Tag Archives: Jewish

Nuance, News, Context, History, and Compassion – The Modern State of Israel

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Key Words: Nuance, Context, Compassion.

I know that many of y’all are trying to be compassionate. When people talk about the rights of Palestinians without discussing how Hamas treats Palestinians and Israelis, my stomach sinks and my heart breaks again and again. There have been Jews in the Land of Israel since the birth of Judaism over two thousand years ago. There are multiple terror organizations attacking Israel – not just since 1948 and not just since October 7, 2023. Their mission statements are to wipe Israel and all the Israelis off the map. Should Israelis be threatened, murdered, raped, kidnapped? Is it okay for Hamas and Hezbollah to constantly try to kill as many Israelis as possible? Hamas has been treating Palestinians worse than garbage since 2006 at least!

When American liberals talk about Palestinian rights, would they be willing to acknowledge that Israel is the only military willing to fight Hamas? I really need American liberals to give context and nuance to the Israel-Hamas war instead of simply raising up Palestinians as victims of Israel. I acknowledge that Netanyahu/Ganz/Smotrich are terrible and that the Israeli government is doing terrible things.

Can American liberals acknowledge that many of us only noticed the plight of Palestinians since October 7, 2023? Hamas’ oppression of Gaza has gone uncommented on by American liberals for many years. Are the rights of Gazans only important when Israelis are in the news?

Where was everyone who supports Palestinians between 2006 and today? Some of us liberal Jewish Americans have been fighting the Israeli government policies about Palestinians for many years.

Imagine how it feels for us Jews to know that – only when Israel is involved, people speak up….

Imagine what it feels like to hear people constantly criticize Israel without being brave enough to criticize terror organizations like Hamas…….

Israel is an easy target, isn’t it? Hamas is rich and huge and scary. Be brave, liberal Americans. Please address the nuance and long, wide context of the situation. There are still Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Hamas.

#BringThemHomeNow

#BringThemHome

#bringthemallhomenow

[in honor of Noam Dan and tv12!]

Why is there Anti-Semitism? A letter for Ph & W

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Dear Ph and W,

You asked:

Why do they hate us? Why do they hate Jewish people?

The real answer to this question is: No one knows, because anti-Semitism is not logical.

History has proven that there is nothing that Jews can do or not do in order to make people unhate us. So, there is no real answer. The hate doesn’t make sense.

I’m so sorry that these questions have to be part of your lives AT ALL, EVER.

On the other hand, here are some explanations that might make sense to you.

One: The Jewish People are the Weeble Wobbles of human history. I mean, not exactly because they were TOYS but still – their song was – Weeble Wobbles wobble but they don’t fall down.

That’s us. Since Judaism began, we have undergone attacks, but we never disappear completely. We always find each other and rebuild. Some people are curious about this. Others are jealous.

Two: We are not like everyone else. Many people fear difference. Sure, we have lungs and blood like everyone else. We need air to breathe and water to drink like everyone else. We are human, and, also – we don’t believe like they do. We have our own religion. We don’t behave like they do. We have our own cultures – Jewish cultures and traditions from Yemen and Poland and Iraq and Spain as well as from the Land of Israel, where Judaism was born. Jews are different, and Jewish texts teach us to be more than okay with that – to be proud. 

THAT is why Ph should become bat mitzvah and be part of confirmation, because THAT is your cultural inheritance. Becoming Bat Mitzvah within the Jewish Community is a gift to you from your Jewish ancestors and to them from you. You don’t have to cry about it! We are thrilled you want to become Bat Mitzvah! Later, joining a Confirmation Class will be your honor and privilege as a young adult who participates in Jewish community. We will be honored and blessed to celebrate you.

[And one day, we will walk the streets of Jerusalem and Yaffo/Jaffa and Haifa and enjoy the combinations of Jewish cultures all together in one Israeli neighborhood. You will see and taste and hear that Jewish people don’t all share the exact same cultures, but we still stick together.]

Three: Starting early in Jewish history, different empires and militaries have exiled us from the Land of Israel. In every country, on every continent, Jewish people have made their homes at one time or another. Some people thought that, if Jews went home to the Land of Israel, people would stop attacking us, but that didn’t work. Our ability to adapt to many places, times, and cultures seems to scare people. Some of them actually believe they are protecting themselves from us.

Four: Many non-Jewish people feel heartbroken when Jews die in hate crimes. When we grow strong again, however, it’s harder for them to feel sympathy for us. When there are Jewish generals and Jewish police captains, suddenly, they don’t see Jews as innocent anymore. 

Does this make sense? Nope. Because we know that all Jews are not the same. There are Israeli politicians who make me sick. There are Israeli military leaders who have broken my heart over and over. However, Israelis and Jews still deserve safe, healthy lives. People who see one Jewish bad guy and decide to hate all of us, those people don’t think like we do. It’s our job to try to be honest and open – while we defend Israelis and Jews – even if they don’t WANT to understand us.

Five: Lots of people DON’T hate us. I think they probably don’t hate fat people or disabled people or people who don’t speak their language either. When some people get scared or angry, they forget about everyone but their own group. It’s easy for them to ignore the human rights of people who they think are different from them or less than they are – or people they think just might be able to take care of themselves. So, we do. If anyone told my bubbe, “take care of yourself,” she would answer: “If I don’t, who will.” She was quoting Hillel, a famous rabbi whose wisdom has survived many years. 

Rabbi Hillel used to say:

If I am not for myself, who [will be] for me? 

If I am [only] for myself, what am I? 

If not now, when? 

(Pirkei Avot 1:14)

We stand for ourselves, and we stand with others. We never wait to work toward justice – for everyone.

Six: Many people LOVE YOU. As your mom wisely said: Let’s focus on the people who love us and who stand by us. We love them back, and we stand with them. 

Together, we always work to build a world of peace and safety for everyone – not just for the Jewish People or for Israel – for everyone – even if it takes a long time, even if it takes our lifetimes. 

Seven: We always SURVIVE! We always stick together, and we have survived SO MUCH. I’m sorry that you need to learn about our worst times. I look forward to sharing good times with you too.

Love love love, Auntie Rabbi Susan

A Heartfelt, Apolitical Way to Help

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Shalom from Herzliya and Caesarea in Israel.

(and from Susan in Austin, Texas, USA – I’m the English language editor.)

We know that you have been overwhelmed with requests for donations since October 7th. We promise ours is different.

Hadar and her friend Michal have organized a way to house and care for 8 families from Kibbutz Kissufim in the Israeli South. On October 9th, these eight families made it safely to Michal’s house in Caesarea. 

Michal, Hadar, and their friends and family have found a way to provide a home for them – to cook for them, do laundry for them, shop for them, whatever they need. Hadar and a group of friends from North of Tel Aviv are helping make a safe, stable, clean home for them.

So far, the eight families combined are raising 5 kids, ages 2-9 years. The school-age children have been enrolled in schools in Caesarea, but their parents cannot work. Their jobs, their homes, their lives are wrapped up in the kibbutz that Hamas attacked.

These families escaped with their lives, but, on October 7th, they lost their jobs, their homes, their community, their clothing, everything. Hadar, Michal, and our wider circle of friends are trying to provide a sense of stability for their children to adjust quickly and to begin to recover from the trauma of the attacks.

To support these families for the next three months will cost $12k. Twelve thousand dollars will pay for utilities, food, and a safe place to stay for 8 families of 5 children and 7 adults. Soon, one of the moms will be ready to give birth. Hopefully, they will also be joined by one injured grandfather when he is released from the hospital. We want to provide a safe, healthy home for everyone to recover together. Twelve thousand dollars will pay for rent, utilities, food, and a safe place to stay until they can get home to Kibbutz Kissufim. No donation is too small. Every dollar will help. 

We are grateful to the folks at Kavod: A Tzedakah Collective for agreeing to help us raise and distribute your donations as well. Special thanks to Aunt Judy for her help directing the funds. You can donate through Kavod at kavod.org. Please write “Hadar/Housing” in the notes so your donation gets to these 8 families. Thank you so much!

With gratitude and prayers for peace, Hadar and Susan

FAQs:

To learn more about Kibbutz Kissufim – https://www.kibbutzvisit.com/listing/kibbutz-kissufim/

Why can’t the Israeli government help them? Israel is very good at absorbing people who need help, but the attacks of October 7th have displaced an unprecedented number of families. Shelters are overfilled, and supplies are running out. The Israeli government is juggling a huge number of priorities including security, and so private Israeli citizens are volunteering to help.

Why can’t we just give to an established organization? Please do. Every dollar helps. For these particular families, funding this home for the next three months will be the most helpful and meaningful thing to do. 

How can we know that you are using this money responsibly? If you have met any of us, you know we are honest and responsible. If you have ever met Hadar, you already know she is excellent at spending money efficiently. If you need more details or more reassurances, please contact us! We would love to help you find a way to support these families directly. (If it makes you more comfortable, we can direct you to more established organizations.)

Why Caesarea and this house? People had to flee the kibbutzim in haste. Survivors from the kibbutz attacks are spread out all over Israel – some in Eilat, some in Caesarea – all over.  

Why these particular eight families? These are the ones we’ve got, and Kol Yisrael araveem zeh le’zeh – all of Israel is responsible for each other.

Why do they need a whole house? Why can’t they just stay at a shelter? Because what we would want for ourselves, we want for others.

Rambam, Sefer HaMitzvot, Mitzvah #206

היא שצונו לאהוב קצתנו את קצתנו כאשר נאהב עצמנו ושתהיה אהבתו וחמלתו לאחיו כאהבתו וחמלתו לעצמו בממונו ובגופו וכל מה שיהיה ברשותו אם ירצה אותו ארצה אני אותו וכל מה שארצה לעצמי ארצה לו כמוהו. והוא אמרו יתעלה ואהבת לרעך כמוך. (קדושים תהיו, מדע הלכות דעות פ”ז):

We are commanded to love each other as we love ourselves, and one’s love and compassion for another should be like the love and compassion we have for our own possessions – our body and everything else that is in our domain. What the other [person] wants, I want for myself; and WHAT I WANT FOR MYSELF, I WANT THE SAME FOR [EVERYONE]. And that is the meaning of the verse, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Lev 19:18)

שלום מהרצליה וקיסריה, ישראל

(ומסוזן באוסטין, טקסס, ארה”ב – אני העורכת בשפה האנגלית)

.אנחנו יודעים שאתם מוצפים בבקשות לתרומות מאז ה-7 באוקטובר. אנחנו מבטיחים שהבקשה הזו היא שונה

.הדר וחברתה מיכל ארגנו דרך לשכן ולטפל ב-8 משפחות מקיבוץ כיסופים בדרום הארץ. ב-9 באוקטובר הגיעו שמונה המשפחות הללו בשלום לביתה של מיכל בקיסריה

מיכל, הדר וחבריהם ובני משפחתם מצאו דרך לספק להם בית – לבשל להם, לעשות להם כביסה, לקנות להם כל מה שהם צריכים. הדר וקבוצת חברים מצפון תל אביב עוזרים ליצור עבורם בית בטוח, יציב ונקי

שמונה המשפחות יחד מגדלות 5 ילדים, בגילאי 2-9 . הילדים בגילאי בית ספר של המשפחות הללו נרשמו לבתי ספר בקיסריה, אך הוריהם אינם יכולים לעבוד. עבודתם, בתיהם, חייהם נשארו בקיבוץ שחמאס תקף

המשפחות הללו נמלטו בשלום, אך ב-7 באוקטובר הן איבדו את מקום עבודתן, את בתיהם, את הקהילה, את לבושם, הכל. הדר, מיכל ושאר החברים  שלנו מנסים להעניק תחושת יציבות לילדיהם ולאפשר להם להסתגל במהירות ולהתחיל להתאושש מהטראומה

על מנת לפרנס את המשפחות הללו בשלושת החודשים הבאים דרושים כ 12 אלף דולר. כסף זה מיועד לשירותים, מזון ומקום בטוח לשהות בו עבור 8 משפחות עם 5 ילדים ו-7 מבוגרים. בקרוב, אחת האמהות צפויה ללדת. יש לקוות, שיצטרף אליהם גם סבא אחד פצוע כשישתחרר מבית החולים. אנחנו רוצים לספק בית בטוח ובריא לכולם כדי להחלים ביחד. שנים-עשר אלף דולר ישלמו עבור שכר דירה, שירותים, מזון ומקום בטוח לשהות בו עד שיוכלו להגיע הביתה לקיבוץ כיסופים. אף תרומה לא קטנה מדי. כל דולר יעזור.

אנו אסירי תודה לאנשי “כבוד: קולקטיב צדקה” על הסכמתם לעזור לנו לגייס ולהפיץ גם את התרומות שלכם. תודה מיוחדת לדודה ג’ודי על עזרתה בהכוונת הכספים

https://web.payboxapp.com/?v=j&g=653fdd8ec73a910008722662#/

ניתן לתרום דרך “כבוד” בכתובת kavod.org. נא לרשום “הדר\דיור” בהערןת כדי שהתרומה תגיע למשפחות הללו.

בהכרת תודה ובתפילות לשלום, הדר וסוזן

שאלות ותשובות

למה ממשלת ישראל לא יכולה לעזור להם? ישראל טובה מאוד בקליטת אנשים שזקוקים לעזרה, אבל התקפת הטרור ב-7 באוקטובר עקרו מספר חסר תקדים של משפחות. המקלטים מלאים מדי, והאספקה אוזלת. ממשלת ישראל מלהטטת במספר עצום של סדרי עדיפויות כולל ביטחון, ולכן אזרחים ישראלים פרטיים מתנדבים לעזור

למה אנחנו לא יכולים פשוט לתת לארגון מבוסס? אתם יכולים! כל דולר עוזר. עבור המשפחות המסוימות הללו, מימון הבית הזה לשלושת החודשים הבאים יהיה הדבר המועיל והמשמעותי ביותר לעשות.

איך נוכל לדעת שהכסף שנתרום יגיע ליעדו וישתמשו בו בצורה אחראית? אם פגשתם מישהו מאיתנו, אתם שאנחנו כנים ואחראים. אם אי פעם פגשתם את הדר, אתם כבר יודעים שהיא מצוינת בניהול כסף ביעילות. אם אתם מעוניינים בפרטים נוספים, צרו איתנו קשר! נשמח לעזור למצוא דרך לתמוך ישירות במשפחות אלו

למה דווקא קיסריה? למה דווקא הבית הזה? אנשים נאלצו לברוח מהקיבוצים בחיפזון. ניצולים מהפיגועים בקיבוץ פרוסים בכל רחבי ישראל – חלקם באילת, חלקם בקיסריה – בכל רחבי הארץ

למה דווקא שמונה המשפחות האלה? אלה המשפחות שאנחנו קלטנו לנו, כל ישראל ערבים זה לזה – כל ישראל אחראים זה לזה

למה הם צריכים בית שלם? למה הם לא יכולים פשוט להישאר במקלט? כי מה שהיינו רוצים עבור עצמנו, אנחנו רוצים עבור אחרים

רמב”ם, ספר המצוות, מצווה מס’ 206

היא שצוונו לאהוב קצתנו את קצתנו כשנאהב עצמנו ושתהיה אהבתו וחמלתו לאחיו כאהבתו וחמלתו לבד בממונו ובגופו וכל מה שיהיה ברשותו אם ירצה אותו ארצה אני אותו וכל מה שארצה לעצמי ארצה לו כמוהו. והוא אמרו יתעלה ואהבת לרעך כמוך. (קדושים תהיו, מדע הלכות דעות פ”ז)

אנו מצווים לאהוב זה את זה כפי שאנו אוהבים את עצמנו, והאהבה והחמלה של אחד כלפי הזולת צריכות להיות כמו האהבה והחמלה שיש לנו כלפי רכושנו שלנו – הגוף שלנו וכל דבר אחר שנמצא בתחום שלנו. מה שהאחר רוצה, אני רוצה לעצמי; ומה שאני רוצה עבור עצמי, אני רוצה אותו דבר עבור [כולם]. וזהו פירוש הפסוק “ואהבת לרעך כמוך”. (לב י”ט, י”ח)

Old News; Same Story

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9/26/14 – On Rosh HaShanah, in our prayer book (machzor), I recognized a piece that I remember word-for-word from my childhood. In fifth grade, I started attending Jewish summer camp. In our daily prayers, we read this responsively:

When will redemption come?

When we master the violence that fills our world.

When we look upon others as we would have them look upon us. 

When we grant to every person the rights we claim for ourselves.

(Gates of Prayer, 1978, page 103)

First, I felt a rush of joy at seeing and hearing these words again. Usually, I would prefer to skip most of the English prayers, preferring the Hebrew. However, these few lines brought back the hopeful feelings of sitting in the outdoor chapel at the top of the hill, overlooking the ocean at Gindling Hilltop Camp.

Next, I felt a rush of sadness. Since before 1978, many American Jews have been praying this prayer. And yet, these words fit right in with the complicated current events of 2014.

I also feel sadness for Israel and the Jews. Since June, I have constantly been ‘the native informant’ the representative of Jews in two different Christian communities. Most non-Jewish people don’t talk to me about Israel, and every day I think about what I want to say about Israel in this or that conversation. My heart is broken that many people see Israel as a violent bully in the Middle East. I wish this text could be woven into others’ perceptions of the Jewish people and the only Jewish State.

[Found in an old journal, Still sadly relevant.]

Israelis, You are NOT Alone.

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Bring the hostages home from Gaza. #bringthemhomenow #bringthemallhome

I’ve been collecting sermons and articles and messages because 1. I want to appreciate the folks who are doing this hard, holy, loving work; and 2. I want to share these words. We cannot be silent, and we will stick together.

From Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback -“Es Brent,” It Burns: Grab a Bucket and Douse the Flames – Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback’s message from the LA Jewish Community Vigil for Israel hosted by Stephen Wise Temple on October 8, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&fbclid=IwAR31my2TVKKE-o19p35SVxaS68IPqyXc4mITpyErYsFxtGwKeZTCKDys2WA_aem_AaXnBK-oKSzwj-sCvkl-TFLrzFd3cNZQfRW9orG9hZ1A-1IUDCUOWv9uxM7VeUrF7U8&v=atXmTiDL5yI&feature=youtu.be&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

“Colonizers do not have thousands of years of history in the land they colonize – as the Jews do in the Land of Israel. Colonizers do have a home country that they can de-colonize to, unlike the Israelis.” – Rabbi Rachel Timoner – Shabbat B’reishit 5784 – Response to the Tragedy in Israel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKo0rxAZ_hc

From Rabbi Michelle Pearlman – “Here is a sermon I gave last Friday (10/20/2023). I asked our interfaith partners to come, and we had a packed house. We stand with Israel.” https://clipchamp.com/watch/qp0zvBArWC6

From Rabbi Jill Maderer – https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/israel-hamas-gaza-war-questions-humanity-20231020.html

More Messages:

From Dr. Rachel Adler – “I’m awed by the courage, generosity, and creativity of ordinary Israelis, protecting and caring for people who have suffered, when your so called ‘elected political leaders’ are about as useful as a broken arm. I hope we in the golah can learn from you.”

From Rabbi Karyn Kedar – “By day sixteen I put on my makeup again. Neutrals to even out the dark shadows. I reached for a soft grey eyeliner, just a bit of definition around the sadness. Mascara of course. So that my eyes would open. I can’t figure out if this is depression or mourning. But my eyes know. They know what they have seen and they know that this is so much more than war. You can eradicate a terrorist, even thousands. But only God knows how to eradicate evil. And God doesn’t know. But none of that is for me to say. I am only a poet, sitting on the lake’s edge. And the sun rises. And the blood kisses the horizon. And the turning of foam into itself. And the autumn tree turned burnt orange catches the fury. And the sounds, never ending sound of the illuminated waves, coming to shore, leaving again, returning again, leaving. And a man crosses the lake standing on a paddle board. I can’t see his features, just a silhouette upon the water, against the framing sky. I want to scream above the sound of the waves, I want to shout straight into the heart of beauty, I want to wail into the relentless sun rising and say: Don’t you know?! Don’t you know!!! This is a dangerous world. And in the morning, on the battlefield, the IDF commander orders his soldiers to brush their teeth and to shave their darkened face, lest they forget their humanity.”

From Rabbi Suzanne Singer – “Please let your friends know that we are heartbroken for them, that we stand 100% with Israel, and that we send them a cyber hug. Praying for peace soon and in our day.”

Articles to Read and Share:

Also from Rabbi Rachel Timoner – Do Not Take the Mezuzah Off Your Door – https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/17/opinion/israelis-palestinians-torah-humanity.html?smid=nytcore-android-share

From Dara Horne – Why Jews Cannot Stop Shaking Right Now – https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/22/opinion/hamas-israel-jews-massacre.html

From Dr. Stephen Windmueller: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/in-this-moment-israel-at-war/

After unthinkable horror, a new Jewish paradigm

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2023/10/hamas-covenant-israel-attack-war-genocide/675602/ I really like The Atlantic. I know it costs money and the articles are not short. However, I really think their authors/editors are very thoughtful and thorough researchers. No paper or magazine is perfect, but the last time I was mad at one of their articles/journalists was three or more years ago, so I guess they are mostly reliable.

This is a very good book! https://jps.org/books/zionist-idea/ Hertzberg’s The Zionist Idea!

Some feel good stuff:

THIS is my favorite article. It is not 100% happy because war is bad, but it’s a good article. It’s obviously horrible and tragic, BUT it does really emphasize the toughness of Israelis. It aims to give readers a small bit of hope. https://www.timesofisrael.com/coffee-and-cookies-how-a-hostage-kept-her-terrorist-captors-distracted-till-rescue/

This is the video with David Broza and the soldier Osher Beniso singing “You’ve Got a Friend” – https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyddXevNh6j/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D And this is the article about what happened next – https://newsrnd.com/tech/2023-10-17-after-singing-with-david-broza-and-getting-emotional—the-soldier-received-a-scholarship-to-study-at-%22rimon%22—voila!-culture.BJBZtQ0jWa.html

I know this article is not about Israel, but it’s about the murder of a American synagogue president during this terrible old war. Please read it if you have the so-called bandwidth. it’s important. https://www.inquirer.com/columnists/attytood/samantha-woll-murder-peace-nixon-phillies-20231024.html

Why I’m a Zionist

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In the 1920s, my bubbe (Bubi) escaped Poland. She left behind her best friend and cousin Libby. Ida Rubin arrived in Ellis Island with her family in 1921. It was a long road to Los Angeles – including stays in Chicago, Illinois; and parts of Florida and Connecticut. Libby left Poland later, and her ship took her to Israel.

