A Message from Friends of Sia’h Shalom Cofounder Rabbi Tara Feldman
As we seek to embrace Soloveitchik’s future-leaning teshuvah approach, we have many exciting visions for the year ahead. During the month of November, we will travel to the U.S., visiting Boston, Long Island, Manhattan, Philadelphia and Miami. We very much hope to connect with as many of you as possible during the course of our visit.
As we plan gatherings and speaking engagements, we are keenly aware of the weight and trauma of the past. We feel not only the pain of October 7 and the ensuing yearlong war, but also the horror of the global attack that began the very next day, blaming the Jewish people for the worst massacre since the Holocaust. Holding the pain of the past and of the present, what then does the future demand of us?
For Friends of Sia’h Shalom, as with Sia’h Shalom’s work in Israel, our vision is to be a convener of intra-Jewish conversations in North America—hard conversations—with Jewish Gen Zers, with their parents and with their grandparents.
Our focus of discussion and of encounter will be perhaps the most poisoned and weaponized word of this moment in history: Zionism. Together, we will reflect upon the ideals Zionism and explore how these ideals are expressed in our own journeys.
Topics will also include our relationship to Israel and personal experiences of anti-Semitism. Via Zoom, we have organized short learning blocks with adults, Gen Zers and younger learners, as well.
Please be in touch if you have an interest in participating or know someone who might want to join a group. The flyers below provides a snapshot of our efforts.
With the help of members of our Friends of Sia’h Shalom community, we have compiled a survey for Jewish Gen Zers in order to learn more about the experiences of young North American Jews. If you have a young adult in your life, please encourage them to take the survey at talkingpeace-census.org or by using the QR code beneath the flyers. To learn more, watch this video.
With blessings for a 5785 of meaning and hope,
Tara
