Preserve the memory of your loved one with a plaque on our Yahrzeit Wall. Learn More ->

Search
Close this search box.

Sounding the Shofar in a Post-Roe World

person in silhouette blowing shofar against white curtains
Tekiah.
One blast.
Pay attention. This is not a test.

Shevarim.
Three sounds, the sound of weeping.
The weeping of a pregnant child forced to carry a baby to term.
The weeping of a person for whom it was not the right time.
The weeping of a mother of four who has nothing left to give.
The weeping of young girls and women unable to move out of poverty.
The weeping of family members whose loved one died having an illegal abortion.
The weeping of doctors forced to make medical choices that go against their oath to do no harm.
The weeping of a generation that fought for rights only to see them lost in their lifetime.
The weeping of a generation of women whose autonomy is denied.
A weeping for all who will be put in harm’s way.

Teruah.
Nine staccato sounds. The fierce urgency of now.
Let the shofar wake us up, so that we speak out, vote, stand up and volunteer.
Let us shake off complacency!
Let us fight for dignity, freedom and justice.

Ritualwell content is available for free thanks to the generous support of readers like you! Please help us continue to offer meaningful content with a donation today. 

2 Responses

  1. Thank you for this. It made me weep for all my sisters throughout the world. Let’s start this new year with the courage to take control of our lives. L’Shona Tova!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Rituals

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.

The Reconstructionist Network