Over these past difficult weeks we have been hearing from many of you about your pain, your grief, your aspirations, as well as your hopes for how the CBI community can meet you in your needs. We have deeply appreciated hearing from all of your voices - through letters, meetings, conversations, phone calls - that span across the political spectrum. We continue to believe even in this hard moment that CBI needs all of us, and that our community is enriched and strengthened by the energy that each of us carries. You can read our 10/24 letter to the community here.
We hear you wanting to be held, wanting to be together, and wanting to process. We hear you feeling alone and lost. We also hear from many of you who are eager for ways to better understand the situation in Israel and Gaza, and to channel your energy into taking action. More than anything, we are hearing that whatever you are seeking, you seek to do it together in community.
To that end, we are grateful to be able to share some new opportunities for gathering in the coming weeks. More details on each of these will be in the CBI weekly email. We know that many of you have reached out to us about additional offerings that are still in process, and we will continue to update you on a weekly basis and as details get finalized.
New and Upcoming Opportunities:
Resetting the Table: For several weeks now, we have been in conversation with Resetting the Table (RTT), a widely-respected organization with a track record of teaching synagogues to model “sacred disagreement” across political differences within and across their communities. You can read more about Resetting the Table on their website. CBI’s board of directors has voted to bring RTT to CBI to provide training for the CBI staff and to build out a curriculum that will help our wider community explore charged issues through dialogue with skilled facilitators. We will continue to keep the community updated as we begin our work with RTT.
Weekly Sacred Space for Open-Hearted Connection in Hard Time: Join the community for weekly facilitated drop-in conversations led by community members (you can come every week or once in a while) on Monday evenings at 6:00 pm. We will engage in loving, civil, and brave discourse about the situation in Israel and Gaza and make space for connection and grieving through small group conversation, ritual, and reflection. We aim to create space for a variety of community needs and all perspectives will be honored. Come with a willingness to sit in complexity and a desire to connect with each other. These conversations will begin as a place of connection with the intention that they might lead to opportunities for learning and action. To learn more or get involved, contact Shani Ofra or Shanna Fishel.
Empty Shabbat Table: A group is interested in hosting an "Empty Shabbat Table" to raise awareness about and give a human face to the hostages that remain in Gaza. This event may also be used to raise funds for displaced families in Israel and/or children orphaned in the Oct. 7 attacks. Please contact Tamara Kupfer if you are interested in helping with this event.
New Havurot: We welcome your ideas for new havurot (micro-communities) to build connections around the crisis. Havurot are groups that meet regularly for community building around a specific theme or idea. To learn more, check out our Havurah webpage or contact Amy Stein.
Ritual Life: Many community members have articulated interest in engaging in ritual life in new or deeper ways. If you would like to get involved in ritual life at CBI, reach out to Jane Myers and Lewis Rosenthal, co-chairs of our newly re-energized ritual committee.
Support Smith College Students: Many people have asked how they can help support local students in light of the current campus environment. One thing that students would appreciate is a break from campus and connections with members of the local Jewish community. If you would like to participate, you can fill out this form to share what you can offer to a local student. If you have questions or ideas, please contact Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer.
Interfaith Community Building: CBI’s Taskforce 4 Israel Democracy has reorganized and is now focused on interfaith community building. To get involved or be added to their email list, contact Tamar Fields and add your name to the email list.
Educational Programming Focused on the Israel/Gaza Crisis: Several people have reached out with interest in developing educational programming. If you’re interested in getting involved or learning more, contact Amy Stein.
Education and strategy around antisemitism and Islamophobia: A group is forming to discuss and strategize around local issues of antisemitism and Islamophobia. One focus will be developing an emergency response team, as was recommended during the program with Yavilah McCoy last year that was sponsored by the Tikkun Olam Committee. The first meeting will be Tuesday, November 21 at 6:00 pm at CBI. For more information contact Sara Weinberger.
As mentioned, we’ll continue to send updates as new offerings get finalized. None of these would be possible without your partnership, and we welcome your energy and ideas in continuing to meet all of our community’s needs for processing, togetherness, learning, and action. In partnership, we can meet this moment in a way that represents the fullness of who our community is, and enable each of us to show up as our full selves.
Thank you for sharing your voices, and entrusting us with your pain, grief, and hopes. Together, we can and will work toward building a better future for Israelis, Palestinians, and the world, and reinforce the values that enable so many of us to call CBI our collective home.
As we enter into this new month of Kislev (which started on Tuesday) and anticipate Chanukah’s arrival, we hope you find warmth and coziness to face the lengthening nights. And as we head into Shabbat, we wish you a Shabbat Shalom Umevorach, a Shabbat filled with peace, wholeness, and blessing.
B’Shalom
Emily Kieval, Rabbi Ariella Rosen, and Rabbi Jacob Fine
