In this edition:

• Message from Jofa
• Women's Stories and Reflections
• Ways to Come Together Now
• Divrei Torah by Women on Parshat Lech Lecha

Message from Jofa

Dear Friends,

Jews in Israel and around the world are finding strength and courage through this painful time by coming together: lifting each other up; supporting each other; helping each other; gathering together; reaching out; raising our voices; marching, rallying, baking, candle lighting, volunteering, collecting, giving, advocating, davening, sharing, learning, connecting, uniting.

This week, we find hope in the many beautiful ways that people are coming together - to give strength, to find strength, and to be strengthened. Below, we highlight some ways to come together to strengthen ourselves, our voices, and our impact, along with sharing women's perspectives, personal stories, and words of Torah.

חזק ונתחזק בעד עמינו

May we be strong and be strengthened for our people.

Women's Stories and Reflections

Here we share reflections by women, seeking ways to find meaning and understanding in our individual and collective experiences of such unprecedented times:

• Feeling 'Peaced Off'...Again, by Chaya Lester
• Sherut Leumi — Serving Israel in Her Hour of Need, by Summer Pitocchelli Schwartzman
• 'Major' Mums Motivation, by Sori Block
• Israel at War: It’s Personal. It’s Not. Is It?, by Rachel Gottlieb
• Sobbing, by Shayna Goldberg
• A Woman Sits on a Cheap Plastic Chair, by Roseanne Malka Werb Zwanziger

Ways to Come Together Now

Learn Together: Jofa is partnering with Shalshelet Shivyoni - a new intercollegiate community dedicated to a diverse, vibrant, authentic, and inclusive Jewish future - for a Siyyum Mishnayot, a completion of learning all six tractates of the Mishna, in memory of the fallen of the brutal October 7 terrorist attacks, and in commemoration of the shloshim of this terrible day.

To participate, go to Jofa's Siyyum page, to select a tractate to learn individually or with others, and/or register for the online siyyum, which will take place on Thursday, November 9, at 7:30 PM EST.

We hope that you will join us in this meaningful effort to honor and remember the fallen. Please register in advance for the link to join the online siyyum.

Stand Strong Together: Jofa's Board President, Dr. Mindy Feldman Hecht, and Executive Director, Daphne Lazar Price, were in attendance on Tuesday, October 24, when Central Synagogue partnered with UJA-Federation to bear witness to the unimaginable: Israeli families telling the stories of their loved ones, brutally captured by Hamas terrorists. Rabbi Angela Buchdahl called the evening "a spiritual call to arms."

The takeaways were strong and clear: Don't let go of our hope and our efforts to release the hostages. Keep raising awareness; keep sharing their stories; keep contacting your elected officials; keep holding the media accountable.

Wear Blue Ribbons Together: Jofa is a partner in the global #BlueRibbonsforIsrael solidarity campaign. Wearing and posting the blue ribbon symbolizes support and solidarity for the safe return of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists in Israel. It symbolizes solidarity with the hostages, their families, and all who care about their safety. Anyone whose heart aches for the hostages and their families can wear a blue ribbon. Community members and leaders, spiritual leaders, elected officials, educators, students, allies.

Wearing a blue ribbon publicly unites you with people of all religions, races, nationalities, ethnicities, ages, and generations, and demonstrates for the people of Israel that they are not alone and that good people around the globe are with them and their families during this dark time. Send a powerful message of solidarity by wearing your ribbon, sharing on social media with #BlueRibbonsforIsrael, and encouraging caring people in your orbit to wear and share too.

Bake Challah Together and Light Shabbat Candles Together: Many of us are seeking out, organizing, and participating in tangible and symbolic personal and communal rituals - such as lighting Shabbat candles and baking challah - as ways to connect with each other, raise money for Israel, support IDF families, and share comfort.

In The Power of Baking Challah Together in Hard Times, Joanna Nissim explores the origins of communal challah baking and why it speaks to us in times of crisis.

You can print these special candle lighting prayers and use them to join Jewish women around the world in finding redoubled purpose and meaning in lighting Shabbat candles, and bringing extra light into these dark times.

Stay Informed Together: Share information and stay up to date on the latest news, developments, and analyses on what's happening in Israel. Here are just a few of the trusted sources that include coverage, analysis, and first-hand accounts:

• Israel Policy Forum
• Times of Israel
• Haaretz
• American Jewish Committee
• Anti-Defamation League

Advocate Together: There is power in numbers. Our government leaders must hear from us that it is as imperative as ever to stand unequivocally with Israel - and how much we appreciate it when they do. Contact your legislators in the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Thank them for any statements that they have already made, and ask them to stand by Israel and its people, including supporting Israeli needs for vital American aid.

It is most effective to write personal letters in your own words. Find the contact information for your members of the House and the Senate, or send a quick email to your elected officials, via the American Jewish Committee.

Give Together: Israelis and Jews around the world are showing up with incredible generosity - from volunteering in a countless variety of jobs usually held by people who have been called up to serve in the IDF; to gathering suitcases of much-needed supplies to ship off on a few hours notice; to cooking kosher meals in empty restaurants; to funding vital mental health services for Israelis living in incomprehensible trauma.

We can all support these efforts by giving to any of the numerous grassroots, local, national, and international organizations and fundraising efforts that are supporting a vast array of direct and specific needs on the ground - including your community's Jewish Federation, as well as the following - to name just a few:

• Jewish Federations of North America Israel Emergency Campaign
• The Jewish Agency's Fund for Victims of Terror
• Friends of the IDF: Hamas-Israel War Emergency Campaign
• United Hatzalah - Equipment and Monetary Donations
• American Friends of Magen David Adom
• Zaka Search and Rescue
• Israel Trauma Coalition

Share Together: If you have family and/or friends in Israel, or you know anyone with loved ones who are serving, reach out to them. People may wonder what to say when there are no adequate words - but it’s simply about reaching out.

Keeping in mind that each person is experiencing this in their own way, their own personal situation, with their own emotional bandwidth, reaching out is meaningful and appreciated, regardless of whether or how they respond. Tell them simply that you’re thinking about them and praying for everyone’s strength and safety. It can make such a difference to show someone that they have support, in a situation that can feel so heartbreaking and intense.

For mental health and wellness resources that can help you or those you care about, see The Blue Dove Foundation's resources and Dr. Michelle Friedman's self-care recommendations.

Talk Together: Discussing with children of all ages what is happening right now is both highly sensitive and very important, for families, caregivers, educators, spiritual leaders, youth leaders, and more. We continue adding to our list of resources to help navigate this:

• Manhattan Congregational Collaboration: Helping Children and Teens Respond to the War in Israel 
• Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal: Talking to Kids About the Crisis in Israel
• The Child Mind Institute: Helping Children Cope With Frightening News
• Parenting Simply: Talking to Your Kids About Israel
• Ohel: Israel at War: Managing the Trauma for Individuals and Families
• The Lookstein Center Resource Page (Discussion Questions, Coping Tools, How to Get Involved)
• Chai Lifeline: How to Speak to Our Children About Israel Today  
• Jewish Education Project Zoom: How to Speak to Our Children about Israel
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Talking to Children About War
• National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Families and Educators
• eJewishPhilanthropy: Guidance for Talking to Our Kids

Daven Together: Gather together and comfort each other as a community. Create or join a Solidarity Shabbat in your community or congregation, with tehillim and prayers for Israel. Recite the Prayer for the State of Israel, Prayer for Tzahal, Prayer for the Safe Return of Hostages. Include in your tefillot the names of the soldiers who you know. Say your own personal prayers; insert your own prayers during tefillah. Take a moment to thank G-d for protecting and watching over us and those who safeguard our homeland. Now more than ever, tefillah is a place to turn, to pour out our hearts, to seek comfort.

Say Tehillim Together: Many people find it comforting to recite and/or study Tehillim, whether as part of a community gathering, on your own, or in one of the many Tehillim circles, groups, and chats that have formed worldwide as sources of spiritual chizuk.

Sing Together: Organizing a kumsitz or melaveh malkah can be a meaningful and uplifting way to channel our feelings through the emotional outlet of hearing, singing, or playing fitting music.

Divrei Torah by Women on Parshat Lech Lecha

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach.

Besorot Tovot.

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