In 1987, my father decided to plan a family trip to Israel. Our tour guide listened to this story from my Aunt Sema, my father, and my Bubi, and decided to make the connection happen. Yossi the Magical Tour Guide made some phone calls (because 1987) and found Libby Haimovsky in Jerusalem!

My dad rented a car and drove my bubi, my aunt, my mom, and me miraculously straight to Libby’s door (even without Waze or a GPS because 1987). My bubi only spoke Yiddish and English. Libby only spoke Yiddish and Hebrew. It was a joyous reunion for the grandmothers and a good beginning for the rest of us. This was my introduction to Israel and to my Israeli cousins.

Years later, my Israeli cousin Avi (z”l) visited me many times in New York City, Los Angeles, and even Austin, Texas! My parents and Avi shared a love of travel and of opera. When I was in Israel, Avi was always my home away from home, my tour guide, my restaurant guru, and my doctor. I met up with my other cousins through Avi for shabbat, for hannukah, and even for a wedding once. When Avi lived in Amsterdam, working as an orthodontist, his parents, his sister Anat, and her kids took care of me in Israel.

When my American cousins Jamie and Mark and I visited Israel five summers ago, Anat’s kids (Alon, Hadar, and Uri) took us through the shuk and on the shiny new train in Jerusalem. Anat even took us all for a beach day. We ate a delicious, meaningful Shabbat dinner at Moshe and Ruti’s house all together – not my first and hopefully not my last!

Since then, Anat’s kids are mostly in charge of keeping in touch with us (the American cousins). They send photos and holiday greetings on behalf of the Israeli side of the family.

This week, their job has gotten harder, but our American family really appreciate their hard work in sending us family updates and their own takes on current events.

Israel saved my bubi’s cousin Libby and her family. I like to believe that my bubi is glad we are still close enough for international telephone calls and to share a beach day in Tel Aviv, even now that our grandmothers have long-since died. I’m so grateful that Libby’s family escaped Poland and arrived in Israel safely. I’m so grateful that her grandchildren, her great grandchildren, and I are still family.

[Friends, I forgot how to put a photograph here! Help! If you want to see a photograph of the 1987 Polish Bubi/Savta Reunion – go to My Instagram!]

Sending Tzedakah to Israel – Getting the Biggest Bang for your Mitzvah Dollar

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My friend R. Yoshi Zweiback, our teacher Danny Siegel, and my friends and colleagues at Kavod have trained me to do tzedakah in a particularly thoughtful way. [The definition of tzedakah comes from the Hebrew root tzedek – “justice.” Tzedakah is righteous giving. Jews are obligated to repair what is broken in the world. Tzedakah is doing this kind of repair with monetary donations.] Kavod embraces tzedakah organizations with low overhead. I look for organizations that use their money/donations efficiently and effectively. For example, I don’t want to pay for fancy stationery or certificates. Of course, organizations need offices and stationery, but I want most of the money to go to serving/helping people. I look for organizations with “grassroots” – responsive humans who are grounded in the work and who are responsive to the people they serve.

For those of you who want to give stuff instead of money: My father has been working in shipping and customs all over the world for 60 years. It is better to send money because: 1. It’s safer to receive money electronically than to go to the post office during a war. [Also, lots of offices including the post office close during attacks so your stuff would just sit in some storeroom.] 2. The people you are trying to help, you’ve now given them an errand to do AND they will probably have to pay customs fees AND fill out forms. 3. If you send money, you give the recipients (a.) the dignity of CHOOSING what they need/want and (b.) money for the local economy on the ground.

If a person you know can only think of stuff and/or when things start running out on the ground, it’s best to choose an organization that is sending the stuff professionally with expertise in logistics and customs. I do remember once my dad telling me about an organization sending clean drinking water to Darfur. They filled shipping containers with large military grade bags of water. Then, they left the shipping containers there for people to use as shelter. Here is group of experts making sure Israeli soldiers get what they need no matter what shortages crop up – https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/IsraelEmergencyFund#tab3_sec2 (from Rabbi Susan Silverman)

If someone needs to DO something, contact your elected officials and ask for their help in bringing the Israeli hostages home! https://www.nif.org/press-releases/nif-ceo-bring-them-home/ Please do not let people forget the Israeli hostages in Gaza. #bringthemhomenow #bringthemallhome

Do Read! Discuss! Educate! If someone doesn’t have money and they want to do something, I’m a big fan of study sessions with a history book or some recent articles. Education and thoughtful discussions are always good for the world. I recommend The Zionist Idea, by Hertzberg and/or haaretz.com or https://www.972mag.com/ Learning is a Jewish value. It will only make the world better.

DONATIONS: I hate this helpless feeling so….my friend Hadar, who is the most liberal Israeli I know, is my source for tzedakah organizations. She recommends: https://beactive.co.il/project/73912 – It is very responsive, very grassroots, and very Israeli. I have a good friend who has been at the Kaplan Street protests for months, and she is the one who picked this org.

I’m researching a fundraiser for Kibbutz Nir Oz. So far, it seems good. https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/kibbutzniroz – my Jerusalem cousin picked this one. She is heart broken about how the terrorists essentially erased the whole kibbutz. I would really like help learning more about this org – if anyone is good at research/reviews for tzedakah orgs, please comment below! Thank you!

I LOVE this organization with my whole heart – https://www.bet-uri.org.il/copy-of-home – They are a residential care facility for people with all kinds of challenges. Beit Uri is responsible and effective and wonderful. They are a grand residential care home for people of all ages who live with all kinds of special needs. At Beit Uri there are 12 bomb shelters / safe rooms that serve 130 residents and 50 staff. Some shelters are in need of renovations such as plumbing, ventilation, door frames, and doors. Your donation will certainly help with this effort.

