In the initial shock of the aftermath of the October 7 massacres in Israel, and every day since people say to me: "I have no words." Whether they are speaking about the hostages, the slaughters, or the photos of young soldiers dying in Israel, or the children and innocents in Gaza who sit among the ruins - we have entered a time of profound sadness. For Continue Reading
Resources to Help in Times of Conflict
Blog posts, teachings, and other recommended resources for coping with crisis during difficult times from Rabbi Jill Zimmerman.
For All Those Who Grieve
My beloved mom, Marlene Marks Kornick z''l has been gone for 3 months now & today my grief hit me hard. Today on the first day of this new year, my tears flowed like a waterfall. Perhaps it was being on break – which meant that the busyness of my life settled down and the grief I had obviously delayed, could seep in. Why today? Maybe it was Continue Reading
How To Respond When Everything Falls Apart
When everything falls apart, you learn what you are made of by how you respond. Yes, first you mourn and cry out in pain and despair. And then, when you find that you have endured, perhaps the worst you could have imagined, you have choices to make. How do you hold what has happened and how do you walk toward healing? When adversity confronts - Do Continue Reading
Can You Be Present In This Wilderness?
Many of you are arriving at the end of this summer feeling weary, and wondering how you can continue to be present while things go from bad to worse. It might be stuff in your personal life, or it could be facing the daily horrors of our world. We wander in the wilderness of all that is happening right now. When I am in this place, I look to core stories Continue Reading
When You Are Lost, Stand Still
When you feel lost, the best advice is to stop, breathe, and stay right where you are. Some of you are dealing with situations filled with unknowns: a new diagnosis, impending retirement, financial distress. You do not yet know the way forward. The pathway is obstructed or unclear, and it feels scary and shaky. Because of the fear that uncertainty Continue Reading