As we mourn the destruction of JerusalemLit. City of peace From the time of David to the Roman destruction, Jerusalem was the capital of Israel and the spiritual and governmental center of the Jewish people. During the long exile, Jews longed to return to Jerusalem and wrote poems, prayers, and songs about the beloved city. In 1967, with the capture of the Old City, Jerusalem was reunited, becoming "the eternal capital of Israel." Still, the longing for peace is unfulfilled., we think about the traditional liturgy that we read on Tisha B’Av – Eicha or Lamentations. The passages that describe the fall of Jerusalem liken her landscape to a woman violated and abandoned.
This month, we will dedicate our thoughts and actions to today’s violated, abandoned and abused women. Ask each woman to write down one way in which women are abused, either physically or emotionally. Have each woman light her candle from the woman sitting next to her, and after she says her name, have her read aloud the form of abuse she wrote. Then have her place that piece of paper in a metal bowl in the center of the circle. When the last woman has introduced herself, set fire to the collection of words. With this action we metaphorically destroy every concept of violence against women and release the energy that we will use this month to fight against violence against women.
