Our collective hearts break as we witness the violence unfolding in Jerusalem and across Israel.
In the midst of violent protests in Jerusalem and other cities around the country, and as families seek bomb shelters to protect themselves from rockets in Gaza, we urge all sides to seek deescalation measures in the coming days.
At the same time, our hearts are with the citizens of Gaza who are victims of the oppressive Hamas regime that seeks terror instead of peace.
As Israel prepares for the potential of a new coalition government, we pray that it can be done in a time of calm so we can set our sites on a vision for peace.
Here are some resources to help make sense of this moment and its complexities:
- Current and simple facts explained (JTA)
- Rabbi Donniel Hartman offers an open and honest take on his anger and the lack of vision for peace in that last 15 years (Forward)
- How we can talk to our kids (Forward)
- An important read on the power play that Hamas is taking (Times of Israel)
- JCJ Executive Director Rabbi Joel Thal Simonds offered some words for understanding the moment.
