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.
“May their memories be sanctified with joy and love”
“You who would hold the sky captive, / The sea prisoner, / The land in chains…”
Seeking solace for survivors of 9/11
A meditation on the value of a single life among so many murdered
A prayer and call to action while lighting candles
A poem commemorating the victims of the massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando
A prayer to acknowledge that all people are created in God’s image
A prayer to repair the damage, address security measures, and heal spiritually after a hate crime
Mourners’ Kaddish for all who have been killed by gun violence
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Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues
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Discover how Jewish folklore and personal memory can spark new poetry—join this creative immersion with poet Susan Comninos.
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