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In This Edition:
- Weekly Dvar
- Women's Megillah Readings & Purim Resources
- Update & Save the Dates
- Women's Voices
- Spotlighted Israel Resources
- Divrei Torah by Women on Parshat Ki Tisa
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Weekly Dvar:
The Leap Year of Faith
Friends,
The olive oil that Jews are commanded to prepare for the menorah is extracted from olives through a crushing and pulverizing process that releases its juice. Thus this product of brokenness is transformed into something that brings light to overcome darkness.
This is the light of faith that we are seeing transformed into action right now: Judaism doesn't revel in suffering, but inevitably, when bad things happen, how do we respond? Some give up in despair; others face it stoically; others find love, compassion, and hope.
As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks puts it, "When bad things happen to good people, our faith is challenged. That is a natural response, not a heretical one...Yet in the end," he writes, the question to ask is not, 'Why has this happened?,' because we will never know. "The right question is, 'Given that this has happened, what then shall I do?' The answer is not a thought -- but a deed. It is to heal what can be healed, medically in the case of the body, psychologically in the case of the mind, spiritually in the case of the soul. Our task is to bring light to the dark places of our and other peoples’ lives."
This is an apt and uplifting message for the extra Adar of this leap year, as we contemplate and wrestle with how to bring "light and joy" to Am Yisrael (in the words of Megillat Esther) during a time that feels dark and sad.
We continue to pray that all of the hostages will be freed immediately, the war will end, and with it, the unbearable pain of those missing their loved ones. The families have not given up hope: they are protesting; pleading; demanding action; praying; speaking out – and so can we.
In moments of despair, we can lean into our faith, and do whatever is possible to bring light. The hostages' family members epitomize the clear olive oil used for the Beit Hamikdash – brokenness transformed into a light of faith in their loves ones' return, that can inspire us all.
With this in mind, we share some ways and resources to help bring light, as well as women's voices to bring perspective to what is happening, and divrei Torah by women on the parshat hashavua, Ki Tisa.
Please continue to use and share the resources and ways to help, in this email, on our Supporting Israel resource page, and in our social feeds, to keep up our efforts to help strengthen Am Yisrael and build up light and joy when it is sorely needed.
Besorot Tovot.
| Megillah Readings & Purim Prep Resources | |
The Brisbane, Australia, Women's Tefillah Group's
multigenerational first-ever Purim megillah reading.
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Purim is just a few weeks away -- Saturday night and Sunday, March 23-24!
Please list your women's or partnership megillah readings here, so we can share the listings with others who may want to join!
We also have several resources for planning a women's or partnership megillah reading and learning the leyning, including:
We appreciate your patience as we update our Android leyning app; please use our web-based recordings in the meantime.
| Jewish Disability Advocacy Day 2024 Wrapup | |
Jofa was proud to partner in Jewish Disability Advocacy Day 2024: Ensuring We All Flourish! yesterday, for a virtual program of education, advocacy, empowerment, impact, and learning from elected officials, community members, and peers.
If you missed it:
Finally, please take action on the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act (S 2767/HR 5408), to improve economic security for people with disabilities and help lift them out of poverty. This bipartisan, bicameral bill would increase the SSI asset limit for the first time since 1989. Click here to send a note to your elected officials.
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International Women's Day - Next Friday, March 8:
Advocate for Women Still Held Captive by Hamas
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International Women's Day is an opportunity for us to advocate especially for the women hostages -- and for all of the hostages -- still being held captive by Hamas.
Please join us in solidarity, together with a growing group of organizational partners, by taking time on that day to advocate for the hostages' release, and connect with advocacy and awareness raising efforts in your community -- such as Run for Their Lives, which organizes local run/walk events calling for the immediate release of the hostages.
Please watch for updates in the coming week about what you can do on International Women's Day -- or any day -- to raise your voice for the hostages' release.
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International Women's Month Program
on Ta'anit Esther, Thursday, March 21, 11AM EST
Register and join us!
| Moran Zer Katzenstein, Founder, Bonot Alternativa | |
In honor of International Women's Month 2024, Moran Zer Katzenstein, founder of Bonot Alternativa, one of Israel's leading gender equality organizations, will lead a conversation delving into the distinctive qualities and strengths that women bring to leadership roles.
Highlighting the imperative of women's representation at decision-making tables across military, government, local authorities, and civil society, Moran will share insightful anecdotes and case studies drawn from recent emergency relief efforts. She will also unveil Bonot Alternativa's ambitious plans to rebuild women's leadership in Israel this year.
Register and join us for this online session, as we recognize the strength of women leaders, and unite to build a more equitable and inclusive future for women in Israel.
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Days of Torah Learning at SAR High School, June 23-24
Jofa is proud to join SAR High School and numerous partners (listed in the graphic below) for two days of Torah learning in June, in memory of Riva Koschitzky, z"l, an outstanding supporter of numerous projects to increase and enhance Torah learning. Please watch for details; a Zoom component will be offered for those unable to attend in person.
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Here we share a range of women's voices, ideas, thoughts, and reflections, as examples of what women are processing and feeling right now, and how they are finding understanding, strength, hope, and resilience, during this time. We hope that these writings provide you with new perspectives, and inspire you to write and share your own insights:
| The Leap Year of Faith for Israel | |
Even as the war continues and we feel worn out, we have a leap year with two Adars encouraging us to find light and joy -- this year, that means finding our sense of purpose in helping and strengthening Am Yisrael, and keeping faith that we will experience the light and joy of Purim as in Megillat Esther.
Please check our Supporting Israel: Ways to Help Now page, where we continue adding ways to keep current and engaged with what is happening in Israel and how we can help -- including raising the voices and stories of how women are impacted, how they are responding, and ways we can support them.
The page includes resources for fighting antisemitism; advocacy; staying informed; keeping attention on the hostages; finding comfort in rituals; ways to contribute; talking to kids about Israel; reaching out; mental health; community gatherings, and more.
We will also continue spotlighting additional resources in this weekly email and our social feeds, and adding them to the page. We hope that each week you'll will find something that speaks to you, helps you stay connected, gives you specific things you can do -- in Israel, around the world, and in your own home and community.
| Spotlighted Israel Resources | We continue highlighting resources and organizations each week that you can turn to for information, support, or to contribute toward direct needs on the ground in Israel. Please see our Supporting Israel page for our continually growing list. |  | |
Advocacy:
Mental Health:
Education:
Direct Needs:
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Economic Empowerment for Women in Israel (EEW) helps low-income women from the geographic and social periphery to develop small businesses of their own, giving them the knowledge and tools to gain self-sufficiency, break the poverty cycle, and improve their lives.
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ATIDIM (Futures), is a national program developing human resources and closing the socioeconomic gaps crippling Israel’s periphery, by creating equal educational opportunities. This comprehensive program identifies talented young people from Israel’s underprivileged areas and gives them the chance to get on track to higher education. ATIDIM’s Educational Resilience Program for Traumatized Teens will be a one-stop-shop for preparation for the future, comprising both digital and physical programs to provide informal education, enrichment, and wellbeing activities. The pilot will begin with 500 teens evacuated from northern communities living in hotels in Tiberias.
| Divrei Torah by Women on Parshat Ki Tisa | |
Jews around the world are reading and studying Parshat Ki Tisa this week. Here are a few divrei Torah by women on this week's parsha:
| Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach | |
