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The courage to Find Meaning in the Struggle (MUSIC)

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The courage to Find Meaning in the Struggle (MUSIC)

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Idan Amedi, an Israeli singer and actor, was severely injured in Gaza while serving as a reserve fighter. After a long recovery process that is still ongoing, Idan has released his new song, 'Superman,' about his heroic journey and the stories of other IDF heroes. The song sends the powerful message that strength is not just about survival, but about finding meaning in the struggle.

Consider:

When have you or someone you cared about been able to access hope after a very difficult experience?

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עידן עמדי – סופרמן | Idan Amedi - Superman

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The humility of embracing uncertainty (MUSIC)

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The humility of embracing uncertainty (MUSIC)

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"Where I Live וs a music video made for the Indie City Project Season #12 Filmed at Shelter at the Gvulot Junction - released October 4, 2024

In this music video, musicians Jimbo J, Orit Tashoma and Avraham reflect on fleeing during the October 7th attacks, grappling with displacement and the unsettling realization that both home and evacuation offer uncertainty. Through a poetic reflection on daily life in Israel, the song highlights the resilience, nostalgia, and inevitable changes that shape their community, balancing survival with a deep desire to return home.

Consider:

What words, phrases, or images stand out to you in this song and video? When you think about your home, what is most meaningful about it?

What are some things that you need to feel “at home” even when you are away from home? Have you ever returned to a place that used to be your home but is not anymore? What was that like?

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Jimbo J with Orit Tashoma  and Avraham Lagasa-Shelter at the Gvulot Junction - [INDIECITY2024]

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The Commitment to Preserve Memory Through Music (MUSIC)

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The Commitment to Preserve Memory Through Music (MUSIC)

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As a tribute to the hostages and victims of October 7, the popular radio station Galgalatz initiated a special project: 'Seven Songs in October.' The initiative gathered seven original songs written by hostages or victims, inviting renowned Israeli singers to perform and record them. This is just one of many cultural acts of solidarity, representing a covenant of remembrance and support. One of the songs was co-written by soldier hostage Daniela Gilboa, who was released from captivity in January 2025. This recording was performed by Eden Ben Zaken before Daniela was released from captivity.

Consider:

What is our responsibility to preserve art, music, and stories from victims of October 7th?

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גלגלצ הערוץ הרשמי

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אולי תיפתח הדלת - אביב חג'ג' ז"ל, ים גלס ז"ל ודניאלה גלבוע - עדן בן זקן (מתוך "שבעה שירים באוקטובר")

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The kindness to stand in solidarity (MUSIC)

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The kindness to stand in solidarity (MUSIC)

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With lyrics that echo unity, resilience, and peace, this song acknowledges the tragic events of October 7 while expressing solidarity. This song is the first Arabic song in history dedicated to Israel and the Jewish people, acknowledging the massacre that took place on October 7 to express support and solidarity. It is a gift from Arab advocates who want peace in the Middle East, especially with Israel. The message is clear: "You are not alone; here we are, we stand with you.

Discuss:

What words or images from the music video stand out as particularly meaningful to you?

What is your reaction to learning that this is the first Arabic song dedicated to the Jewish people acknowledging the massacre on Oct 7? How if at all does this gesture demonstrate kindness?

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October Rain شتاء تشرين (Arabic Version) By Carine Bassili

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Covenant as Preserving the Memory of our Heroes (MUSIC)

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Covenant as Preserving the Memory of our Heroes (MUSIC)

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Sgt. Shahar Friedman fell in a heroic battle in the Gaza Strip against a terrorist cell in November 2023. He had documented his experiences fighting after October 7th and love for his girlfriend Noga in a journal, which has now been transformed into a song as part of the "Seven Songs in October" project by Galei Tzahal and Galgalatz radio stations. His handwriting is also being used to create a font in honor of those lost in the "Swords of Iron" war.

Discuss:

What is our responsibility to preserve the memories of heroes? How does music help us preserve memory?

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‎גלי צה"ל glz‎ on Instagram‎: "“איך דווקא מלחמה גורמת לי לכתוב” | בשבעה באוקטובר, סמ״ר שחר פרידמן ז״ל כבר היה בחפש״ש, אך באותו הבוקר כשקיבל טלפון מהמפקד - מיד אסף ציוד ונסע דרומה.
תוך כדי לחימה, שחר החל לכתוב יומן, בו כתב על החוויות שלו, הגעגועים ליקיריו, האג׳נדה שלו על החיים ועל אהבתו לנגה, החברה שלו. ב-18 בנובמבר 2023 שחר נפל בקרב הרואי ברצועה מול חוליית מחבלים. בן 21 בנופלו.

במסגרת המיזם ״שבעה שירים באוקטובר״ של גלי צה״ל וגלגלצ, המילים שכתב שחר לאהובתו נגה, קיבלו חיים משלהם כשהגיעו לידיה של מארינה מקסימיליאן.
השיר המלא, ושירים נוספים שכתבו נופלים ונופלות, ייחשפו לראשונה במשדר מיוחד ביום שני, שבעה באוקטובר, בשעה 15:00 בגלי צה”ל ובגלגלצ.

הגופן בכתיב ידו של שחר הוא פרי המיזם ״אות חיים״ - מעצבים יוצרים גופנים מכתב ידם של הנרצחים והנופלים במלחמת ״חרבות ברזל״.

הפרויקט נוצר בתמיכת מפעל הפיס."‎

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2,612 likes, 64 comments - glzradio on October 6, 2024‎: "“איך דווקא מלחמה גורמת לי לכתוב” | בשבעה באוקטובר, סמ״ר שחר פרידמן ז״ל כבר היה בחפש״ש, אך באותו הבוקר כשקיבל טלפון מהמפקד - מיד אסף ציוד ונסע דרומה.
תוך כדי לחימה, שחר החל לכתוב יומן, בו כתב על החוויות שלו, הגעגועים ליקיריו, האג׳נדה שלו על החיים ועל אהבתו לנגה, החברה שלו. ב-18 בנובמבר 2023 שחר נפל בקרב הרואי ברצועה מול חוליית מחבלים. בן 21 בנופלו.

במסגרת המיזם ״שבעה שירים באוקטובר״ של גלי צה״ל וגלגלצ, המילים שכתב שחר לאהובתו נגה, קיבלו חיים משלהם כשהגיעו לידיה של מארינה מקסימיליאן.
השיר המלא, ושירים נוספים שכתבו נופלים ונופלות, ייחשפו לראשונה במשדר מיוחד ביום שני, שבעה באוקטובר, בשעה 15:00 בגלי צה”ל ובגלגלצ.

הגופן בכתיב ידו של שחר הוא פרי המיזם ״אות חיים״ - מעצבים יוצרים גופנים מכתב ידם של הנרצחים והנופלים במלחמת ״חרבות ברזל״.

הפרויקט נוצר בתמיכת מפעל הפיס.". ‎

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Kindness of holding others through uncertainty (MUSIC)

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Kindness of holding others through uncertainty (MUSIC)

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A Greeting from Another Life: This song, written by Idan Raichel, was inspired by Avital, the wife of Sagui Dekel-Chen. During his captivity, she found solace in meeting him every night in her dreams, holding onto love and hope despite the distance and uncertainty.

After a year and four months in Hamas captivity, Sagui was finally released. On the day of his return, he learned about the song and the profound gesture behind it.

Consider:

How do you think Sagui Dekel-Chen felt when he learned about this song?

Listen to this song along wtih Ray of Sunshine - the song that Sagui performed after he returned from captivity. What do these songs together teach us about kindness, courage, resilience and hope?

What helps you stay connected to the people you love, when you cannot be with them?

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דרישת שלום מחיים אחרים (מילי) (Drishat Shalom Me'Chaim Acherim (Mili))

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The Kindness of Uplifting the Fallen (STORIES)

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The Kindness of Uplifting the Fallen (STORIES)

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This Project from the National Library of Israel captures the stories of people whose lives were cut short in the Oct 7th massacre, but who left something behind which offers us a measure of comfort – their art, their works, their creations. Some of them were fortunate enough to see their work published and released out into the world – books or poems they wrote, studies they authored or texts they translated. The articles prepared for this special project offer a brief glimpse into their lives. Among them are young and old, academics and farmers, people who were murdered at the Nova dance rave or in the communities of the Western Negev. May their memories be a blessing.

Discuss:

Find a person’s story that speaks to you. What is a characteristic or attribute of them, or of what they created, that you would like to carry forward in your life?

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Lives Lost: The Works of the October 7 Fallen – A Special Project - כתבות ומאמרים | הספרנים

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The people you will read about below lived to create. Their lives were cut short in the October 7 massacre, but they left something behind which offers us a measure of comfort – their art, their works, their creations. Some of them were fortunate enough to see their work published and released out into the world – books or poems they wrote, studies they authored or texts they translated. The articles prepared for this special project offer a brief glimpse into their lives. Among them are young and old, academics and farmers, people who were murdered at the Nova dance rave or in the communities of the Western Negev. May their memories be a blessing.

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The humility to re-envision what peace could look like (QUOTE)

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The humility to re-envision what peace could look like (QUOTE)

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Shoshana Cohen writes, "At this moment, utopian visions of peace feel hollow and unhelpful... The vision of peace in Job challenges us to aim for something more modest yet vital: a peace that holds back chaos and evil just enough to allow life to flourish."

Discuss:

What is your reaction to this quote? What visions of peace do you hear people talking about in your community?

Why do you think Shoshana offers a different way to envision peace? What might this new vision offer us in our relationships with other Jews?

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"One Human Fabric | Together with the Families of the Nova Massacre Victims

This song by Omer Adam expresses a profound interconnectedness with the Nova victims, suggesting that when one person dies, a part of them dies within those they leave behind, and a part of those left behind dies with them. It emphasizes that we are all part of a single human fabric, where loss is shared and felt collectively.

Discuss:

In what ways have you felt connected to people who died on October 7th and in the ensuing war, even if they were not related to you?

How have you personally connected to the collective loss of Oct 7th?

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עומר אדם - רקמה אנושית אחת | יחד עם משפחות נרצחי הנובה

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Covenant as the Responsibility to Remember Lives Lost (STORIES)

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Covenant as the Responsibility to Remember Lives Lost (STORIES)

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The Lives Lost Project from the National Library of Israel captures the stories of people whose lives were cut short in the Oct 7th massacre, but who left something behind which offers us a measure of comfort – their art, their works, their creations. Some of them were fortunate enough to see their work published and released out into the world – books or poems they wrote, studies they authored or texts they translated. The articles prepared for this special project offer a brief glimpse into their lives. Among them are young and old, academics and farmers, people who were murdered at the Nova dance rave or in the communities of the Western Negev. May their memories be a blessing.

Consider:

Find a person’s story that speaks to you.

What is a characteristic or attribute of them, or of what they created, that you would like to carry forward in your own life?

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Lives Lost: The Works of the October 7 Fallen – A Special Project - כתבות ומאמרים | הספרנים

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The people you will read about below lived to create. Their lives were cut short in the October 7 massacre, but they left something behind which offers us a measure of comfort – their art, their works, their creations. Some of them were fortunate enough to see their work published and released out into the world – books or poems they wrote, studies they authored or texts they translated. The articles prepared for this special project offer a brief glimpse into their lives. Among them are young and old, academics and farmers, people who were murdered at the Nova dance rave or in the communities of the Western Negev. May their memories be a blessing.

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Covenant as our Commitment to Take Care of Each Other (QUOTE)

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Covenant as our Commitment to Take Care of Each Other (QUOTE)

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"In some Native languages the term for plants translates to 'those who take care of us.' As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us. This reciprocal relationship—knowing the other and giving back—is essential to survival."

⁃Kimmerer, Robin Wall. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. Milkweed Editions, 2013

Consider:

What are the reciprocal relationships that you are involved in, personally? What commitments do you have in those relationships?

What, if any, reciprocal responsibilities do Jews in the Diaspora have toward Jews in Israel, and vice versa?

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Discuss:

What phrases or images stand out to you in Mary Oliver's poem, Don't Hesitate? What is the message it is sending?

What is a time when you felt joy and gave into it? Resisted it?

What might giving into joy look like during this year's Yamim? How might it help us? How might it be challenging? Where can you turn to find joy?

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The kindness to take care of ourselves and one another (TEEN OP-ED)

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The kindness to take care of ourselves and one another (TEEN OP-ED)

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Jewish teens, Zahava Brenner and Sylvie Simmons wrote the op-ed, An Inside Look: Jewish Teens’ Mental Health in the Face of AntiSemitism as their capstone project in Moving Tradition's Kol Koleinu fellowship. They wrote:

" Jewish teenagers are going through a period of extreme stress, Adults can provide support that teenagers require during stressful times; no teen should go through this alone.

Additionally, be aware of your social media consumption. Social media may make being Jewish feel, especially isolating as we can become subjected to a forum of unfiltered antisemitism and other forms of hatred. Taking a break from social media may help considerably in lessening stress related to antisemitism.

Read the full op-ed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/166sqy6Smf6AC5VeJUAP-Wv52vsYXmoJ47xoy3HkDryM/edit?tab=t.0

Consider:

Encourage the teens in your life to reflect on the ideas in this article. Listen to their feelings and ideas, and then consider how might you support their wellbeing?

How is your own social media consumption affecting your wellbeing? What, if any, changes might you make to your social media usage going into the Yamim this year?

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Covenant is continuing to pray for the hostages (ARTICLE)

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Covenant is continuing to pray for the hostages (ARTICLE)

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Urging remaining captives to “wipe off your tears and sing with me,” released hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen performed the song “Keren Shemesh” (Ray of Sunshine).

“Don’t go, ray of sunshine, our day isn’t over yet,” he sang, covering a 2022 hit by Benaia Berabi. “Smile, it suits you — it makes my day.”

“My sun was taken from me for 498 days, but I decided not to give in [and] spoke to the sun every day,” Dekel-Chan said in the video, published just 13 days after he returned to Israel as part of the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas. “I ask everyone who hears me — don’t lose hope. Trust me, it runs deep.”

Consider:

Sagui called upon the remaining hostages - and everyone listening to his song - to not lose hope. What is our responsibility toward the remaining hostages

How might we help them - and ourselves - hold onto hope?

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Kindness through an ethical will (ARTICLE)

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Kindness through an ethical will (ARTICLE)

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Staff Sgt. Shachar Fridman was killed while fighting Hamas terrorists in Gaza on November 18, 2023. He was 21. He left behind this text, an “ethical will,” he composed after seeing a public altercation in Tel Aviv over Yom Kippur observance.

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/be-good-people/

Consider:

Why do you think Staff Sgt. Shachar Fridman’s reaction to the altercation in Tel Aviv was to write an ethical will?

Write your own ethical will in response to Oct 7th and the ensuing war.

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The world was created from kindness (TEXT)

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The world was created from kindness (TEXT)

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The world was created from the very beginning with kindness, as it says (Psalms 89:3), “For I have said that the world will be built on kindness, and the heavens will be established on Your faith.” Once, Rabban [our rabbi] Yohanan ben Zakkai, left Jerusalem, and Rabbi Yehoshua followed after him. And he saw the Holy Temple destroyed. [Rabbi Yehoshua said: Woe to us, for this is destroyed –] the place where all of Israel’s sins are forgiven! [Rabbi Yohanan] said to him: My son, do not be distressed, for we have a form of atonement just like it. And what is it? Acts of kindness, as it says (Psalms 89:3), “For I desire kindness, not a well-being offering.”

- אבות דרבי נתן ד:ה

Discuss:

What do you think it means for the world to be built from kindness?

What are ways that you can prioritize kindness in your life, or we can prioritize it in our community?

When might you choose not to act in kindness? When might prioritizing kindness be difficult or impossible?

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The kindness of radical hospitality (ARTICLE)

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The kindness of radical hospitality (ARTICLE)

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Rachel Edri and her husband, David, were held hostage in their home by Hamas terrorists in Ofakim on October 7th, but she disarmed the situation with extraordinary hospitality—offering them food, coffee, and even singing to them. Her warmth and quick thinking bought time for Israeli security forces, leading to their safe rescue after 20 hours, making her a symbol of resilience and the power of kindness in the face of danger.

Consider:

What stands out to you in this story? What surprised you? What do you admire about Rachel and her husband?

For you, what are the limits (if any) of when you would practice kindness or hospitality?

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In the past couple of weeks, Rachel Edri has become a national hero in Israel.

Savta Rachel's story went viral, and for good reason. On Saturday, October 7th, she saved herself and her husband of 41 years from Hamas by offering the 5 armed terrorists that infiltrated her home cookies and coffee.

Yes, a batch of fresh-baked Maamoul (date cookies) literally saved their lives.

Early that morning, after a siren rang in the southern city of Ofakim, Rachel and David ran to a nearby bomb shelter. Meanwhile, two truckloads of terrorists had entered Ofakim, located just 25 kilometers from Gaza.

The police immediately launched a search operation as the terrorists began firing at civilians. By 9 a.m., Rachel and David, thinking the danger had passed, returned home. To their surprise, instead of enjoying a quiet Shabbat morning together, they were met by armed Hamas terrorists who had entered their home to escape the police.

Trapped and knowing that attempting to leave could be fatal, the couple decided to comply with the terrorists' demands and even took it a step further, treating them as they would any guest. Rachel Edri later shared in an interview, " Hachnasat orchim, welcoming guests, is an important mitzvah that I take very seriously. So, I welcomed them like they were simply my guests."

Rachel is known for being an incredibly welcoming and kind member of her community; everyone in the city knew that if they ever needed a meal, Rachel's door was open. She has also worked at the canteen of the nearby Tze'elim army base since she was 23, earning her the title of "the base mother" among many soldiers.

As the daughter of two immigrants from Iran, Rachel was able to use rudimentary Arabic to communicate with the terrorists.

She engaged them in conversation, sang with them, and even taught them Hebrew words. "At one point I even forgot for a moment that they were terrorists," she recalled.

She asked them if they wanted Coca Cola and they responded positively. She brought them Cola Zero and they reacted with disgust and asked for regular cola. As a diabetic, she only had Zero in the house and began to talk to them about their health.

Four hours into the hostage situation, as lunchtime approached, Rachel realized that the terrorists might be getting hungry - a dangerous situation.

"I figured, if they're hungry they'll kill me." So, she offered to feed them and make them tea, brought them cola, and gave them cookies. "I even made them chicken!" One of the terrorists said, "You remind me of my mother," to which she responded, "I am really like your mother. I will help you, I will take care of you. What do you need?"

During this entire time, the police had the house surrounded but knew that if they attempted to take control of the situation, it could cost Rachel and David their lives. One of the police officers at the scene was Rachel and David's son, Eviatar.

In the afternoon, the police made their first move, managing to kill one and injuring another. Rachel bandaged the injured terrorist's hand and offered him a place to rest, telling him that he looked pale. She even served him pineapple, a special treat in Israel due to its cost, telling him he deserved something sweet.

To continue buying time, she began to sing songs with them, asked them to teach her Arabic, and repeatedly asked them to let her go to the bathroom. By dinnertime, the terrorists were still holding Rachel and David hostage, so she cooked for them again, continuing to keep them full and happy in hopes they would continue to let them live.

On what is now being called Black Saturday, she and her husband spent 20 hours held captive by the group of terrorists. After a long dance between the police and the terrorists, with the help of her police officer son who knew the house well, the SWAT team was able to take over and the couple escaped to safety at just around two in the morning.

The couple's house was turned into what Rachel calls "the site of a pogrom" and they have moved in with their son. "I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes I see the terrorists," Rachel said.

Today, Rachel has fan pages and her recipes have gone viral in Israel. She even went live with Noa Kirel on Instagram where the Israeli pop star asked her for her famous cookies. She also met with U.S. President Joe Biden during his wartime trip to Israel.

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Have you heard the story of Savta (Grandma) Rachel?

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In the past couple of weeks, Rachel Edri has become a national hero in Israel. Savta Rachel's story went viral, and for good reason. On Saturday, October

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Urging remaining captives to “wipe off your tears and sing with me,” released hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen performed the song “Keren Shemesh” (Ray of Sunshine) with musicians from a project named for his friend Tamar Kedem Siman Tov, who was murdered by Hamas on October 7, 2023. “My sun was taken from me for 498 days, but I decided not to give in [and] spoke to the sun every day,” Dekel-Chan said in the video, published just 13 days after he returned to Israel as part of the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas. “I ask everyone who hears me — don’t lose hope. Trust me, it runs deep.”

Consider:

What about Sagui Dekel-Chen do you admire? How does he demonstrate courage?

What are the songs, prayers, or phrases that bring you the courage to maintain hope?

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The Kindness to grieve and remember together (IMAGE)

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The Kindness to grieve and remember together (IMAGE)

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In this piece of artwork, Dana Barlev depicts the silhouette of Batman with an orange balloon, in memory of Kfir and Ariel Bibas who were murdered by Hamas along with their mother, Shiri. Batman has come to represent the two boys as they loved dressing up in batman costumes and playing together. And the orange balloon represents their well-known red hair.

Discuss:

What words, images, or emotions come up for you, looking at this image? If you were to caption it, what would the caption say?

Dana Barlev posted this image online without a caption or a title. What might an image be able to communicate that words cannot?

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This song pays tribute to ordinary Israelis who transform into real-life heroes when duty calls, highlighting soldiers, professionals, and everyday citizens who serve in the military reserves and who were called into service after October 7th. It emphasizes their unwavering commitment, resilience, and readiness to protect their country, portraying them as a "nation of superheroes."

Consider:

How if at all, does this song change how you think about the real life heroes who serve in the military reserves?

What examples or symbols of courage do you notice in this song?

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התקווה 6 - גיבורי על

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The courage to dream of something beautiful (SONG)

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The courage to dream of something beautiful (SONG)

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In his music video recorded at Kibbutz Be’eri, Daniel Wais tells a story of resilience and unity, transforming the suffering and tragedy of Oct 7th into strength through connection and friendship. It calls for breaking free from mental barriers, rejecting division, and embracing unity and love as the ultimate forms of resistance.

Consider:

How might connecting with others be a form of courage and resistance, post October 7th?

How does Daniel Wais demonstrate courage?

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Daniel Wais "Song of Freedom" Kibutz Be'eri -דניאל וייס  [INDIECITY2024]

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This powerful song written by David Grossman and illustrated by Engelmayer explores how we process and move forward from this moment. The song follows a family caught in turmoil, contemplating escape while wrestling with their own exhaustion and loss of hope after October 7th. A sudden cry shakes them from their numbness, challenging them to resist despair and fight for their homeland. The child in the song warns that if they do not rise now, they may never recover. The song ultimately calls for courage, urging people to reclaim their identity, fight for their future, and resist surrendering to fear and apathy.

Consider:

How do we maintain courage during a time of fear, grief, and despair?

If a cry like the one in the song visited you, what would it say? What message would give you the hope and courage needed to keep fighting?

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פתאום טסה זעקה - דויד גרוסמן, שאנן סטריט, דרור קרן, יעל שרוני, עמית אולמן, גיא מוזס, זאב אנגלמאיר

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In this map created by Shoshke, the state of Israel is filled with words and initiatives that evoke hope, kindness, good deeds, and optimism (blood donations, volunteers, solidarity, friendship, compassion).

Consider:

If you were to draw your own map of where you see kindness and hope in Israel, or in your own community, what would it look like?

What words or images would be on it?

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When we run out of words, we turn to songs that touch our souls and speak for us when we need it most. After October 7, Beit Avi Chai began a new online series called Shir Tikva (“Song of Hope”) that hosts Israeli musicians. Each of them shares one special song that brings them comfort during these difficult times. “Song of Hope” offers an acoustic performance, an intimate conversation with the artist, and some context to help you deeper understand each musical choice.

Consider:

How can music serve as a source of courage and resilience during challenging times?

What song or songs from this project help you feel hope? Where in your life or your community could you play them?

What would your “Song of Hope” be?

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When we run out of words, we turn to songs that touch our souls and speak for us when we need it most. After October 7, Beit Avi Chai began a new online series called Shir Tikva (“Song of Hope”) that hosts Israeli musicians. Each of them shares one special song that brings them comfort during these difficult times. “Song of Hope” offers an acoustic performance, an intimate conversation with the artist, and some context to help you deeper understand each musical choice.

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Chaya Gilboa is a Talmud teacher, an activist, and was – for the last three years – the CEO of the Jerusalem Philanthropic Initiatives, which works with local civil society. On October 11th, Chaya turned 40, but instead of any kind of celebration, she was leading a team at the Jerusalem Chamal – the epicenter of the city’s volunteer efforts.

Discuss:

What stood out to you about Chaya? What about her do you admire?

How does she demonstrate kindness through her leadership? What are other examples of Jewish leaders leading with kindness?

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Covenant as Being Bound to the Past (NOVEL EXCERPT)

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Covenant as Being Bound to the Past (NOVEL EXCERPT)

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“The very first Jewish child was bound and nearly sacrificed for something more important than him, and ever since Abraham came down from Mount Moriah, a terrible father but a good Jew, the question of how to go on binding has hung in the air. If a loophole was found out of Abraham’s violence, it was this: Let the ropes be invisible, let there be no proof that they exist, except that the more the child grows, the more painful they get, until one day he looks down and sees that it’s his own hand doing the tightening. In other words, teach Jewish children to bind themselves. And for what? Not for beauty, like the Chinese, and not even for God, or the dream of a miracle. We bind and are bound because the binding binds us to those who were bound before us, and those bound before them, and those before them, in a chain of ropes and knots that goes back three thousand years, which is how long we’ve been dreaming of cutting ourselves loose, of falling out of this world, and into another where we aren’t stunted and deformed to fit the past, but left to grow wild, toward the future.”

⁃ Krauss, N. (2017). Forest Dark. HarperCollins.

Consider:

What stands out to you in this text? What surprises you? How do you understand the binding imagery/metaphor?

In what ways do you feel personally or collectively bound to the people who came before you? In what ways is being bound to the past meaningful? How might it be challenging or even painful?

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Artist Dana Barlev created this image depicting Gadi Moses. Moses turned 80 in captivity. He survived 482 days in hell, and held onto his humanity. He was thinking about the potato fields of Nir Oz. After being released by Hamas, he shared his vow to help rebuild his Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Consider:

What stands out to you in this image and Moses' story?

Whose responsibility is it to rebuild what was destroyed on Oct 7th?

Moses was sustained in part by his dedication to his home. What places in your life do you feel a responsibility or covenant toward?

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Covenant expressed through the artistic process (VIDEOS)

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Covenant expressed through the artistic process (VIDEOS)

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In these days of war, when it seems that words lost their meaning and cannot offer enough comfort, this video project features to poets and thinkers, who wrote in times of crisis and managed to find light and hope among the chaos that surrounded them. These short films offer encouragement, but also mental tools that will help us deal with the painful reality we have been living in since October 7.

Discuss:

Choose a video that you find meaningful. What stands out to you as particularly meaningful, or hopeful?

How might the creation of art help us feel hope in a time when we are feeling hopeless?

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In these days of war, when it seems that words lost their meaning and cannot offer enough comfort, we turn to poets and thinkers, trying to find in their writings the solace that our hearts are longing for. We turn to men and women who wrote in times of crisis and who managed to find light and hope among the chaos that surrounded them.

