Lab/Shul Family,
Many of us are hurting right now and much is still unknown as this third day of the war between Israel and the Hamas rages on, and this is far from over. Like all of you, we are horrified by the vile violence, stand in solidarity with Israel’s sorrow, feel fear for what’s next, and are so moved by the mobilization of support, care and relief efforts these past 48 hours, in Israel and worldwide.
Many of us gathered yesterday in Brooklyn to open the Torah of love, pray for healing and peace, and stand in a circle of solidarity and hope.
Thank you for joining us.
Please view some of the moving videos and photos HERE and watch/share the Mothers Prayer for Peace, led by Rabbi Dalia Marx from Jerusalem who joined us at this ritual.
We want to help us all come together to support, hear, hold each other at this time, and also provide you resources to help unpack and find solace and inspiration, with updated links on how you too can help/donate right now.
Scroll down for links and information on events, resources, and how to help.
-Tonight @6pm ET, Join Rabbi Amichai and the Ritual Team on Zoom for a communal gathering of solidarity, support and prayer. We’ll take time to ground, pray and breathe together, hear from Rabbi Amichai on his perspective, with an opportunity to ask questions and share feelings and reflections.
-Tonight @8pm ET, We invite you to join Spiritual Leader, Shira Kline along with Jewish artists, healers and clergy from across the U.S. for a tender hour of music and prayers. This event will be live on zoom and streamed to facebook.
-Tomorrow Oct 10 @5pm ET, Rabbi Amichai and Lab/Shul will join the larger community of UJA-Federation of NY for “New York Stands With Israel – Vigil and Rally” at DAG-HAMMARSKJOLD PLAZA. Enter on 2nd Avenue and 47th Street. Doors open 4.30pm. No backpacks permitted.
-Friday Oct 13 @7pm ET, Zen Shabbat In Person and Online. Rabbi Amichai and Spiritual Leader Shira Kline join Sensei Koshin Paley Elison at the NYC for our first Zen Shabbat of the season. This is a medicinal invitation to sit guided with breath, sabbath prayers and song. Following the ritual at 8:30pm, all are invited to join in-person and online, for a 45 minute heart circle and check in.
One more note on how to take care of our hearts these terrible days and those to come:
We will come together, tonight and ahead, so that we can hold space for care and for complex conversations.
This situation is real time, complicated, tragic, and tough. Some of us have relatives and friends who have been killed, are missing, or abducted to Gaza. Some of us have close ties to people suffering in Israel right now, and some to friends suffering in Gaza and in Palestine. We are all in this together, charged with the moral responsibility to care for our family and friends, stand in solidarity with our nation at war, condemn the terrorist organization that unleashed this barbaric attack, while also not losing sight of our wish for liberation and justice for all, grieving with innocent victims of violence, everywhere.
Current messaging on social media is both helping us to connect yet also disturbing and disconnecting us with violent and viral not so nuanced messaging, information and positions.
This community holds many voices, and we are honored to be co-creating safe sacred spaces for and with all of us, with love and with respect, together.
With love, in pain, and hope,
The Lab/Shul Team
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UPDATED LINK // CAN YOU HOST ISRAELIS WHO ARE STRANDED IN NYC since flights to Israel are now canceled? Please complete this form.
THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY FUND was established by JGive and many of its partners including Rabbi Amichai’s brother, Rabbi Benny Lau, in order to provide assistance to the victims of the recent horrific attacks on Israeli soil and the war that has ensued. All the donations collected will be distributed to charities that offer relief services, welfare, equipment, food and other necessities to the victims of the war and their families. The funds will be distributed through a public committee. Donate here.
THE DEMOCRACY IN ISRAEL PROTEST COMMUNITY IN NEW YORK IS RAISING MONEY for the Israelis who live in the south* of Israel and are now under an immediate threat to their lives. This is exactly the same solidarity from which we stand in rallies every week. All planned protest activities are currently on hold. We support our sisters and brothers who defend Israel at this challenging moment. Donate and share.
ASUTA HOSPITAL NEAR GAZA BORDER NEEDS YOUR URGENT HELP. To anyone who can help – we need you today. There is an urgent need to raise donations, all of which have one goal: saving lives.These donations will cover a variety of medical emergency equipment.
For donations in Israel: all donations are recognized according to section 46.
For credit card donations go directly to: www.AssutaAshdodFriends.org
For bank transfers:
For donations in the USA through the Friends of Samson Assuta Ashdod Hospital – tax exempt according to 501c(3)
For bank transfers:
JPMorgan Chase Bank
383 Madison Ave, NY, NY
ABA# 021000021
SWIFT# CHASU33
Account number: 939921786
Account name: American Friends of Assuta Ashdod
EMERGENCY SUPPORT FOR IDF FRONTLINE GEAR — soldiers on the frontline now faced with shortage of life-saving gear: Bulletproof vests & helmets.
Hundreds of thousands of reservists have been mobilized to the front line. While they will be risking their lives to protect our country, they are fitted with outdated gear from the 80s.
This donation will make sure we fit our soldiers with the best protective gear out there. Every Ceramic vest + helmet is 500$. If you have the means, please donate, and help our brothers and sisters to return home safely.
Donate here.
UJA-FEDERATION ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND – Following the horrific and unprecedented terrorist attacks by Hamas, Israel is at war. Our partners on the ground have mobilized to provide urgent support, but needs are mounting rapidly. By making a gift right now, you’re ensuring that we can strengthen these critical efforts in the days and weeks ahead. Make a gift here.
SUPPORT ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE EFFORTS – now more than ever. “Sulha Peace Project” was established in 2000 in the midst of the Second Intifada with the goal of creating eye-to-eye, heart-to-heart encounters between Palestinians and Israelis. When the smoke clears — this will be one of the first grassroots organizations to bring people together to help heal. We need your love and support.
TAKE A MOMENT FOR A QUIET PRAYER AND LIGHT A CANDLE FOR PEACE – Download our beloved Mothers’ Prayer for Peace – composed by Jewish and Muslim mothers and spiritual leaders, a decade ago, during yet another round of violence between Hamas and Israel.
