New challenges bring new opportunities
Hezbollah rockets.
Houthi threats.
Iran manipulations.
United Nations demanding Jerusalem be free of Jews and doing everything to thwart resolution or any act of integrity.
American politics, and Diaspora divides.
Hostages still not home, and soldiers scattered along a 7 front battlefield.
The entirety of the Northern mountains are in flames, unrecognizable from our many jaunts in the Golan and Galilee peace. We see organizations finally doing more, speakers on every platform, and yet the lies still dominate and hell is breaking loose on every street as the jihadists are blatantly supporting the Hezbollah terrorists without hesitation - founded on Jewhate that will take any shape or form they are permitted to.
AND STILL AFTER 356 DAYS WE ARE SHOUTING
WE DEMAND OUR HOSTAGES BE RETURNED HOME!
WE DEMAND THE WORLD ALLOW ISRAEL TO WIN THIS JUST WAR!
WE DEMAND PEACE FOR ISRAEL AND ALL HER CITIZENS, AND JEWS EVERYWHERE!
And amidst all of this, as our hearts cry out for answers, we are preparing for Rosh HaShanah and the 1 year mark of October 7. How are we supposed to approach these heavy days with heavy hearts, still shocked by all we are witnessing, still afraid of what is to come, still worried about when this war against Jewish freedom everywhere will come to an end... ?
We must demand from ourselves to do all we can to curb the internal frictions, to find the common voice when we come together for our upcoming chagim. We must find ways to open positive discussions, led through a voice of hope and realism as we face this historic time in Jewish existence.
When we read the Torah, or the memoirs of every era of Jewish history, we relearn the blessings and the curse of what it means to be a part of the people of Israel. Living in a time of existential risks all around us, we must relearn about the miracle of sovereignty in our homeland, and our just rights to take the necessary steps to protect our future, and ourselves today.
As we near the end of Elul, we work on returning and rebuilding our relationships - with each other, with G-d, with our history, heritage and homeland. We know there is both love and tension at the moment, and Hashem is blessing us with an opportunity to work together on focusing on the love.
We invite you to enter the new year in a way that heals your soul and creates meaning from our pain. Healing Arts allow us to gain from the therapeutic benefits of creation, of channeling our emotions into expression that we can not only grow from, but also share with others. From pomegranate paintings to calaniyot of memory, from mosaics for the survivors and bereaved and displaced families in Israel suffering from this forever war to recipes for our festive comforts, we can aid our healing from the massive trauma that is still an open fresh wound that cannot heal without the return of our hostages and the end to this siege on Jewish life. Every act - every word - every thing we do today matters. And we can all do more.
FIND ROSH HASHANAH RESOURCES, CRAFTS AND MORE FOR YOUR FAMILY OR GROUP.
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COOKING ISRAEL CHAGIM COOKBOOK Get your spices ready and add some Israeli twists to your Rosh HaShanah routine menu. Your family and friends will thank you for finding Cooking Israel and reminding them that the love of family and the love of food blend beautifully with the love of the land of our forefathers! Simple treats that help us remember the diversity of our people and our cultural traditions. Don't forget to prepare your simanim for good luck! |
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PERSONAL MEDITATIONS FOR ROSH HASHANAH To properly prepare ourselves to enter into the New Year, or any new beginning for that matter, we need to consciously deal with all that is old, stale, and outdated in our lives before we can fully move into the future. This is especially important for the final 12 days of the month of Elul, as each day corresponds to a particular month of the year. Awareness of each month’s energy/quality can serve to focus your reflection upon a particular month, as well as provide an archetypal perspective upon the many dimensions of a full year. These meditations allow you to reflect on the past year and prepare for next year, but can also be done on a monthly basis. |
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As we approach the anniversary of October 7th, we are reminded of the immense pain and heartbreak we’ve collectively endured. Even as we continue to fight for the freedom of our captive family held hostage by the Hamas henchmen, we are called on to remember. Make your October 7 memorial personal and everlasting. |
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We are facing a world, a cruel one and an unforgiving one. And in this world friends and allegiances change all too often. Your friend one day may not be your friend the next. That is our reality and the reality of the world we live in. What our enemies can never understand is that our pain is not our weakness – it’s our strength. Because each attack will not shake our resolve, but will only strengthen it further. And this is what we must remember as the fears and anxiety grows - to never let the enemy's tactics divide us. |
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MY COUNTRY IS IN CHAOS - WHY WORRY ABOUT ISRAEL TOO? During this time of mass unrest, violence, rioting, and a global pandemic of hate, violence and antisemitic lies, it is imperative, now more than ever, that we as Jews strengthen our connection to Israel and each other. Unfortunately, this isn’t as obvious for some as it should be. |
In the old Jewish world, facing times of crisis, the holiday cards were a way of giving joy and blessings for hope. Today is a perfect time to revive the tradition and open someone's heart with a small gesture of kindness.
Through the power of a simple card, we can bring smiles to the faces of those we love. Crafted from the blessings of support made by artists young and old for victims of terror and trauma in Israel, with your gift, you get to be a part of the cycle of mitzvot that can help us during these troubling times.
Your contribution goes to the continued healing of the displaced and traumatized communities in Israel who appreciate these expressions of empathy and encouragement.
ORDER YOUR HEALING ARTS, HEALING HEARTS HOLIDAY ECARDS NOW
ISRAEL FOREVER WORKS AROUND THE CLOCK SPREADING TRUTH AND PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SUPPORT TO THOSE IN ISRAEL AND AROUND THE WORLD SUFFERING THROUGH THE STRUGGLE OF SURVIVAL.
START YOUR YEAR WITH A DONATION TO ISRAEL FOREVER'S VITAL WORK
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