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Covenant through collective prayer (VIDEO)

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Covenant through collective prayer (VIDEO)

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The Achenu prayer is a traditional prayer declaring, "Our brothers, all the house of Israel." It invokes compassion and unity for Jewish people in distress. It signifies a collective prayer for the well-being and safety of the entire Jewish community.

Discuss:

When if ever have you experienced the Achenu prayer being recited in your Jewish community?

What is our responsibility toward the wellbeing and safety of the Jewish community? What is our responsibility toward participating in the distress and suffering of the Jewish people?

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אחינו כל בית ישראל

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Covenant as Unbreakable Commitment (IMAGE)

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Covenant as Unbreakable Commitment (IMAGE)

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Or Levy, 6 days after returning from captivity is demonstrating at Kikar Hachatufim (Hostage Square). Or was in captivity for 491 days and when he returned he learned that his wife was murdered on Oct 7th. He returned to his son, Almog who is 3 years old.

Discuss:

What emotions do you feel, seeing this photograph and reading about Or Levy?

How if at all have your own understanding of your commitments to the hostages evolved over the past year?

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Covenant through artistic expression (ART)

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Covenant through artistic expression (ART)

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From December 15, 2023—March 18, 2024, The Jewish Museum, New York presented 7 October, 2023, an exhibition of drawings by Ukrainian-born, Israeli-based artist Zoya Cherkassky.  The twelve works on paper that comprise the exhibited series were made in response to the harrowing events of the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks. Cherkassky started making these drawings about a week after the war began, when she left Israel with her young daughter, grabbing pencils, wax crayons, watercolors, and whatever supplies she could fit in her luggage. The resultant works are immediate, visceral, and gut-wrenching.

Discuss:

What do you notice in the artwork? What stands out to you? What words, images, ideas, or stories does it evoke for you?

What does this artwork communicate to you about relationships, commitment, covenant, or compromise?

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Covenant as Observing and Transforming Shiva (VIDEO)

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Covenant as Observing and Transforming Shiva (VIDEO)

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In this video, Ben Zussman's (z''l) family turns the week of mourning (Shiva) into a week of friends and good food. Mika and Boaz, Ben Zussman's sister and brother, miss him through flavors. They honor him by sharing memories and cooking his favorite meal, schnitzel and mashed potatoes, aiming to follow his wish of celebrating his life rather than dwelling in sorrow.

Discuss:

Why do you think the Zussman family made the choices they did about how to spend shiva?

How does the ritual of shiva help us to honor our commitments to our family members? How does shiva it help us move through grief?

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כאן | דיגיטל - תאגיד השידור הישראלי

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השניצל של בן זוסמן | סיר געגוע

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Covenant as Accepting and Celebrating Change in our Relationships (VIDEO)

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Covenant as Accepting and Celebrating Change in our Relationships (VIDEO)

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Tamar Shiloni's fiancé was critically injured in the war and had his left leg amputated. Listen here as she talks about a one-legged wedding, her husband's rehabilitation, and living with a disabled person. She said, "Today, it's fashionable to be an amputee."

Discuss:

When Tamar got engaged to her fiancé, she did not expect him to be an amputee at their wedding. How should we show up to support our loved ones through difficult changes?

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You do not have access to www.kan.org.il.

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Covenant through the Wings of Hope (COMMUNITY ART PROJECT)

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Covenant through the Wings of Hope (COMMUNITY ART PROJECT)

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In July 2023, Livnat Kutz Z”L of Kibbutz Kfar Aza initiated a Kibbutz-wide activity to create a mural of wings from repurposed plastic toys–a powerful symbol of sustainability, creativity, and communal strength. After the entire Kutz family was brutally murdered in their home by Hamas during the October 7th attack, the family launched the Wings of Hope project in their memory—replicating the Wings throughout Israel and around the world to honor the late Kutz family, the values they believed in, and their creative spirit (Photo credit: Batya Holin). For more on the Wings of Hope initiative, visit https://www.livnatswings.org/en

Consider:

Create a set of wings in your community as part of the Wings of Hope project.

Wings are anchored at the base, yet the rest is free to move. When you think of a covenant in in your life - the responsibilities you have to another individual or to the Jewish people - what in that relationship must remain rigid or fixed, and what needs to move and change?

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The Kindness to build solidarity (CURRICULUM)

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The Kindness to build solidarity (CURRICULUM)

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The goal of this activity created by the National Library of Israel is for students to engage with Jewish texts and NLI primary sources to reflect on the value of solidarity in Jewish tradition, and to explore a few examples from different times and places.

Discuss:

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel claimed that people achieve fullness of being through fellowship, by caring for others. Have you ever felt this way?

How does the phrase, “kol yisrael areivim ze l’ze” (all Jews are responsible for each other) resonate with you or relate to your life?

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Jewish Solidarity | Teaching Resources for Jewish Educators

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Reflect on the value of solidarity in Jewish tradition and to explore a few examples from different times and places | Lesson plans, creative activities, worksheets and games for Jewish schools

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The Responsibility to Tell Our Stories (PESACH RITUAL)

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The Responsibility to Tell Our Stories (PESACH RITUAL)

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According to the Mishnah (Pesachim, 10:5) “In each and every generation a person must view himself as though they personally left Egypt.” When we remember an event from the past we are, by definition, reenacting or reliving it, not experiencing it for the first time. The National Library of Israel's vast Haggadah collection, encompassing both traditional and modern interpretations, showcases how this text has served as a dynamic platform for cultural expression and historical reflection across generations. Kibbutz Be’eri, established in 1946, and was one of the first to update the text of the Haggadah to fit the reality of their lives.

Discuss:

What is an example from your community or from your personal experience that demonstrates how leaning on traditional texts helps us gain a sense of stability and meaning?

How might the Pesach story serve as a platform to tell your personal and communal stories this year, post October 7th?

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Crafting Our Story: Pesach as a Case Study | Teaching Resources for Jewish Educators

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Learn about several modern Haggadot that expand on the traditional versions with various levels of interpretation and innovation, including references to current events | Lesson plans, creative activities, worksheets and games for Jewish schools

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The Courage to Comfort and Inspire (ESSAYS)

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The Courage to Comfort and Inspire (ESSAYS)

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The "Words of Comfort" project by the National Library of Israel presents a collection of original essays from various thought leaders, each reflecting on themes such as home, hope, resilience, memory, healing, renewal, and unity. These essays, accompanied by curated images from the library's collections, aim to provide solace and inspiration during challenging times, emphasizing the enduring power of words to connect and uplift.

Consider:

How might embracing themes like hope and resilience empower usto confront personal and communal challenges?

How can reflecting on collective memory help cultivate courage within a community?

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Home, Unity, Healing, Hope, Resilience, Memory, Renewal.

As we begin a new Hebrew year, the National Library of Israel finds profound significance in reflecting upon the strength of words.

