we find comfort in small moments of human connection; words of spiritual inspiration; meaningful rituals; stories of profound courage and generosity. We seek out ways to connect, support, give, share, help as best we can.

Below we suggest some ways to keep inspiring and strengthening each other, along with women's perspectives, and words of Torah and chizuk.

May we hear besorot tovot.

Women's Stories and Reflections

Here we share stories of women, and reflections by women, who find themselves experiencing unimaginable times:

Ways to Support Israel Now

Don’t Move On: No one in Israel, regardless of age, location, or religious denomination, has been able to return to “normal” or move on. Hundreds of thousands have been called up to fight. Spouses, children, parents, and families have picked up the slack, while worrying constantly about their loved ones. Cities around Israel have few people to run businesses, operate municipal services, or serve in many more roles that we take for granted in "normal" everyday life. Restaurants and food establishments have volunteers cooking for soldiers, offering meals and moral support; cafe owners are serving up fresh coffee with open ears and hearts. Our brothers and sisters in Israel have not returned to any semblance of normalcy, and it is up to each of us to decide how we balance living our lives, while remaining acutely aware of, and sensitive to, what is happening to our people in Israel.

Blue Ribbons for Israel: Jofa is a partner in the global #BlueRibbonsforIsrael solidarity campaign. Wearing and posting the blue ribbon symbolizes support and solidarity for the safe return of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists in Israel. It symbolizes solidarity with the hostages, their families, and all who care about their safety. Anyone whose heart aches for the hostages in Israel and their families can wear a blue ribbon. Community members and leaders, spiritual leaders, elected officials, educators, students, allies, and more. Wearing a blue ribbon publicly unites you with people of all religions, races, nationalities, ethnicities, ages, and generations, and demonstrates for the people of Israel that they are not alone and that good people across the globe are with them and their families during this dark time. Send a powerful message of solidarity by wearing your ribbon, sharing on social media with #BlueRibbonsforIsrael, and encouraging those you know to wear and share too.

Follow Up: Thank you to everyone who joined Jofa, along with Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and many partners, this past Sunday, for "Unity. Community. Action. Bringing Together Our Communities." This gathering brought together Torah and tefillah; updates from Israel; actions items, and tips for caring for ourselves and those around us. Here are some takeaways from the program:

Connect Through Rituals: Many people are seeking out meaningful and symbolic personal and communal rituals, such as lighting Shabbat candles or baking challah, as ways to connect with each other, give to Israel, and find comfort. In The Power of Baking Challah Together in Hard Times, Joanna Nissim explores the origins of this ritual and why it speaks to us.

Advocate: Our government leaders must hear from us that it is as imperative as ever to stand unequivocally with Israel. Contact your legislators in the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Thank them for any statements that they have already made, and ask them to stand by Israel and its people, including supporting Israeli needs for vital American aid. It is most effective to write personal letters in your own words. Find the contact information for your members of the House and the Senate, or send a quick email to your elected officials, through the American Jewish Committee.

Give: It is powerful to see the incredible ways that Israelis, and Jews around the world, are helping. Most Israelis who are not fighting in the IDF have stepped up in incredible ways to help chayalim by providing much needed food, clothing, and supplies. We can all support these efforts by giving to any of the numerous grassroots, local, national, and international organizations and fundraising efforts that are supporting direct needs on the ground -- including your communty's Jewish Federation, as well as the following, to name just a few:

Reach Out: If you have family or friends in Israel, or know anyone with loved ones who are serving, reach out to them. People often wonder what to say when there are no adequate words -- but it’s about reaching out. Keep in mind that each person is experiencing this uniquely, in their own personal situation, with their own emotional bandwidth. Whether or how they respond, reaching out is meaningful and appreciated. Tell them simply that you’re thinking about them and praying for everyone’s strength and safety. It can make such a difference to show someone that they have support, in a situation that can feel so heartbreaking and intense. For mental health and wellness resources that can help, visit The Blue Dove Foundation.

Care for the Children in Your Life: Discussing with children what is happening right now is both highly sensitive and very important, for families, caregivers, educators, spiritual leaders, and more. Here are some resources to help navigate this:

Pray: Create or join a Shabbat of Solidarity in your community or congregation, including tehillim and prayers for Israel. The situation calls upon us to come together in prayer, and offer each other comfort as a community. Recite the Prayer for the State of Israel, Prayer for Tzahal , Prayer for the Safe Return of Hostages. Include in your tefillot the names of the soldiers who you know. Say your own personal prayers; insert your own prayers during tefillah. Take a moment to thank G-d for protecting and watching over us. Now more than ever, tefillah is a place to turn, to pour out our hearts, to seek comfort.

Recite/Study Tehillim: Many people find it comforting to recite and/or study Tehillim, whether as part of a community gathering, on your own, or in one of the many Tehillim circles, groups, and chats that have formed worldwide as sources of spiritual chizuk.

Learn Torah: Dedicate individual or group Torah learning to the safety of all Israelis, and the memory of those we have already lost. Start or join a group in your community, congregation, school, neighborhood, to learn something together, or complete a siyum, in the zchut of Israel's security and safety.

Divrei Torah by Women on Parshat Noach

Jews around the world are reading and studying Parshat Noach this week. Here are a few divrei Torah by women on this week's parsha:

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach