Dear Friends,

Like many of you, I am watching events unfolding in Israel with mixed emotions. I am on the one hand profoundly worried about the deep and increasingly hostile divisions between the current extremist government and the majority of the people, the long-term impact of which is alarming. At the very same time, I am filled with immense pride and hope at the hundreds of thousands of people who boldly protest day after day and week after week an immoral, bigoted, and intolerant government determined to topple the democratic Israel many of us know and love.

Israel needs us more than ever and many have asked how best to be/remain engaged and offer support, here are some preliminary resources:

For Education:
ARZA - Association of Reform Zionists -  https://arza.org/
Times of Israel - https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Shalom Hartman Institute https://www.hartman.org.il/

For Support:
Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) - https://www.irac.org/
Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism  - https://reform.org.il/en/
Women of the Wall – https://womenofthewall.org.il/
Rochester Protest: Save Israel’s Democracy:  https://www.unxeptable.org/

My words from Shabbat Service 3/24 “Israel on the Brink” 

In Prayer

My God ‫אלי

In this sacred moment, give us hope for Israel and her future. 
Renew our wonder at the miracle of the Jewish State.

In the name of the pioneers who made the deserts bloom - give us the tools to cultivate a diversity of Jewish expression in Israel.

In the name of our fallen soldiers - give us courage to stand up to the words and ways of zealots. Those in our own midst and those among our neighbors.

In the name of Israeli inventors who have amazed the world with their innovations – help us apply the same ingenuity to finding a path to peace.

In the name of all these individuals - grant us the strength to conquer doubt and despair in Israel.

Replacing doubt with action.
Replacing despair with hope.

Anat Hoffman, Women of the Wall