,בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה We thank You, God, for keeping us alive and sustaining us, for letting us live to witness this moment בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים We thank You, Holy One, for releasing these beloved captives

Jewish communities are "so afraid because of potential harm and real harm that has come to Jews ... that they've stopped speaking out when Israel's gov't behaves in ways that are fundamentally antithetical to our Jewish values". NPR interviews R' @sharonbrous.bsky.social. www.npr.org/2025/09/30/n...

Just now getting a chance to listen to this, and it...after yesterday's events, I think it hits harder than it already would have.

A rabbi reflects on her Yom Kippur message, as Israel's war in Gaza continues - NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Rabbi Sharon Brous of IKAR, a congregation in Los Angeles, about her message this year during the Yom Kippur holiday. www.npr.org/2025/09/30/n...

If the Soul of the Jewish People is to be Redeemed - Rabbi @SharonBrous | Rosh Hashanah 1 / 9.23.25 We are facing a spiritual catastrophe. In the small space between prophecy and distinct possibility, we must forge a new path. Watch/Read/Listen: ikar.org/events/if-th...

May this terrible attack be a reminder of the preciousness of every human life. May the resolve of those working toward peace be strengthened, so that there will be no more victims of violence in Israel, in Gaza, or in the West Bank, and so that all may have a future of peace, safety, and dignity.

We enter 5786 facing great challenges as a people, a nation, and a world. Amid so much heartache and uncertainty, we gather to dream, mourn, and dance together, to learn, pray and find renewed hope together. ikar.org/high-holy-da...

“We are going back into our sacred traditions and recognizing that all of our traditions contain the raw material to justify violence and extremism, and also contain the raw material to justify compassion, coexistence and kindness.” Watch here: www.ted.com/talks/sharon... @sharonbrous.bsky.social

Amid reports of missiles landing in Tel Aviv, we are gravely concerned for the safety of our family in Israel. We hold them in our hearts, along with all the people of the region, including innocents in Tehran whose lives are in jeopardy.

Thank you, @sharonbrous.bsky.social for this message.

bit.ly/6525msnbcrab... "If you can't unequivocally condemn attacks against Jews b/c you hold them collectively responsible for the decisions of the most hard-right ministers in Israel’s history then you aren't anti-war, anti-racist, or anti-genocide, you're an antisemite."@allinwithchris.bsky.social

Four Things I Know. For fellow Jews in particular, I recommend this @sharonbrous.bsky.social sermon.

In this time of so much heartache, we wrap the victims’ brokenhearted families in loving arms. May their memories be a blessing.

At a DC event dedicated to celebrating Jewish heritage tonight, a young couple— both of whom worked at the Israeli Embassy— was shot and killed. We are sickened by this act of murder. Terrorist violence is never justified; this is not the path to a just and peaceful future.

If you missed our powerful #YomHaatzmaut webinar yesterday, with Rabbi @sharonbrous.bsky.social, @evanwolfson.bsky.social, and @taliabenamy.bsky.social, you can now watch it on the YouTube channel of @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social, one of our endorsing organizations. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGGv...

Nexus is in @nytimes.com this week alongside our friends @amyspitalnick.bsky.social and @thejcpa.bsky.social and @sharonbrous.bsky.social and @weareikar.bsky.social.

#giftlink As always, @sharonbrous.bsky.social speaks up for the rights of all, even when it’s difficult. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/u...

From @nytimes.com + J. David Goodman: Trump’s Fight Against Antisemitism Has Become Fraught for Many Jews - American Jews have watched with both alarm and enthusiasm as strong-arm tactics, including arrests of activists, have been deployed in their name. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/u...

Thank you JTA. "@booker.senate.gov spoke at @weareikar.bsky.social this past Yom Kippur morning— it was 6 minutes of straight fire. Now it’s clear that he could have easily taken us all the way through Neilah without so much as a bathroom break!

I Am Not Your Pawn "Jews – paradoxically blamed for both the protests and the repressive response to them, for both globalism and nationalism... – are the perfect, convenient wedge for those seeking to dissolve and destroy our democracy." 🔥from @sharonbrous.bsky.social ikar.org/events/i-am-...

THIS WEEKEND MARCH 21-22: We're honored to share three opportunities of learning with Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum. ikar.org/scholar-in-r...

Join us in Los for a special conversation with Israeli and Palestinian leaders at the forefront of a growing peace movement. In dialogue with @sharonbrous.bsky.social , they will share their personal journeys and vision for a shared future. RSVP: bit.ly/maozaziz3325 @azizabusarah.bsky.social

In a world of immeasurable sorrow, we are bursting with raw grief. After more than 500 days of anguish, after witnessing so much unimaginable loss, we braced, collectively, for the heartbreak that would come with our worst fears confirmed. Now, we are denied even that confirmation.

"if we commit to taking care of each other, then and only then might we be able to navigate this challenging time with some measure of hope for a better future." - @sharonbrous.bsky.social

We look forward to welcoming @maozinon.bsky.social + @azizabusarah.bsky.social, Israeli and Palestinian leaders at the forefront of a burgeoning new peace movement. They'll share with R' @sharonbrous.bsky.social their personal journeys and vision for a shared society. RSVP: bit.ly/maozaziz3325

What a joy for @mohusseini.com and I to screen The Path Forward at @weareikar.bsky.social and have deep healing convo with Rabbi @sharonbrous.bsky.social. Thanks to Aziza Hassan for introducing.

Such an amazing night for @filmmakerjulie.bsky.social and I! Still riding the high of being in uplifting communion with the @weareikar.bsky.social and muslimjewishnewground.org communities and meeting the deeply inspiring Aziza Hasan and Rabbi @sharonbrous.bsky.social

Join us for the film, followed by a discussion with R' @sharonbrous.bsky.social, filmmakers @mohusseini.com @filmmakerjulie.bsky.social and Aziza Hasan. RSVP: app.smartsheet.com/b/form/9112f... Co-Sponsors: @weareikar.bsky.social, @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social, New Grounds, @newisraelfund.bsky.social

To our trans and nonbinary community: We are right by your side. We stand with you in unwavering solidarity. You are sacred and beloved.

We believe that every human being, in all their beauty and diversity, is an image of the Divine, and so we reject these heartless attempts to erase and criminalize beloved members of our community and country.

The recent Executive Orders and policy actions targeting trans and nonbinary people are an assault on human dignity, and an offense to the foundational values of our Jewish tradition and our nation.

May this cease fire be the beginning of the end… …an end to the agony of the hostages and the torturous uncertainty of their families. …an end to the devastation and suffering of the people of Gaza. …an end to the heartache and sorrow of Israelis and Palestinians, and all who love them.

“This is a deep truth: holiness, joy, beauty, connection, love… can be found everywhere. Even in displacement. Even in the midst of the destruction. …We will need, in the days ahead, to lift one another from the ashes.”

'Reflections on HOME, From Amidst the Fire' Rabbi @sharonbrous.bsky.social's weekend sermon "Even as the fires burn, let us hold on another, give voice to what we have lost, and turn toward what remains." forward.com/opinion/6878...

ikar.org/holding-our-... We are holding our whole community with love– and especially thinking of our beloveds who have been evacuated and those who have lost their homes. Our community is here to support you all as we navigate this difficult time.

How do we hold those who've gone through tragedy? Or who've experienced trauma? Or those who've committed offenses and have been ostracized? Rabbi Sharon Brous of @weareikar.bsky.social joined us on TP&R to discuss this on a personal level, as a community and as a country. youtu.be/FmJQqv_6FEc?...

Rabbi @sharonbrous.bsky.social leads a session on loneliness and community, hope and healing with leaders in tech and industry at the 2024 @nytimes.com Dealbook Summit. Photo Credit: Amir Bangs for @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/b...

2024 @nytimes.com DealBook Summit - Influential People Share Their Insights By Julie Zann + Guerin Blask What is one act we can do as citizens or community members to bridge that which seems to divide our communities? www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/b...

Head to Hillel UCLA before Dec 15th to view 'Holy Sparks', which was curated by the Heller Museum at @HUC-JIR in New York and The Braid in LA. jewishjournal.com/culture/3773...