Navigating Israel

Gather, Learn, Support, and Act

We derive comfort and strength from being in connection with one another, enabling us to build the resilience and grounding needed as we face challenging times. As we continue to navigate this heartbreaking time, we have put together a growing list of opportunities for learning, gatherings, and resources for getting and giving support.

With blessings for quieter times of safety, healing, and peace.

Gather

• Daily Community Meditation: Monday - Friday @ 1:15pm. Join the Or HaLev Community for a daily 30 minute virtual meditation to support you during this time.

• IJS Daily Sit: Monday - Friday @ 12:30pm-1:00pm. The Institute for Jewish Spirituality hosts a daily guided meditation that provides respite, calm, and a warm and caring space in which to be held. Join via zoom using link above, or watch on Facebook/Youtube livestream.

• View the Den’s upcoming classes and gatherings here.

Learn

Informational Guides + Resources

• Keshet’s Answers to Tough Questions: Queers, Jews, Queer Jews, Antisemitism, and the War in Israel and Gaza

• Hartman Institute Resources On The Ethics Of War: Hartman Institute has shared the following resources and presentations on the ethics of war. 

  • A Jewish Narrative of Power: Fighting a Just War Justly: Together with Rabbi Lauren Berkun, we engage in text study and dialogue about the Jewish ethics of self-defense and morality in war.

  • Moral Responsibilities in a Time of War: Elana Stein Hain examines some of the big debates regarding these issues as they relate to the Israel-Hamas war.

  • Ethics and Rules of Proportionality: In this session, Idit Shafran Gittleman explores the theoretical underpinnings of these requirements and their relevance to October 7th and the Israel-Hamas war.

  • Siege Warfare and Civilian Casualties: Jewish Values and Israel’s Dilemma: Shlomo Brody explores rabbinic perspectives on siege warfare and discuss how they informed IDF guidelines in recent dilemmas of asymmetric warfare, with particular attention to the current war in Gaza.

  • Just War Theory in Israel and the International Community: Yitzhak Benbaji explores the range of approaches to the current war and their implications.

• The Israeli-Palestinian Context Video Series: these short videos present a clear and in-depth outlook on the history of Israel in all its complexity. By exploring the conflict from multiple perspectives, JewishUnpacked.com works to share a nuanced understanding of a complex history.

• Visit Hey Alma, in partnership with Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), for continually updated news on what’s happening now in Israel and Gaza.

• View this high-level policy briefing from Israel Policy Forum, an American Jewish organization that works for a negotiated two-state solution.

• Guides for Talking to Children about What is Happening in Israel and Gaza:

  • PJ Library Israel Hub: Resources for discussing this with your children/grandchildren

  • The Jewish Education Project: A curated series for teaching about Israel in crisis

  • ChildMind: Resources for helping children cope through tragic events

  • How to Talk to Children About Israel Today: The Jewish Education Project’s Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath and expert Dr. Sivan Zakai share resources and best practices. 

  • Talking to Children About War: from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

• Educational Resources for Discussing the Israel-Hamas War:

  • ADL: The Anti-Defamation League

  • JCRC: Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington

• A Guide for Navigating the War in Israel: For additional information and resources, please view this guide from our friends at GatherDC.

Social Media Content

• Judaism Unpacked: Provides nuanced insights into the news and current events by unpacking all things Jewish.

• A Wider Frame: Current events in the Jewish world deserve a wider frame. Sign up for this free newsletter that will give you quick, easy, and comprehensive Jewish world news all in one place, delivered to your inbox.

• Roots Metals: Debbie is a Jewish, Israeli, and Latina author, educator, content creator, and artist. She is a sitting board member at Indigenous Bridges and writes educational content for the ADL, Creative Community for Peace, Honest Reporting, and more. 

• Matthew Nouriel: Describes himself as unapologetically Iranian, Jewish, & Queer. Matthew works as the Community Engagement Director for Jimena Voice.

• Muhammad Zoabi: Zoabi is an Arab-Israeli. A freelance writer and speaker focusing on Israel-Palestine commentary.

Books, Articles, Sermons

• We’ve Lost So Much. Let’s Not Lose Our Damn Minds: a sermon by Rabbi Sharon Brous of Ikar in Los Angeles.

• To Jewish College Students Who Are Scared: an article by Sarah Hurwitz, author and member of the Den’s Advisory Council.

• Stunning Volunteer Response: an article in The Times of Israel highlighting pivots in civic duty and the thousands of volunteers serving the most vulnerable on the streets in Israel.

Support

Emotional and Mental Health Support

• Those in the U.S. seeking information about loved ones in Israel can contact the Israeli Consulate in New York at 917-756-8387 or 212-499-5321.

• 703-J-CARING: Those in need of emotional support and/or mental health services can contact the Federation and JSSA’s J-CARING hotline

• JSSA Community Support Circle: JSSA will be hosting support circles for the community to come together to share how the violent events in Israel/Gaza are impacting their well-being and how we can support one another through this challenging time. JSSA's expert mental health crisis facilitators will lead the guided discussions. Register here.

