"All of Israel, Mired in Sorrow"

We emerge from Yom Tov to the horrific news from Israel: estimates of over 800 Israelis dead, thousands more wounded, and at least 100 hostages, both soldiers and civilians, kidnapped from their posts and their homes. A day of Simhat Torah turned upside down into a day of devastation, the festival turned to mourning, its songs into elegies.

Hadar’s community extends broadly in Israel—our staff, our alumni, our network of minyanim and their families number in the thousands. They are currently identifying missing loved ones, being called up to respond, offering space in their homes to those who have been displaced. Our hearts are broken in this terrifying moment; we stand in support of them, and of so many who have lost so much.

Our prayers are with the families and friends of the dead; with the thousands who are wounded, hospitalized, and traumatized; with the soldiers who are risking life and limb to protect their country and their people; and with the hostages who have been taken, including entire families, small children and the elderly. We ask you to pray for them, and to offer support in whatever ways you possibly can.

אחינו כל בית ישראל הנתונים בצרה ובשביה…המקום ירחם עליהם ויוציאם מצרה לרוחה ומאפילה לאורה…

“Our family, all of Israel, mired in sorrow and captivity…May the Omnipresent have mercy on them and bring them from confinement and darkness into open spaces and light…”

As we pray for the return of Israeli hostages and for peace and safety, we want to offer opportunities to gather as a Hadar community.

Daily Psalms (Tehillim) on Zoom
Join us every day this week at 1:15-1:30 PM Eastern with Hadar faculty to recite Psalms (Tehillim). Today’s online gathering will be led by R. Shai Held.

In-Person Tefillah at Yeshivat Hadar
For those local to New York City, Yeshivat Hadar (located at 190 Amsterdam Ave) will be hosting minyanim this week with additional Psalms, prayers, and song. The schedule for this week is as follows:

• Minhah on Wednesday, 10/11 at 1:30-2:00 PM
• Shaharit on Thursday, 10/12 at 7:45-8:45 AM

View Yeshivat Hadar’s daily minyan schedule for more information about future weeks.

Reaching out to the Hadar Community in Israel
In speaking to our colleagues in Israel, a consistent request has been for Americans to reach out to Israelis with notes of support.

If you would like to offer a message of support to someone in Hadar’s network in Israel, please send a note to [email protected] and we will ensure it reaches someone in the broader Hadar Israel community.

We hope that you will join us in prayer and support for our friends, family, and everyone in Israel.