I like UnXceptable – https://www.unxeptable.org – This is the small org, started by the people protesting at Kaplan Street week after week, month after month for JUSTICE and EQUALITY in the legal system. Lately, they’ve been more focused on sending out valuable, current information/news. [I know the spelling is annoying. I’m sorry.]

And Combatants for Peace – https://afcfp.org/ – You can trust them. I have a friend who works there. [Hi, Gili!]

For spiritual care for Israelis – I’m super interested in this organization – https://www.livuiruchani.org.il/english! If you know someone there or you can do some research, I would love to hear more. Please advise.

My Israeli cousins sent me this one – https://israeltraumacoalition.org/en/ – ITC – Israel Trauma Coalition. Their slogan is “Response. Preparedness. Resilience.” Please share this with your friends and neighbors – even if you cannot give.

I also really like this organization – United Hatzalah! https://israelrescue.org/ They have interesting stories/news on their website, and they do creative, responsive work.

Some of our friends/family/neighbors only trust big, traditional organizations with name recognition. Here are my recs for those:

NIF – try New Israel Fund! You can trust Daniel Sokatch – I’ve known him forever! Daniel’s emails are truly helpful, informative, excellent. Get on that list!

JNF has an emergency fund that people like. https://my.jnf.org/israel-resilience-campaign [My family did give them a donation in honor of my Jerusalem cousins but they are so much clunkier and slower than my first choice – Be Active. They are actually MAILING us a certificate, etc. I had already gotten my confirmation/invoice email from Be Active when JNF was actually CALLING me back to confirm something.]

MDA – This is a very concrete one – https://www.mdais.org/en – Magen David Adom provides emergency response services, ambulances, and more.

Politics & Education – If you can, please make sure everyone you know knows that AIPAC loves Republicans. Never give them your contact info or your money. If someone says something positive to me about AIPAC, I act like they said a dirty word and respond: “Honey, I think you mean NEW ISRAEL FUND (NIF). Bless your heart.“

With gratitude and with prayers for peace, RSEL

Please learn and celebrate with Kavod!

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The 30th Anniversary of the KAVOD TZEDAKAH FUND

3 Online Classes with Mitzvah Heroes & Jewish Study about Tikkun Olam

Sundays, October 15, 22, and 29, 2023  

11am Texas Time [ = Noon Eastern Time / 9am Pacific Time]

Please Register here to join and receive the Zoom Link

Each class will feature text study with some great Jewish teachers and conversations with some of Kavod’s most extraordinary Mitzvah Heroes. We want to share great Jewish values and great Jewish teachers. We look forward to learning and celebrating with you!

October 15: Torah study with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and our mentor and teacher Danny Siegel, and a discussion with Rabbi Susan E. Lippe and Kris Wade of The Other Ones Foundation, doing extraordinary work with unhoused people in Austin, TX.

October 22: Torah study with Rabbi Jacqueline Ellenson, and a discussion with Rabbi Jay Moses and Dr. Beth Weinstock of BirdieLight, working to save the lives of young people with education and action around the dangers of Fentanyl, the #1 cause of death among 18-45 year-olds in the US.

October 29: Torah study with Rabbi David Ellenson and Rabbi Sydney Mintz, and a discussion with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback and Jonathan Ornstein, CEO of JCC KRAKOW, on the frontlines of work and rescue of Ukrainian refugees.

I hope you can join us for these 3 opportunities for learning and inspiration about the art and skill of Tzedakah [just giving] and Tikkun Olam [repairing what is broken in our world].

What is the Kavod Tzedakah Collective? 30 years ago, a group of rabbinical students in Jerusalem established the KAVOD Tzedakah Fund with the intention of seeking out, supporting, and promoting individuals and organizations that do the work of justice, caring, and peacemaking. 

This was the brainchild of my friend R. Yoshi Zweiback who named our group KAVOD, since human dignity is the common denominator of all our projects and donations.

Three decades later, the Kavod Tzedakah Fund has distributed over $1.7 million in the United States, Israel, Ukraine, and around the world. We continue to be dedicated to the art of grassroots, no-overhead giving.

Special thanks to R. Neal Gold and A Tree with Roots for hosting our classes online!

To learn more about Kavod’s work, please check out the most recent Annual Report here. There is no cost for these events, and we encourage participants to make a contribution of any amount (nothing too big or small) to our Kavod Tzedakah Fund at www.kavod.org.

Thank you!

Crochet a Kippah! An Introduction

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I’m getting ready to teach some cool Jews at Limmud how to crochet kippot (yarmulkes, skullcaps). I put the info here for the participants to find after Shabbat. xo

Here is my crochet advice so far:

