Communal Tragedy

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.

Latest Rituals

“There is a time to make war, / there is a time to make peace. / In each soul both sing.” Listen to the tune hardest to hear.
a peace sign painted on a stone
This powerful new song calls for the release of the hostages.
the desert in Israel
“It’s exhausting. / Like, literally, exhausting, / being a Gen-Z Jew these days…”
a screen showing various social media icons
May the bright weekly Shabbos lights, / dispel darkness of the Jewish global crisis…”
Shabbat candles and challah
“May the windows of our prayers / move us into the world of vision…”
a giant sunflower looms against the blue sky
“And I wish I had special wipers / that could wipe away the tears, the pain, the anger…”
a car driving at dusk
“Keep faith / with the brightness / of all things good…”
a person stands looking into the light
“The community I loved, / in the Diaspora, / my home…” is being torn apart by this war.
the desert in Israel
“Bring peace to the anger in the world…”
rocks on the ocean

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

Presence and Absence: Images of the Divine in Kabbalah

In this study of the Zohar, Rabbi Margie Jacobs will guide you in exploring the Shekhinah, the feminine, immanent, indwelling Sacred Presence, through the use of art materials and reflective writing. Four sessions starting May 7, 2024. 

Get the latest from Ritualwell

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

The Reconstructionist Network