Just as the written word shapes our understanding of history and culture, it also serves as a powerful bridge connecting individuals and communities across time and space. Entering into this New Year while still in the midst of one of the most challenging periods our nation has ever faced, let us draw comfort from the words that connect us and inspire us.

Click on any word to explore original essays from a range of thought leaders and a time-line of images from NLI's collections, crafted around some of the words that have resonated this year.

Photo of anemone flowers by Eitan Tal

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One out of Twenty-Two / Ilanit Swissa

Ilanit Swissa is a (displaced) resident of Kibbutz Azza, a theater and film director, leads writing and creative Jewish workshops, and is a media professional.

The words grow slack,

Wake up in the morning sluggish,

Maybe they don’t even go to sleep,

Carrying between the letters

Chronic exhaustion,

Called upon to describe

The _______________

And also the _______________

They struggle with _______________

Climbing and descending a ladder,

And their purpose escapes them,

Like that Shabbat

That slipped under the radar,

And beneath the _______________and beneath the _______________,

That Shabbat

That _______________my spirit and my soul.

And sometimes at night,

When a dream

Finally fights me,

I fight

That angel,

And I beg,

That it change my name,

That new letters be found

For who I am now,

That they explain what _______________,

That they hold all the _______________,

That they be a monument

To who I was,

And a lighthouse

For who I will be,

After all the _______________

Is over.

- Moriah Dayan Kodish, Miri Rosovsky (ed.). I Am Nowhere Else: Writing Following the Events of October 7. The New Library, 2024, 9-11

Consider:

How do words, or the absence of words, affect how we process an experience of tragedy?

Why do you think the narrator begs the angel to change her name?

How do you understand the blank spaces? Write a response poem to this one, using blank spaces.

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Ruth Franklin's essay, "The Lottery in Khan Younis," draws a chilling parallel between Shirley Jackson's 1948 short story "The Lottery" and the ceremony held in Khan Younis, Gaza before the bodies of Kfir, Ariel and Shiri Bibas and Oded Lipshitz. In Jackson's narrative, a seemingly normal village conducts an annual ritual where a randomly selected individual is stoned to death. Franklin reflects on how we must ensure that our children are not taught to hate, and resist fundamentalism in all its forms.

Discuss:

What words or images stood out to you in the essay? What did you find meaningful, surprising, or challenging?

How has your own upbringing and environment shaped your understanding of courage in the face of hatred and injustice?

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We must fight religious fundamentalism in all its forms.

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The story of Inbal Rabin-Liberman: The 26-year-old was the only woman on Kibbutz Nir Am's 12-member security team—and its leader. On October 7th, as she and her team watched in disbelief while more than a dozen armed terrorists approached the kibbutz fence, she swiftly instructed them to pick up their weapons and take defensive positions.

Thanks to her quick strategic thinking and the teamwork of the security squad, the kibbutz community was saved—preventing deaths and injuries.

Discuss:

How did Inbal demonstrate courage?

What do you admire about her? What questions would you like to ask her?

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The Watchwomen of Nahal Oz: On October 7th, a group of female combat observers stationed at the Nahal Oz IDF base became the first to detect the unfolding attack. But their warnings did not begin that morning—for days leading up to the assault, these young women, armed only with their surveillance screens and radios, had already identified suspicious movements and relayed critical intelligence to the forces.

As Hamas terrorists breached the border, they continued to report on the infiltration, despite being directly in the line of fire.

Tragically, many of these brave soldiers were killed or captured.

Their heroism is a testament to the essential yet often overlooked role of women in combat and intelligence. These soldiers were not just observers, nor were they merely the first to see "the writing on the wall." They were the first line of defense in one of Israel’s darkest moments.

Discuss:

How did the Watchwomen demonstrate courage?

What do you admire about them? What questions would you have liked to ask them?

What is our responsibility toward their memories?

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The Courage to Risk Everything for Others (MURAL)

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The Courage to Risk Everything for Others (MURAL)

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This mural in South Tel Aviv features four heroes who died saving others on October 7.

Amit Mann, 22 was a  Magen David Adom paramedic. She was murdered by Hamas terrorists when they stormed the clinic in Kibbutz Be’eri where she was treating the wounded from the devastating attack from Gaza on October 7.

Ben Shimoni, 31 was murdered as he was rescuing people from the Nova Music festival. He saved 9 people before he was killed trying to save 3 more.

Awad Darawshe, 23 was a paramedic working at the Nova festival. He insisted on staying on site to help and was murdered by Hamas while bandaging one of the injured.

Shapira, 22, a combat soldier who attended the Nova Music Festival hid in one of the mobile bomb shelters. He managed to fend off seven grenades thrown by Hamas terrorists before he was murdered.

Consider:

What is a characteristic or attribute from these heroes that you would like to carry forward in your life?

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The humility to engage across divides (TEEN OP-ED)

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The humility to engage across divides (TEEN OP-ED)

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Eliza Goldstein, a Jewish teen fellow in Moving Tradition's Kol Koleinu fellowship wrote an op-ed titled, We need to talk about Gaza: Why schools must help Jewish and Muslim students bridge the divide.

She writes, "As a Jewish high school student, I feel scared, angry, and overwhelmed because of what is happening overseas — and what’s happening here at home....For such a nuanced topic, it’s hard to explore different perspectives when you’re stuck in an echo chamber. [At my high school] we have around 7 different affinity groups that meet regularly, [but never together.] Highlighting the suffering of others, productively discussing the dual narratives that exist, and finding emotional common ground can only happen when we connect across difference." The full op-ed is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10UZl2x0xSoLloex3ZumgEE7OgIz0l9qwvmVOsFVw2cI/edit?tab=t.0

Discuss:

What stands out to you as meaningful, surprising, or challenging in Eliza's op-ed?

What support might your teens or educators need in order to engage in and facilitate difficult conversations across difference?

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Covenant through acting in solidarity (ARTICLE)

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Covenant through acting in solidarity (ARTICLE)

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On one of the most painful days since the hostage deal began, several Israeli artists canceled their performances as a mark of respect, following the return of hostage bodies for proper burial in Israel.

Discuss:

What message do you think the Israeli artists communicated by cancelling their performances?

What are other ways that you have seen public figures using their influence to draw attention to the hostages? When else would you like to see public figures doing?

