Israel at War:Latest Updates

In the midst of challenges facing Israel and Jewish communities across North America, a pluralistic delegation of rabbis from Hartman’s Israeli Rabbis Network (Rabbanut Yisraelit) embarked on a journey of solidarity that included shared learning with their North American counterparts. Read more >

Rabbi Tamar Elad-Applebaum is among the rabbis across Israel offering pastoral care by giving those impacted by October 7 the tools to understand and process the trauma. “When one’s own language fails,” she says, “that’s where scripture and tradition can lend words.” Read more >

From January 28-February 4, Hartman rabbis across Israel led more than 50 events addressing the challenges faced by Israeli society in times of war, using text study, prayer, spiritual counseling, and community outreach. They produced A Mission to Witness: Rabbanut Yisraelit, and 3 short videos about their work.

A group of 20 Hartman board members and Giving Society donors spent 4 days on a unique solidarity mission where they volunteered alongside Hartman high school and Hevruta students, visited with displaced families with our Rabbanut Israelit, met with hostage families, and studied with key Hardman leadership to understand this moment in history.

Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, appeared on Israel’s Kan 11 to discuss American Jewry and antisemitism on January 17, 2024. Watch >

From December 25-29, 2023, 50 students and campus leaders from across North America gathered in Atlanta for the Edward Fein Winter Student Seminar to explore critical questions about Israel, Judaism, and Jewish identity on campus.

In a 3-part series on Ethics of War, Idit Shafran Gittleman, Shlomo Brody, and Yitzhak Benbaji, three leading Israeli thinkers in the field of ethics of war, explore this dynamic debate through traditional Jewish sources, moral philosophy, and law. Register >

Daniella Bar-Zur, a resident of Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the kibbutzim attacked on October 7, lit the Hanukkah candles during a conference for educators at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Watch >

Jewish Democratic Council of America’s (JDCA) weekly Community Conversation featured PA Governor Josh Shapiro in conversation with Yehuda Kurtzer about the ongoing crisis in Israel and the rise of antisemitism around the world. Watch >

Hartman’s Ritual Department in Jerusalem developed new intentions for each of the 8 nights of Hanukkah, which were distributed to soldiers, evacuees, teachers, and families. An English version was developed and distributed across North America.

Donniel Hartman in conversation with Rabbis Felicia Sol and Roly Matalon of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York City.  Watch >

The For Heaven’s Sake podcast reached the 100 episode milestone with Israel at War  – Genocide?

A special digital-only edition of Sources: Israel at War is now available. The eight essays in this special issue seek find meaning in looking at the Jewish past, present, and future anew, cognizant of the challenges of this moment.

A delegation of rabbis from across North America traveled to Israel November 27-30 to volunteer alongside the Hartman Israeli rabbis network.  Learn more >

Meeting this Moment: An Evening with Yehuda Kurtzer at Temple Emanuel in Newton, MA. Watch >

Hartman staff, board members, and alumni were among the 290,ooo who marched for Israel in Washington, DC on November 14 where Mijal Bitton was one of the speakers at the rally. Watch >

Hartman High School for Boys in Jerusalem organized a celebration of the Ethiopian holiday of Sigd for 300 immigrants who were evacuated from Ashkelon and Netivot.

To mark the traditional 30 day shloshim mourning period after the October 7 massacre, the Shalom Hartman Institute produced a short tekkes (ceremony), with a special version specifically for the Hartman High Schools. The ceremony was translated into English for use in the North American Jewish community.

The For Heaven’s Sake podcast special series, Israel at War, reached the #1 spot in Judaism podcasts in North America.

Drawing on collective Jewish wisdom and the personal experiences of Hartman’s network of North American and Israeli research fellows, faculty, rabbis, and Jewish communal professionals, Notes for the Field offers guidance, inspiration, and support for navigating the challenges facing the Jewish people today. Read more >