Dear JFREJ members,

As many of you know, the JFREJ “office” typically closes over the Days of Awe. We have done this over the last few years to give our team time to rest, reflect and mark the Days of Awe in ways that are meaningful for them. But for many reasons, this year is different from others. Instead of having our whole team off for the 10 Days of Awe, staff will stagger time off from October 2nd to October 21st so that JFREJ staff, in addition to our incredible members, can support JFREJ programming on October 7th and Yom Kippur (October 12th).  

We ask for your patience and understanding over the next couple of weeks as staff will not be able to respond to requests that are not urgent or related to the specific programming mentioned above. 

If you are looking for things to read and peruse over the High Holidays, I wanted to draw your attention to a section of the Mazals program book dedicated to political analysis. We compiled a series of essays by activists and movement leaders addressing some of the most salient political issues at this time. You can see the essays (and the rest of the program book), pictures from the Mazals and a recording of the Mazals here.

I also want to encourage everyone to be gentle with yourselves and each other as violence continues to escalate, with Iranian missiles targeting Israel today, Israeli strikes against Lebanon this week, the endless Israeli attacks in Gaza and the West Bank – it is extremely overwhelming. I’m thinking of you, of everyone with family and loved ones on the ground. The constant escalation is too much to bear. We need a ceasefire, we need no more bombs, we need to end occupation and apartheid and genocide and war. If you will be in NYC over the High Holidays, I urge you to join us on October 7th for a memorial action, and on October 12th for a Yizkor service led by Rabbis for Ceasefire.     

Wishing us all peace, justice, and sweetness in the coming year. Shana tova u’metuka, and may we make it so. 

Shifra Sered (she/her)
JFREJ Deputy Director