• JQ HELPLINE: The JQ Helpline provides inclusive support and resources for LGBTQ+ Jews, their families, and allies. Call, text, or email: 855-JQI-HLPS | Helpline@JQinternational.org

• Blue Dove Foundation: A Jewish guide with resources to support people through traumatic death.

• Reach out to the Den rabbis for rabbinic pastoral care: Be in touch with Rabbi Aderet for emotional and spiritual support in a confidential safe space.

Jewish Wisdom, Prayer + Art For Times of Distress

Reciting psalms and prayers can offer us comfort and support during difficult times. Time for personal reflection through art + meditation can help us feel grounded, enabling us to channel our thoughts into concrete action, projecting our care, love and hope out into the world:

• Psalms for Times of Crisis: Compiled by the Rabbinical Assembly, this is a collection of psalms and prayers for use during times of distress.

• Derech L’Tefillah - A Path to Prayer: If you do not have a regular prayer practice and are unsure of how to start, Blue Dove Foundation has put together this offering of suggestions for prayers to recite and/or steps you can take to meditate.

• the Den’s Community Vigil program: the Den hosted a community vigil along with partner organizations on October 9th. View our collection of prayers and readings from the vigil.

• B’Yachad: A Time to Come Together: View the Den’s source sheet from our first B’Yachad gathering, a time to come together for learning, prayer, and support. Future B’Yachad gatherings will be scheduled.

• Selection of Prayers: In times of crisis, it is customary to recite Psalms (suggested: 6, 77, 91, 121, and 130.) Other prayers include: a prayer for redemption for those held in captivity, a Prayer for Peace.

• A New Prayer for the Well-being of the Israel Defense Forces: Rabbi Aderet Drucker wrote this new egalitarian, nuanced, and holistic prayer for the people serving in the Israel Defense Forces.

• Our Collective Heartbreak: Liturgy, poetry + art can speak to and from our hearts in ways that discursive forms (articles, essays, the news, facebook posts) often don't or can't. From Bayit's Liturgical Arts Working Group, a consciously pluralist ensemble, coming from different places: in their religious practice, in their literary/artistic style, and in their relationship to Israel. 

Act

Donate, Volunteer, Advocate

• Demand Safe Release of Hostages from Hamas: Urge your senator to sign bipartisan resolution, S. Res. 408, condemning Hamas’s brutal terrorist attacks on Israel and demanding that Hamas release all hostages and allow for their safe return home. Check if your senator signed here, and find templates for contacting your senator here.

• ZAKA Search and Rescue: ZAKA is Israel’s dominant non-governmental rescue and recovery organization, focusing on rescue + recovery, identifying bodies, and performing chesed shel emet (the highest level of a commandment) to honor and care for the dead after terrorist attacks and notify families. 

• Israel Crisis Relief Fund of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington raises essential dollars for those in need, to be distributed swiftly through their partners on the ground, including the Fund for Victims of Terror. To support the relief efforts: Donate online here.

• Donate to World Central Kitchen: World Central Kitchen is doing critical humanitarian work—feeding civilians in need--in Israel and Gaza. They are first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Chef Jose Andres of WCK, "We are committed to providing nourishing meals and food kits to families who need support, and our teams will continue to seek ways to do that for residents in both Gaza and Israel.”

• Save an Empty Seat at Your Shabbat Table for a Hostage Held by Hamas. As we enter Shabbat each week until the captives are safely and securely returned, National Council of Jewish Women invites you to use this kit to save an empty seat at your Shabbat table for one of the 200+ hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza.

• HIAS Emergency Response: HIAS is rushing critical emergency aid to the people affected, including basic supplies (hygiene kits, blankets, school supplies), cash-based assistance, mental health and psychosocial support, child protection, and support for local partners that are providing shelter, medical services, and legal help. Donate here to help send emergency aid.

• Voices for Hostages: Global Women Leaders have raised their voices urging humanitarian aid and the safe and swift return of all hostages to their loved ones. Sign NCJW’s letter and add your voice.

• Jewish Funders’ website: includes a list of vetted organizations in a position to help now.

• IsraAID Emergency Fund: IsraAID partners with local organizations and civil society initiatives working with vulnerable communities and evacuated families to coordinate humanitarian efforts, focusing on psychosocial support, stress relief activities, child friendly spaces, and relief supplies as needed.

• JNF-USA Israel Resilience Campaign: “We are hard at work finding ways to help ease the pain and trauma, through temporary housing for displaced residents, fire and rescue equipment, respite activities, psychological support, and more.”

• Supporting Vulnerable Children In Israel: YATOM, the Jewish Foster + Adoption Network, supports orphans, foster children and families opening their homes to vulnerable children. Please help make grants to these families in their urgent time of need.

• OLAM + SID-Israel (Society for International Development): made this list of places to Donate or Volunteer to help support Israeli organizations responding to the situation.

• Pidyon Shvuyim - פִּדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִים: The mitzvah/commandment to bring the release of all captives: Please spread the news that the Israeli civilians who were kidnapped must be found and saved! Click here to download posters of their photos to share with your networks. 

With Blessings for Safety, Healing, and Peace.

And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks: Nation shall not take up sword against nation; They shall never again know war.

— Isaiah 2:4