Congregation Etz Chayim

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Run for Their Lives is a global movement founded by Israelis in the Bay Area. Their mission is to raise awareness for the hostages held in Gaza. Each week, groups worldwide come together for family-friendly walks or runs lasting 18 (ח"י) minutes. Participants wear red shirts and carry flags representing the 28 nationalities of the hostages. So far there are 70+ groups across the globe, with new ones joining daily. Our Palo Alto group walks every Sunday at 12:30pm. People can join the silent WhatsApp group for location updates and to participate: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BeEgTk1MGlcDTJb6f5DqLX.

Challenging times force us to look inwards and discover the sources of strength that help us persevere and even flourish in the face of adversity. What then are the sources of strength in our religious life? We often talk about the values and ethical teachings of our religious tradition, but religion is more than an ethical system. It is the mythical and emotional power of our tradition’s teachings that cultivate the resilience and vision that will help our communities get through these times. This session will address the role of such imaginal elements in Jewish tradition, and the practices that help cultivate them.

This session will address the differences between the practice of praying and the practice or leading prayer, and the challenge of making room for God’s presence in prayer.

As Shabbat ends, we will eat, drink, sing, open our hearts to longing, and learn about being present at endings in the Jewish mystical tradition.