Dec 26, 2023
Dec 14, 2023
Announcing the Publication of Am Yisrael Chai: VOLUME TWO - Poems, Prayers, and Essays - 37 Authors, One Heart - United in Solidarity with Israel
Announcing the Publication of
Am Yisrael Chai: Poems, Prayers, and Essays
37 Authors, One Heart - United in Solidarity with Israel
edited by Rabbi Menachem Creditor
artwork by Joanne Fink
foreword by Rabbi Daniel Landes
Table of Contents: https://tinyurl.com/
Introduction: https://tinyurl.
for Kedoshei Yisrael, our fallen ones, whose blessed memories will never fade.
for Am Yisrael, the Jewish People, our family all over the world.
for Medinat Yisrael, the State of Israel, our home, now and forever.
Am Yisrael Chai is an emergency response anthology of voices from all over the world, grieving and writhing from the horrors perpetrated upon the State of Israel on Simchat Torah 5784, October 7, 2023. Unfathomably terrible images are now forever emblazoned in our eyes, spread through social media where children have seen them as well. The entire Jewish world is in trauma. This was not Poland in 1942. It was days ago in the State of Israel. We bear witness. We must. This is a book of testimony and recollection, response and prayer. That’s why the collection bears the title Am Yisrael Chai. This is our life – and we share it, recommitting to life itself, fighting for it, praying for it.
In the immediate aftermath of trauma, one cannot be expected to be thoughtful, mindful, creative. And yet you hold a collection of soulful and eloquent expressions of pain and Global Jewish Solidarity make the choice of title for this collection even more clear, and emphatic: Am Yisrael Chai!
As of the moment this manuscript went to print, a mere 67 days after the atrocity that struck our people in the heart, UJA-Federation of New York has raised over 165 million dollars from donors in support of our Emergency Israel Campaign, and we have already allocated 50.7 million of it to organizations on the ground in Israel who are supporting those in harm’s way, those in dire need, and those who have lost family members. We are there in a profound way, to help our People in this dark time. All proceeds from this book project will support UJA-Federation of NY’s Emergency Israel Campaign.
We will never bring back those whose lives we have lost. There are too many new stars in the sky. But we lift up our eyes to Heaven and we will remember them as a blessing. We will, as our hearts regain strength, heal that which has been broken. But we will never, not ever, be the same.
May this collection be of real support to our sisters and brothers, our parents, our grandparents, and most of all - our children.
May the Holy One bless Medinat Yisrael, the State of Israel, Reisheet Tz’michat Ge’ulateinu, the beginning of the flourishing of our redemption.
May our family see better days very, very soon.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Dec 13, 2023
Channukah, Rosh Chodesh, Day 67: Plant a seed of love.
Morning Torah on Day 6 of Channukah, Rosh Chodesh Tevet, Day 67. Plant a seed of hope, of love. There is more than enough light for us all to share. Let us fight only because we must. But may our restored families one day sit together and share love and light - and sweet tea. We are all connected. #BringThemHomeNow #AmYisraelChai #Broadcast947
Dec 10, 2023
Thank you CBS New York for bringing me and New Rochelle Mayor-Elect Yadira Ramos-Herbert, to talk about Channukah this year, the Elected Officials Solidarity Mission to Israel we shared, and our hopes for the future of our community.
Thank you CBS New York for bringing me and New Rochelle Mayor-Elect Yadira Ramos-Herbert, to talk about Channukah this year, the Elected Officials Solidarity Mission to Israel we shared, and our hopes for the future of our community.