This hostage table remains set in Tel Aviv,

with hostages now in captivity for four months.

In This Edition:

• Weekly Message
• Repro Shabbat: This Shabbat, February 9-10
• Women's Voices
• Israel Resources
• Divrei Torah by women on Parshat Mishpatim

Weekly Message

Friends,

Friday, February 9, is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Adar I, which normally begins a celebratory time for Jews, with Purim approaching. It is also 30 Shevat, which marks Israel's annual Yom Hamishpacha, Family Day, focusing on the meaningful place that family has in our lives.

This year, there is of course a painful poignance to the idea of celebrating this day, with so many families that have loved ones who have been lost; who are serving in harm's way, and who are being held captive in Gaza. It is a reminder to offer comfort to bereaved families; support to those with members serving, and solidarity with the captives' families, keeping up hope and efforts to secure their release. 

With this in mind, below we highlight resources for advocating for the hostages' release; connecting with and supporting Israeli families, and raising awareness of violence against women and children. 

As always, you'll also find women's voices on what is happening, and divrei Torah by women on the parshat hashavua, Mishpatim. 

Please continue to use and share the resources and ways to help, in this email, on our Supporting Israel resource page, and in our social feeds, to keep up our efforts to strengthen our people amidst this difficult time. 

Besorot Tovot.

Repro Shabbat 2024/5784:

Parshat Mishpatim, This Shabbat, February 9-10

Jofa is proud to partner again with NCJW and many more organizations for Repro Shabbat, which honors the Jewish value of reproductive freedom each year on the Shabbat when we read Parshat Mishpatim, where we find the verses commonly referenced as the foundation of Judaism’s approach to reproductive health, rights, and justice. 

People and communities worldwide participate in Repro Shabbat in many ways, through community events or at home. Check out the Repro Shabbat website to see what's happening in your community, and find a wealth of info, tools, and resources for participating.

Women's Voices

Here we share a range of women's voices, ideas, thoughts, and reflections about the war in Israel, demonstrating some of the ways that women are finding strength, hope, resilience, and courage during this time. We hope that these writings provide you with new understanding, and inspire you to write and share your own insights.

• Strength in this Time, by Rachel Sharansky Danziger
• Diaspora Identity in the Wake of October 7th, by Malka Simkovich
• Mothers at the Heart of Family Day, by Dr. Elana Yael Heideman
• The Other Side of the Rain, by Rabbi Dr. Haviva Ner-David
• The Accidental Warrior: Why Me?, by Danielle Sobkin
• Being a Jewish Student in America During the Israel-Hamas War, by Jessica Abramsky
• In Praise of Brown University President Christina Paxson, by Ellen Ginsberg Simon
• Jewish Women Always Speak Up. We Refuse to be Silenced., by Tracy-Ann Oberman
• The Air That I Breathe, by HaDassah Sabo Milner

Standing with Israel

We strive to stay as active and persistent as ever in our efforts and advocacy on behalf of Am Yisrael. Please check our Supporting Israel: Ways to Help Now page, where we continue adding ways to keep current and engaged with what is happening in Israel and how we can help -- including raising the voices and stories of how women are impacted, how they are responding, and ways we can support them.

We include resources for fighting antisemitism; advocacy; staying informed; keeping attention on the hostages; finding comfort in rituals; ways to contribute; talking to kids about Israel; reaching out; mental health; community gatherings, and more.

We will also continue spotlighting additional resources in this weekly email and our social feeds. We hope that each week you'll will find something that speaks to you, helps you stay connected, gives you specific things you can do for Am Yisrael -- in Israel, around the world, and in your own home and community.

Spotlighted Israel Resources

We continue highlighting examples each week of countless organizations and advocacy efforts. Please see our Supporting Israel page for our continually growing list.

• Everyone Counts: This is #BringThemHomeNow's Education and Action Toolkit to promote pidyon shvuyim (hostage liberation). It is a values-based tool for educators and individuals that enables you to learn and act: at home, in your school, and in your community. Five gateways on the site lead to options for inspiring learning and impactful action: Freedom and Justice; Human Dignity and Compassion; Responsibility and Leadership; Peoplehood and Community, and Jewish Moments.
• Tzohar/Mealuim: This program enables participants to act as a neighbor for an IDF reservist’s family, by sponsoring a mid-week meal while a parent is away at the front. You might not be able to make the food yourself, but you can still be the neighbor who provides a much-needed meal for individuals or families coping on the home front.
• The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel (ARCCI): As the Times of Israel reported this week, vulnerable evacuee populations of women and children are encountering sexual and physical abuse inside the ‘pressure cooker’ environment of the hotels that are their temporary homes. Organizations like ARCCI are raising awareness and advocating for these issues to be addressed.
• One Minute a Day: This site offers a simple, easy way to take one minute of your day to make a quick call to your elected representatives to press for the immediate release of the hostages remaining in Gaza -- elderly men and women, fathers, young women, disabled, and chronically ill. Testimonials from released captives tell us that the hostages are kept without medication, food deprived, without access to showers, forced to watch horrific documentation of the October 7th massacre repeatedly, and constantly assaulted by their captors. Every minute counts and can make a difference.

Divrei Torah by Women on Parshat Mishpatim

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach

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