  1. I taught myself to crochet because I wanted to make kippot. It took me YEARS to make something someone could wear, much less recognize, as an actual kippah. My first piece of advice is Be Patient.
  2. In lots of cases, learners start small – a lighter racket, a shorter shovel or hockey stick, a smaller spoon or rolling pin. In crochet, start bigger. It will be easier to see what you are doing. Practice with bigger hooks and thicker yarn. As you get more confident and as your stitches become more even and consistent, that’s when to try something smaller. I recommend starting with hooks in sizes I, J, or K. An I hook = 9 = 5.25mm, a J = 10 = 6.00mm, and a K = 10 1/2 = 6.50mm. The sizes differ in different countries, I think.
  3. To get ready for making kippot, the main stitches you need to learn are the chain stitch and single crochet.
  4. Relax and Practice. Even, consistent stitches only come with time, practice, and patience.
  5. Always use a Stitch Saver. It’s so sad when a project unravels in your bag.
  6. Please do not buy new plastic yarn. Finding great cotton yarn and bamboo yarn is easy. Some people prefer to upcycle yarn. Some people unravel something they find in their closet or in a thrift store and reuse the yarn. So easy and cheap. It’s unnecessary to add more plastic into the world. You can also buy recycled yarn at places like this and this. However, for beginners, I would stick with something simple and smooth.
  7. On new yarn, the label will tell you what size hook to use. You can always go bigger.
  8. Find an independent, locally-owned yarn store in your neighborhood, town, city, region. The community that grows around a yarn store knows everything – every yarn, every vendor, every trick, every fix. They will probably be focused on knitting, but you can always find cool, wise, generous crochet experts among the knitting chauvinists. [Knitting in the round does not make a great kippah anyway.] #crochetersunite
  9. Don’t be intimidated by really tiny stitches on really tight kippot. Those are either made by very experienced experts or machines.
  10. It’s okay if your kippah doesn’t look perfectly round! When you are finished with the project, wash it gently in cold water. Next, lay it on a towel or a rack to shape it. Then, let it air dry in the shape you chose. Note also: the more a kippah is on someone’s head (and in their pocket), the more kippah-shaped it will become.
  11. When you increase stitches for a kippah, do not increase in a regular manner. If you increase every two or three stitches in a pattern, you will end up making a gorgeous geometric shape that is not a circle. Eyeball it. You’ll see where you need to add to keep the shape. Be patient, and Practice.
  12. I learned how to crochet with yarn from Joann – called Sugar ‘n Cream. It’s cheaper cotton yarns for beginners so you can afford to make all the mistakes you need to. [Also, even when you become more experienced, I like to buy my yarns in person – to see and feel them.]
  13. Closure – Do not cut your ends too short when you are “done.” Cut looooong ends so that you can sew them back in and then rely upon the yarn to stay. I sew in my yarns in a zig zag or a circle to keep them reliable. This applies to the first string when you begin as well. Long ends make for secure sewing.
  14. Normally, people stitch into the V of the row before. When you feel more comfortable/confident, try stitching only into the “front V” or the “back V.” You can make designs by choosing one or the other.
  15. If you want to practice crocheting in the round without constantly starting over, try making a hat! I have made many winter hats at music festivals and in front of the tv, just to practice crocheting around and around – getting my stitches even. Plus, you can give those away. Oh – except! – when I make a hat, I match the ends of each circle and then move up. When I make a kippah, it’s a spiral.
  16. If you use Instagram (or any of those picture sharing apps), follow the hashtag #crochet! I get tons of inspiration from these photos. Plus, it’s a very cool way to see ideas, stitches, and color combinations from around the world. For example, this is my brilliant cousin at @tarlovart. Yes, I’m super jealous of the ease with which she quickly taught herself crochet, but also PROUD AND IMPRESSED. [Hi, Hannah!] Note: Hannah recommends using lighter colors when you are a beginner – easier to see clearly.
  17. Sometimes I edge the kippah with a chain stitch instead of the same stitch I’ve been using in order to make it easier for the clip to stay closed.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY – I learned to crochet from books. I know a ton of people learn from videos, but I get car sick. Some people learn better from videos, photographs, diagrams, drawings, or patterns. Embrace your learning style! I strongly recommend checking these out at your local library!

Eckman, Edie. The Crochet Answer Book. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2005.

Hubert, Margaret. The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet. Minneapolis, MN: Creative Publishing International, 2010.

Righetti, Maggie. Crocheting in Plain English. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press, 1988.

Stitchionary 4: The Ultimate Stitch Dictionary from the Editors of Vogue Knitting Magazine. Vol. Volume Four: Crochet. New York, NY: Sixth & Spring Books, 2007.

MORE GREAT 100% COTTON YARNS

I like this one a lot – Cotton DK yarns from PAINTBOX YARNS. It comes in a ton of gorgeous colors.

I got Heela Yarn in Jerusalem, but I think you can find it here if you ask around. For example, this Ravelry user is selling theirs.

The Jewish Holiday of Purim and Community Response to Hate and Violence

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Good evening. I’m Susan. I’m here for the dialogue and the Turkish food. I also have some ideas I want to run past you.

The Title of my talk is: The Jewish Holiday of Purim and Community Response to Hate and Violence.

I’m going to tell the story of the Book of Esther. I’m only going to tell selective sections of the Purim story. Some of the story of Esther is uncomfortable, especially in a world where women are supposedly equal to men.

Once upon a time, King Ahasuerus was a drunken, fictional king in Persia. His wife Queen Vashti refuses to be exploited during yet another drunken feast. Ahasuerus sent for her. She doesn’t come. The King’s advisors are outraged. The King’s advisors convince him to get rid of this wife and search for a new one.

Esther is a pretty young Jewish girl who lives with her uncle, Mordecai. When the king’s administration demands all pretty young things come to the palace to audition for queenship, Esther’s uncle prepares her to go. His big advice is: Don’t tell anyone that you are Jewish.

Esther is one of a large group of women who spend a year at the palace being groomed. Mordecai spends a lot of time around the gateway to where the women are, hoping to hear how Esther is. Let’s skip some of the uncomfortable details of how Esther wins this beauty contest. The bottom line is that Esther becomes queen, wife to the drunken and easily influenced king Ahasuerus. Queen Esther is safe and comfortable in the palace.

Now, Mordecai spends his time in the gateway to the palace. He has become an advisor to the king. Not exactly part of the king’s regime, but not exactly a regular citizen either. Mordecai is appreciated for his mind and for his concern for others.

Enter Haman. Haman is an advisor to the king. Though he is not the king, he demands the respect the king’s position might afford him. Just like the king, Haman demands that citizens bow to him. Mordecai refuses. Maybe he refuses because Jews do not bow to earthly kings. Maybe he refuses because he doesn’t think Haman deserves that kind of respect.

