This supplement is published by the Academy for Jewish Religion, a pluralistic, Zionist institution that trains rabbis, cantors, and Jewish leaders to guide our people during these times. We understand the importance of our sacred literature, and the need to continually engage with it for contemporary meaning. We know how important interfaith dialogue and interchange are, especially now, and take our role as the only Jewish seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools very seriously. We teach and try to remember that the world need not be defined as“ friends” and“ enemies” and we strive to see the depth beneath these black and white labels. Ultimately, we strive to train leaders who will continue to build a Jewish community that may struggle, but that grows and thrives through the hope of a brighter future, a world of peace and security, kindness and love.
We hope that you will find this book helpful. Thank you to everyone who made this book possible. Thank you to Rabbi Menachem Creditor who believes so deeply in this work, and who made this book what it is. Thank you to my colleagues at AJR who each helped in its publication in many ways. Thank you to all the contributors who have given of themselves to help our communities in these times.
We publish this book, along with the others in this series, with hope that we can make a difference for those struggling in these very complicated times. We pray for a time when these supplements to the holidays will not be necessary in the same way. We pray for the return of our hostages, and for the rebuilding of all that has been lost throughout Israel and Gaza during this very sad war. We pray for the safety of Jewish communities of the diaspora. We not only pray, but we work for these goals. We will not give up.
Perhaps there is hope ….
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