Communal Tragedy

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As individuals, we all know pain and loss. It is the rare person who escapes sorrow. But when one of us hurts, others are there to offer comfort. Communal tragedy is different. When something bad happens to us as a community—whether that is a school, a town, a people, or a country—we struggle to figure out how to tend to our own wounds while taking care of each other. Drawing on compassion, empathy, justice, and love, we can bring out the best in each other, and perhaps, find a theology of hope in the midst of despair.

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“When I raise my voice in anger, help me see the Divine Spark in my opponent.”
“Today, I call for hope. / Tomorrow, I call for peace. / Forever, I call for justice”
The poet frames the loss of life in Israel and in Gaze with this powerful liturgy
“May there be space for history and context, may there be space for mistakes and faith, may there be space for hope…”
“May the One who Blessed those Before Us, bless all those suffering from the devastating atrocities and their aftermath, in our midst.”
“I place colors on flat surface during war – a break / from the news, from the story.”
“Please grant us clarity and wisdom and heal our bodies, minds and hearts, / for we are filled with confusion and suffering.”
“Our God and God of our ancestors, help me find relief in sleep, and rise renewed in body and soul.”

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