(Courtesy of Touro University) Oct. 7 served as the beginning of another painful chapter in the history of the Jewish people. It is a chapter that has not yet ended and whose pages remain stained with the blood of our brothers and sisters. Throughout the ages, the Jewish response to crisis and challenge has been constant: prayer, Torah study and turning to rabbinic leaders for guidance. This year, Jews across the globe have activated those strategies as they focused on the unfolding drama in Israel and around the world since the devastating attacks on Oct. 7. The tragedies of the war, the hostages in Gaza, the international condemnations and the marches on college campuses have all been personal, communal, national and global.
As the Jewish community marks a year since this tragedy began, Touro’s Lander Beis Medrash and Colleges are planning events filled with prayer, inspiration and insight from the Rosh Hayeshiva, rebbeim and rabbonim.
Faith in Times of Crisis
Faith in Times of Crisis is a program for college students and the greater community to be held at Lander College for Men on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.. The event will be led by Rabbi Yonason Sacks, the Lander College for Men Beis Medrash L’Talmud Rosh HaYeshiva, who will share a message of faith and encouragement based upon the timeless words of the Torah. Rabbi Yosef Sonnenschein, Beis Medrash L’Talmud Menahel, as well as noted Jewish historian and Lander College for Men Dean Dr. Henry Abramson will also share their perspectives.
“The Rosh HaYeshiva, Harav Sacks, has been a source of support and guidance for the entire Yeshiva since that tragic Simchat Torah a year ago,” said Rabbi Moshe Krupka, Touro executive vice president. “Through his leadership, the talmidim understood that the war in Gaza was not merely ‘the news’ but rather a call to action and a personal responsibility for every Jew.”
At the commemoration event, Rabbi Sacks will share the Torah perspective on how to relate to and process tragic events. He will discuss how we can all discover the inner fortitude to strengthen ourselves and to meet the challenges of dark times. Importantly, he will clarify the interplay between times of great sadness and times of great joy in the experience of the Jewish people.
Rabbi Sonnenschein will discuss the impact of Oct. 7 on the individual in a talk titled “October 7: Are We Becoming Numb?” He will examine the way our minds attempt to minimize and normalize tragedies. Drawing from the works of Torah leaders, Rabbi Sonnenschein will discuss a spiritually and emotionally healthy way to remain connected to the pulse of klal Yisrael’s pain without suffering emotional burnout.
Dr. Henry Abramson will address “The Significance of October 7 in Jewish History.” Dr. Abramson will discuss age-old Jewish resilience and lessons we can learn from past tragedies. “Jewish history provides guidance and inspiration. We will find historical analogues to our times and innovative ways to translate earlier solutions to our own challenges. We will not be paralyzed, we will not remain frozen in place: we will look to our elders and sages, who will tell us of eras long past, and we will use those teachings as inspiration for our collective future.”
24 Hours of Tefillah, Tehillim and Torah
Touro’s Lander College for Women is teaming up with Touro College Israel for “24 Hours of Tefillah, Tehillim and Torah study. “We always offer shiurim during Elul and Aseret Yemei Teshuva to help our students prepare for the New Year,” said Dr. Marian Stoltz-Loike, dean of Touro’s Lander College for Women. “This year is — and feels — different to everyone. We are having a day — literally 24 hours — of Tehilim/Torah to pray for the safe return of the hostages and for the safety of Israel and the entire Jewish community during this difficult time. The Rambam lists no fewer than eight mitzvot involved in pidyon shvuyim — redemption of captives or hostages. Our 24 hours of tefillah and learning will be accompanied by a shiur given by Rabbi Zev Leff to provide chizuk in reflecting on the past year and hadracha as we look toward the future.”
Menucha Novak is one of hundreds of students who will be participating in the 24 hours of tefillah, Tehilim and Torah. “As time passes, it is very easy for people to believe that the current world is our new reality. It’s really important that we do our best to keep the tefillot flowing and ensure we know the end is not out of reach. With the help of Hashem, this will push the tefillot of the entire Jewish community over the top and bring an end to this war and ultimately, the coming of Moshiach,” said Novack.
For more information on Faith in Times of Crisis contact Rabbi Ariel Kopitnikoff at [email protected].
