We met on the shabbat morning when a second US city has been placed under threat by federal forces, people continued to be disappeared, and the world still seems unable or unwilling to stop a live-streamed genocide. And, as always, we met for the solace of companions, a community that helps us strengthen our hearts and our resolve by being witness together.

Our theme was the rich fertility of August and the power of gardens as a place we interact with the cycles of nature. Much of liturgy also focused on the urgency of our connection to each other.

You can see our August liturgy here.

For Torah study, we began with the stunning new shiv’ti from artist Liora Ostroff – you’ll see it below. She brilliantly combines words from Lamentations and Abraham Joshua Heschel. After reading the text, we asked a question we know we’ll go on asking: How, as Jews, are understanding what it means for Judaism that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza in our names? This includes all the complicated ways – also being US citizens, being bystanders, being activists.

Some of our songs today include: