On Friday, November 8, 2024, over 170 of us gathered online to reflect, connect, and ground in Jewish wisdom, arts, and music. Rabbi Laura Bellows, Dayenu’s Director of Spiritual Activism & Education, opened the event with a beautiful kavanah (teaching) that touched on our efforts through the Chutzpah 2024 campaign as well as inspiration from Jewish history. Musicians Aly Halpert, Batya Levine, and Rabbi Dr. Koach Baruch Frazier then performed several songs which moved, comforted, and inspired us.
An excerpt of Rabbi Bellows’s remarks below, followed by the video of the event. Be sure to sign up for the next Gathering for Song & Solidarity on November 19 at 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT.
I want to acknowledge the profound pain, sorrow, and despair that many of us are feeling right now. Whatever emotion you are holding right now – this is a space for you, and you are welcome.
Last Shabbat and this week, Jewish communities around the world read the story of Noah – a story of hunkering down and drawing inside in the face of existential threats. A midrash teaches that Noah never slept, for he was busy feeding the animals at every hour of the day – completely consumed with just trying to sustain and support the acute needs of his family and those on his boat, as they huddled safely within. I imagine him exhausted, afraid, uncertain, seasick.
But we also learn that the ark was built with a skylight – צֹהַר תַּעֲשֶׂה לַתֵּבָה – a portal to the outside world, a way for light to get into that pitch-covered, hunkered down ark – an opening and reminder of the world beyond this moment, beyond the relative safety of the ark, the world of deep roots holding us up, planted by the water and drawing strength for the long haul. The world of planting and building.
We are in a time of competing and complex truths, experiencing a range of emotions.
Some of us may feel numb, be in tears, afraid, in need of rest and healing, or strategizing on how best to work for climate justice in this new political landscape.
We may be angry, disillusioned, ready to be in the streets – and I’m sure there are at least a few of us who have considered staying in bed, curling up in our metaphorical arks with the blanket over our head for the next four years.
The outcome of this election affects us all – and affects each one of us differently – as Jews and people in Jewish community, as disabled people, women and queer and trans people, people of color, immigrants, parents and grandparents, as humans entwined in and reliant upon this precious web of life.
For some of us, it may take a while before we’re ready to talk about radical imagination or hope.
This is an uncertain and scary time. Like many of you, I’m deeply worried about what the coming years will bring as the climate crisis accelerates, impacting us all and worsening historical inequities in the U.S. and around the world. I’m worried about the impact on our movements, and our fight for a livable future.
Author and Dayenu Advisory Board member Rebecca Solnit writes:
The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything – and everything we can save is worth saving.
So be gentle with each other and with yourself. Let’s give each other space to be in this time in the ways that we can and need to.
We were made for times like these. Jewish history teaches us that we show up again and again – we are persistent, resilient, powerful together. We have what we need to face this moment, too.
For the next 45 minutes or so, let yourself arrive and receive the gift of this music and this community.
Music is a powerful medicine and mobilizer. It comforts, rouses, and helps us face the climate crisis and the work ahead with eyes and hearts wide open. It is a skylight. It sustains and grows our movements.
Music is a core part of Dayenu’s Spiritual Adaptation work, and we are so grateful to the musicians who will be leading us today, in this heartbreaking time.