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.
A Hashkivenu prayer in solidarity with Native peoples defending Standing Rock
Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief: a ritual for mourning the death of those we do not know during the High Holidays
“Bless the souls of all who have died to save others”
“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
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
Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.
