Remembering October 7

The Reconstructionist community joins with Jews and people throughout the world in remembering the still fresh, heartbreaking Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023. We are united in our grief and anguish and hope for the safe return of hostages and an end to the conflagration so people on all sides can safely return to their communities and lives. We recognize the diverse opinions across our movement about the war and the tremendous upheaval that’s followed.

The Reconstructing Judaism team has gathered these resources to help mourn and process this cataclysmic event.

The Anniversary of October 7 and BINA: the Jewish Movement for Social Change

It’s not easy to talk about and process the first anniversary of Oct. 7, 2023, when war continues to widen, hostages remain in Gaza and a ceasefire seems less and less likely. This wide-ranging episode featuring Rabbi Mira Wasserman, Ph.D. and Elliott Glassenberg, aims to model such a conversation.

Listen Here

Serving a Community in Wartime

Reconstructionist Rabbi Steve Burnstein shares his perspective from Kibbutz Gezer on the Eve of a Terrible Anniversary.

Read His Story

Find Comfort in our Prayers

Mark the first anniversary of October 7 with original poetry, prayers, songs and more from our Ritualwell community, written and shared in the days following the Hamas attack and through the ensuing months of both hope and heartbreak.

Find Resources at Ritualwell

The Year Since October 7

Review multiple perspectives from rabbis Joel Hecker, Amy Klein, Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, Nina Mandell, Vivie Mayer, Haviva Ner-David and David Teutsch on Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations.

Read the Essays at Evolve

Honor this moment with these events:

One Year After October 7: Impact on Palestinians and the Wider Middle East
Thursday, Oct. 10 @ 2 p.m. EDT

Following the Progressive Israel Network (PIN) webinar on Oct. 8 that will commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, the J Street Policy Center in conjunction with PIN is hosting a follow-on webinar on Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. EDT to analyze the attack’s broader impact. It will focus on the devastating impact on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, including on the future of Palestinian leadership, governance, and society. It will also survey the impact of Oct. 7 on neighboring Arab states – Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt – as well as Iranian involvement. Join us for a wide-ranging discussion about the continued reverberations of the Hamas massacre and subsequent war in Gaza one year on.

Holding Each Other
Monday, Oct, 21 @ 12 p.m. EDT

On Oct. 21, just before Shemini Atzeret, Rabbi Deborah Waxman will lead us in grieving, praying and sharing as we mark the anniversary of the Hebrew date of the tragic Hamas attacks.