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שני הזמרים הודיעו כי הופעותיהם, שהיו מתוכננות ליום חמישי הקרוב, נדחות בעקבות החדשות על החזרת החללים. "הלב השבור שלנו עם המשפחות בשעתן הקשה", כתב לידר. אדם: "הלב והגוף נקרעים בין לשמר את השגרה לבין לעצור רגע ולהתייחד עם המשפחות"

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בשל החזרת החללים החטופים: הופעותיהם של עומר אדם ועברי לידר נדחות

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שני הזמרים הודיעו כי הופעותיהם, שהיו מתוכננות ליום חמישי הקרוב, נדחות בעקבות החדשות על החזרת החללים. "הלב השבור שלנו עם המשפחות בשעתן הקשה", כתב לידר. אדם: "הלב והגוף נקרעים בין לשמר את השגרה לבין לעצור רגע ולהתייחד עם המשפחות"

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"The Wall in Her Hear" is an animated short film produced by Beit Avi Chai as part of their "A Face. A Memory. A Day" project, which commemorates fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terror through artistic storytelling. This particular film honors the memory of Yuval Heiman, a paratrooper who fell during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. The narrative delves into the intimate moments shared between Yuval and his girlfriend, Revaya Sharlot, highlighting their secret spot atop the walls of Jerusalem where they dreamed of their future together. Through evocative animation, the film portrays their deep connection and the profound loss experienced with Yuval's untimely death.

Consider

How might courage shape the way we hold onto love and dreams in the face of profound loss?

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Born in Efrat, 28th of Sivan, 5753 (June 16, 1993). Fell in the Gaza Strip, 23rd of Tammuz, 5774 (July 18th, 2014)

The loving couple had a secret perch on the walls of Jerusalem. From there, they could look out over the Old City, think about figures from the past that had lived there and dream of the home they would soon build together. When Yuval Heiman finished the officers course, he became the radioman of the battalion commander and in that role he was killed in Operation Protective Edge.

Yuval Heiman was the son of Moshe and Zohara, the brother of Arbel, Ashchar and Aluma. He was born in the settlement of Efrat to a founding family-fourth generation on the settlement. Yuval's friends recount that he excelled in everything-in school, sports, the squad commander course and officers course. On the other hand, he was a modest person and never talked about being gifted.

Yuval attended the Doron Avot High School in Efrat and was a counsellor in Bnei Akiva. Yuval devoted a great deal of time and energy in the annual summer camp for disabled children that the chapter organized. In the army, he served in the Paratrooper Combat Engineers and was also sent to an officers course, where he served as radioman to the battalion commander.

On June 18, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, the Gefen battalion in which Heiman served in Training Base 1 was sent to the northern Gaza Strip and was given responsibility for defending the zone. Three days later, he was riding with the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Dolev Keidar, on the way to a location where there was a suspected penetration by terrorists. Two anti-tank missiles were fired at their vehicle. Yuval got out of the vehicle with the battalion commander and the scout. The three of them were killed in the encounter with the terrorists. The driver of the vehicle was also killed.

Interview with Revaya Sharlot, girlfriend of Yuval Heiman z"l

Thoughts from Rotem Yarakchi and Reut Eldad who created the film
When we first read Yuval Heiman's story, we felt like we had suffered an open wound. The beautiful love story between Yuval and Revaya, which was cut short, gave us the feeling of entering Revaya's world of fresh and oppressive bereavement. The opportunity for us as artists to create the world they imagined together was very emotional.

Through Revaya's story, we tried to weave a world of fantasy into the walls of Jerusalem, which they so loved. We tried to put ourselves in their place-to imagine what they dreamed about there, where exactly they sat, what they looked at and what they saw.

More than once during the film we asked ourselves if during all of these walks on the Old City's walls-a landscape that so many soldiers had died for-whether the two imagined that Yuval would join the ranks of those who will forever walk there as part of the place's bloodstained history.

From the press
Yuval Heiman - Animated memories - Beit Avi Chai collaborates with the families of fallen soldiers to create animated films in their memory: The Jerusalem Post April 21, 2015

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The courage to practice Judaism in the worst of times (VIDEO)

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The courage to practice Judaism in the worst of times (VIDEO)

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Daniella Gilboa and the other observant girls in captivity taught themselves to sing Jewish prayers in Arabic so they could still practice their Judaism. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGgsoH2NsAb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Discuss:

What thoughts or emotions come up for you, watching this video and hearing about how Danielle taught herself to sing Shalom Aleichem in Arabic?

How might what Danielle and the other girls did in learning prayers in Arabic be considered courageous?

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The humility to seek meaning in mystery (TEXT)

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The humility to seek meaning in mystery (TEXT)

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A beautiful (though dense) text from Aviva Zorenberg about how as humans we need to find a compromise between "finding meaning" and allowing things to remain a "mystery" because we can never know all the answers.

“The need to translate, to seek meaning through the "other words" of human discourse, remains the endless project of human life."

Consider:

When was the last time you found it difficult to make meaning of a situation?

Where do you turn when you do not have the words to understand what is happening in the world?

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Humility to learn from our students (POEM)

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Humility to learn from our students (POEM)

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Consider:

What images or characteristics of courage do you see in this poem?

What do the teachers learn from the soldiers?

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The Humility to Widen our Lens (PUBLIC ART)

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The Humility to Widen our Lens (PUBLIC ART)

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Sky Mirror is a public sculpture by artist Anish Kapoor. Commissioned by the Nottingham Playhouse, it is installed outside the theatre in Wellington Circus, Nottingham, England. Sky Mirror is a 6-metre-wide (20 ft)-wide concave dish of polished stainless steel weighing 10 tonnes (9.8 long tons) and angled up towards the sky. Its surface reflects the ever-changing environment. The sculpture brings the sky to the ground, inverting our view of the landscape.

Discuss:

If we consider Sky Mirror as a metaphor for the way we look at the world (and the ways our reality is often reflected back at us) when might we need to shift our viewpoints? What compromises might we need to make to see things from the perspectives of others?

How do we stay open to learning from others while also remaining confident in our own perspectives?

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The Courage to feel all at once (PRAYER)

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The Courage to feel all at once (PRAYER)

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This prayer, written by Oded Mazor and translated by Ayelet Cohen, was written in November 23 when we were waiting to witness the first group of hostages come back home from captivity in the hands of Hamas. Mazor was looking for words to pray at that moment, to describe how all of the feelings are mixed.

Consider:

What have been in the mix of emotions you have felt over the past year?

Write your own prayer: In the days when____ I have no choice but to  _____ and ____ at the same time. I ask for the strength to ____  and the courage to ____,to hold onto _____, to mourn _____ to have some moments for ____. Grant me the space to ______  and the spirit to ______.

Going into the Yamim, how would you like to feel? What is getting in the way? Consider discussing these feelings with a trusted friend or colleague.

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the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶקְט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ

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קֹהֶלֶת לֹא צָדַק | Qohelet Lo Tsadaq (”Ḳohelet Wasn’t Right”) — a prayer by Rabbi Oded Mazor (24 November 2023) • the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶקְט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ

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This prayer was written on Friday, November 24th 2023, 11th of Kislev 5784, early afternoon (Israel Time), when we were all waiting to witness the first group of hostages come back home from captivity in the hands of Hamas. Having close friends who have relatives kidnapped who do not fit into the criteria of being released now, I was looking for words to pray at this moment. Referring to the words of Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai z”l, and his “remarks” on Kohelet’s “For everything there is a season”, I tried to describe how all feelings are mixed in these awful hours, and in the days since. I am thankful to Rabbi Ayelet Cohen for her translation of this prayer into English. --Rabbi Oded Mazor . . .

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Rachel Goldberg, mother of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, delivers a plea for his release and for humanity to break the cycle of hatred and division. She urges people to have the courage to make compromises and do things that are uncomfortable or scary in order to build a better world for our children.

Discuss:

In the poem Rachel reads at the end of the video, addressed to a woman in Gaza, there is an image of a seed watered by tears that grows into a future where her children and the child of the woman could be alive together 50 years from now.

What is your experience of watching this video knowing that Hersh was murdered in captivity.

What is the future that you hope to see in Israel 50 years from now? What might you/we need to compromise to make that a reality.

What would your seed “wrapped in fear, trauma, pain, war and hope” grow into?

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Permanent Mission Israel United Nations - Geneva

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Mother of Israeli Hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin Addresses the United Nations in Geneva

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The humility to make meaning together (PROJECT)

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The humility to make meaning together (PROJECT)

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It has become a tradition in Israel, during this war, for families and friends to create a memorial sticker for their loved ones. Many of these include a personal motto or phrase that held special significance to the individual. The Stickers of Meaning project was created to collect and present these stickers to the public in a central repository, making them and the powerful messages they carry accessible to as many people as possible, helping to build a world filled with love, purpose, and accomplishment.

Consider:

What do we learn from these soldiers about kindness and courage?

What do you notice about these messages and slogans? Which stand out to you?

Create your own sticker containing with a slogan from a soldier or a message inspired by their story!

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מעשי הטבח של ה-7 באוקטובר ומלחמת "חרבות ברזל" שהתחילה מיד לאחר מכן גבו את חייהם של כמעט 2,000 אזרחים וחיילים. במהלך המלחמה הזו, משפחות וחברים יוצרים מדבקות זיכרון ליקיריהם

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The humility to step outside of ourselves (MULTIMEDIA)

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The humility to step outside of ourselves (MULTIMEDIA)

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FeelBeit is a unique community and cultural center in Jerusalem, established by a group of Israelis and Palestinians who use art and music to bridge divides in the city. Their award-winning productions encompass various artistic disciplines, including music, theater, film, digital art, podcasts, and installations, all rooted in a deep appreciation for the diverse people of the region.

Discuss:

How can art and music help us connect across difference?

Find a piece of media on the website that challenges you in some way and spend some time reflecting on what it means to you.

What personal beliefs, perspectives, or feelings might Israelis need to set aside of in order to work together with Palestinians?

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Welcome to a community and culture house unlike any other. - FEEL בית

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Join us in our new home—a culture house for creating art, expanding perspectives and imagining new ways forward for Jerusalem.

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When to prioritize kindness over truth? (TEXT STUDY)

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When to prioritize kindness over truth? (TEXT STUDY)

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There was an argument that happened ages ago in a synagogue in Tiberias (a city in the northeast of Israel). In that synagogue, there was a door with a bolt that had a thick knob on its end (okay stay with me… I promise it gets more interesting!). The rabbis at the synagogue were trying to figure out whether it was considered a “vessel” and thus permissible to move it on Shabbat or whether it was considered “raw material” and therefore could not be moved on Shabbat.

Two Rabbis, Elazar and Rabbi Yosei argued over this until they became so upset that they ripped a Torah scroll in half in their anger. The Gemara interrupts the story to clarify that we must say “a Torah scroll was torn through their anger. In the heat of their debate they pulled the scroll from one side to another until it tore.”

(Yevamot 96b) https://valuesinaction.live/resources/love-in-a-time-of-polarization/

Discuss:

What is your reaction to the Gemara’s interruption, “we must say a Torah scroll was torn through their anger?” Why, if at all, is it helpful to clarify that the anger caused the rip rather than the two people?

When, if ever, do you think it is important to prioritize being right over being kind? Why?

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Gone are the days we can just turn on the news or tune into the radio for current events without first buckling up. This beautiful prayer inspires a moment of spiritual connection and personal groundedness before picking up our heads to see what's actually happening around us.

Consider:

What has been your experience of reading - or not reading - the news recently?

What else would help give you strength as take in what is happening in the world?

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Project HEROES is a non-profit initiative dedicated to redefining the Jewish narrative by emphasizing stories of heroism throughout history. Founded by Israeli singer-songwriter and entrepreneur Gilad Segev, the project seeks to shift perceptions from victimhood to heroism, fostering Jewish pride and resilience. Through music, storytelling, and multimedia experiences, Project HEROES highlights acts of bravery from biblical times to contemporary events, such as the selfless sacrifices made on October 7th. The initiative aims to inspire individuals to embody values of freedom, equality, peace, and morality, contributing positively to humanity's future.

Consider:

How can redefining historical narratives to focus on heroism empower our community to face modern challenges with courage? Find an example of a story that is meaningful to you and discuss.

What is a way that you would like to lean into Jewish pride and resilience?

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The Jewish Heroism Experience For Humanity

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The Courage to create (EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE)

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The Courage to create (EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE)

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The National Library of Israel's "Curate & Create" program is an educational initiative designed to engage students worldwide in celebrating Israel's Independence Day (Yom Ha'atzmaut). Participants are encouraged to explore primary sources from the Library's extensive collections, drawing inspiration to design original posters that reflect their personal perspectives on Israel. The program offers educators a suite of resources, including lesson plans, an educator's guide, and webinars, to facilitate a meaningful learning experience. By connecting students with historical materials and fostering creative expression.

Consider:

How might creative expression serve as an act of resilience and courage in the face of adversity or societal challenges?

Together in your community, use the Curate and Create materials to create your own posters!

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Explore the treasures of Israeli and Jewish culture and create an original Independence Day poster that expresses your reflections on Israel and its role in the Jewish world today!

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Kindness through 1,000,000 good deeds (CAMPAIGN)

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Kindness through 1,000,000 good deeds (CAMPAIGN)

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An initiative to increase the good in the world for the return of all the hostages. To join the initiative, do one good thing - a good deed for the environment, or a small mitzvah. Record your mitzvah on the website and join a community committed to doing good deeds.

Consider:

What is an individual or a collective good deed that you would like to take part in? Join the initiative!

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מיליון מעשים טובים

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0 מתוך 1,000,000 1 בחירת מעשים טובים 2 פרטים אישיים 3 Last Page ניתן לבחור כמה אפשרויות: להקדיש זמן איכות משפחתי לתרום דם לבקר את ההורים לבקר את סבא וסבתא לבקר חולה לשמור שבת קרובה לבקר חייל פצוע צדקה/תרומה להניח תפילין להמנע מלשון הרע לעשות ויתור במחלוקת להדליק נר נשמה לנופל קריאת פרקי תהילים טבילה […]

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RED - Musical artifacts

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BLUE - Text-based artifacts

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PURPLE - Visual art-based artifacts

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GREEN - Project-based artifacts

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YELLOW - Ritual-based artifacts