Bottom line – Mordecai refuses to bow to Haman. Haman becomes obsessed with Mordecai, complaining about him and his whole people. Haman makes revenge his pet project. He gets a law passed. On the fifteenth, all the Persians are encouraged to attack the defenseless Jewish citizens of the kingdom.

When Mordecai hears of this new law, he is outraged and worried. He puts on the traditional clothing of mourning. He seats himself at the gateway to the palace, wearing sackcloth and ashes. His niece, the queen becomes uncomfortable. She sends a messenger to him with clean clothing.

He sends her a message: “Haman is planning to kill all the Jews! Go to the king! Fix it! Fix it! Fix it!”

She sends him this message: “While that is upsetting news, what do you want me to do? My whole job is based on pleasing the king. I can’t interrupt him, and I certainly can’t tell him bad news. Plus, you told me never to tell anyone that I’m Jewish.”

Mordecai writes back: “Don’t think for a minute that you can stay safe in the castle. Being queen won’t protect you. If you don’t stand up for the Jews, help will have to come from another place……”

Esther thinks about it. Then, despite her fear and discomfort, she sends a new response: “Gather all of our people. Ask everyone to fast with me for three days. Then, I will go to the king to ask for help.”

The people join Mordecai in sackcloth and ashes and fasting. Esther visits the throne room. The King welcomes her. Esther prepares two consecutive feasts for the King and his advisor, the evil Haman. At the second feast, Esther tells the king that she’s worried about the Jews and the new law. She admits that she is, in fact, Jewish. The king takes a moment to absorb all this information and then his administration quickly adds to the law.

The new law is that the Jews are allowed to fight back. So, the Jews and the Persians prepare to fight. The Jews win.

This story is violent and fictional. And it leads to a famous joke about us. Purim and Passover are both summed up this way: “They tried to kill us. We survived. Let’s eat.”

What have we learned from Purim?

Some of our lessons are these:

Jewish survival is confusing and wonderful. Jews are a minority in the world, and yet we survive.

It’s important to stand up for what is right, even when it’s terrifying.

Sticking together, working together, praying together, fighting together means everything.

Find the entry ways. Mordecai is almost always at a doorway or a gateway. The royal administration notices him because he’s always by the entrance.

Be a Noisemaker

We bring noisemakers to the Megillah reading. When the reader says Haman, people make so much noise, trying to blot out the sound of his name. Since January 20th, many of us have had a the chance to be a noise maker. There are a million suggestions and guidebooks out now about how to be the best and most-effective noise makers. Here are my favorite suggestions this week:

One: I have heard from a few sources that we should start talking about the Republican Administration. When the president does something that we find offensive or frightening, instead of talking about the individual president, we can talk about the Republican Administration. Instead of trying to hold one slippery person accountable, we as a group will hold the party responsible. And hopefully, the party will care about how we see them as a group.

As far as I can see, this party sees us as our group identity, religious minorities. So, we can let them know how that works – from the other end.

Two: When it comes to letting a politician know what we think, emails and voicemails aren’t as powerful as calling. (You must know that I  never never ever talk on the phone. I text. It’s faster and it doesn’t depend on two people being free to talk at the same time.)

BUT I’ve been calling our senators and my neighborhood’s representative. I haven’t called every day, but I’ve called at least once a week. I have a new notebook and I keep track of whose lines are busy, who answers, what I say, and what they say.

I’m a noisemaker. I get my ideas from a few websites and journalists whom I like and respect. I write down one issue. It usually starts with – “I’m concerned about….”

Hamentaschen

I have a Cookie Proposal.

If you’re Christian, then the whole country validates you, your customs, your traditions, your calendar.

The country doesn’t know that much about us Jews, but they believe they do. They know that we don’t accept Jesus as our savior, but most of what they know about Jews, they know from television shows like Seinfeld.

The main thing that non-Jews in Texas know about us is food. During hannukah, my friends ask for potato pancakes. During the high holy days, they ask for matza ball soup. During Passover, I usually share chocolate matza brittle. During Purim, I make hamentaschen, these three cornered cookies with different sweet fillings.

So, here is my idea: a Muslim Cookie Strategy.

The non-Muslim Americans don’t know you. They have no idea what Eeeed is, how to pronounce it, why there are two of them, and when to expect them in the calendar.

My strategy is teach folks about Islam with cookies. It’s not a brilliant theory, and it’s not just a play to receive snacks, but this is my idea: Before or after Eeed and other celebrations, bring some snacks to people who don’t really get you yet – the fire department, the police department, the teachers at your kid’s school, the nurses’ station at the hospital. I am proposing Cookie Diplomacy.

Storytelling

On Purim, one of our mitzvot, holy obligations, is hearing the Megillah, Megillat Esther, the Book of Esther. We are not obligated to read it, we are obligated to hear it. So, to fulfill this divine commandment, we gather together to hear the same story, every year. Storytelling is the glue that binds our community together. But just being part of the Jewish community isn’t enough. We, all of us, can use storytelling to bind us to our neighbors.

The reason we are here tonight is the Dialogue Center, a group that values connection.

As I have learned from my chapter of the Sisterhood of Salaam/Shalom, storytelling binds us.

As I have learned from the New Israel Fund, it’s time for us to stand together, to tell each other the good stories and the bad stories.

There is no better way than to deepen empathy than to share our stories.

Compartmentalization

Take the tough stuff seriously, and then party seriously. Ta’anit Esther is the fast the day before Purim. It’s hard for some of us to celebrate the fictional death of the fictional Persian attackers. Judaism provides us a fast day to separate our grief from our celebration. There is nothing like a day set aside for grief to make a day set aside for a party possible.

Conclusion

Thank you for this invitation. I’m honored to be included at the Dialogue Center. The Dialogue Center does important work, and the Dialogue Center also feeds me very well. Being part of this community, a group of friends, cousins, and bakers, is a blessing to me.