Run 2 Bring Them Home Now

Sundays 11:00AM Central Park and 90th Street [note new time]

Organized by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, this weekly gathering brings the Upper West Side community together to demand more action to release the hostages still held in Gaza. Each week there are one or two speakers, often including family members of those in captivity. People gather for 20 minutes and then run or walk the bridle path around the reservoir. Bring Israeli flags and/or signs.

Since October 7, BJ has focused much of its programming and teachings around this tragedy and ensuing war. Catch up on all of our past programs, and keep an eye on your email and this page for more upcoming learning opportunities.

• Is it possible for us to feel a religious connection to Israel without aligning with extremism? Rabbi Shuli Passow explores the different iterations of religious Zionism and the challenging questions posed by Yeshayahu Leibowitz, a public intellectual in Israeli society, about the intrinsic holiness of the land. Watch her D’var Torah to consider these timely and thought-provoking issues (or see a clip here). Watch →
• On June 22, Rabbi Roly Matalon called on us as American Jews to be inspired by our love for Israel and commitment to justice to speak up against the extremists who have taken hold of the State of Israel. “We, American Jews, are the outsiders. We were supposed to see things from a distance that the insiders, our brothers and sisters in Israel, either did not see or did not want to see. We were supposed to see, we saw, but we said nothing…” Watch and share a clip or watch the full D’var Torah →
• Rabbi Becca Weintraub shared some powerful words of Torah on May 4, reflecting on the college campus protest movement—in particular as it related to the parashah, Aharei Mot—and exploring the idea of belonging and the power of words. See a clip or watch the full D’var Torah.
• In a D’var Torah on April 20, Rabbi Roly Matalon discussed the generational divide on Israel and some of the reasoning behind it. He emphasized the importance of intergenerational dialogue, using the Passover story as a framework for understanding and reconciling differing perspectives on contemporary issues. Watch →
• On the first day of Pesah, as is our communal tradition, members of the community shared some perspectives on the holiday and the first night’s seder, in particular given the current reality. Watch →
• On the second day of Pesah, Rabbis Roly Matalon and Rebecca Weintraub discussed two simultaneous counts we are embarking one, one is in one sense a berakhah (blessing)—counting the Omer—and one is the opposite, counting the days since October 7, which seems to have no end. See what they had to say about both. Watch →
• In a D’var Torah on April 13, Rabbi Felicia Sol explains the reasoning behind why we say the Prayer for the State of Israel, the prayer for the hostages, and also how the prayer she and Rabbi Roly Matalon wrote for the people of Gaza came to be. Watch the full teaching or a short clip shared on Instagram or Facebook. (Hint: you don’t need a login to see the Instagram clip.)
• During Shabbat morning services on March 23, Rabbis Roly Matalon and Felicia Sol had an open conversation on the recent rise in antisemitism given the war in Gaza, its historical roots, and recent manifestations in America, debating the complexities of Jewish identity and political alliances, while stressing the importance of a nuanced understanding to move all of us forward. Watch →
• Rabbis Felicia Sol and Roly Matalon have written a prayer for the people of Gaza, which has been recited at services for the last few weeks. Download a copy here.
• During his Kabbalat Shabbat kavannah on March 1, Rabbi Roly Matalon shared an excerpt from David Grossman’s guest essay in The New York Times, “Israel Is Falling Into an Abyss.” Watch →
• Our recently published blog post highlights a few moments from our February 12 event featuring May Pundak and Dr. Rula Hardal, the inspirational Israeli and Palestinian co-executive directors of the rapidly growing “A Land for All” peace movement. “What we have not had in 20 years is a political vision that will give A: hope, B: realistic horizon, and C: a commitment to an end game,” Pundak said at the February 12 event. Read →
• Our recently published blog post highlights a few moments from our February 3 event, “Shared Grief, Shared Hope: Bereaved Palestinians and Israelis for Peace,” featuring Robi Damelin and Mohamed Abu Jafar of The Parents Circle—Families Forum. Read→
• In his D’var Torah on February 17, Rabbi Roly Matalon discussed his recent trip with Rabbi Felicia Sol and nearly 50 BJ members to Israel. Rabbi Felicia Sol also reflected on the trip in her D’var Torah on February 24.
• On February 12, we hosted a powerful conversation with May Pundak and Dr. Rula Hardal, the inspirational Israeli and Palestinian co-executive directors of the rapidly growing “A Land for All” peace movement. At this time of grief, anger, pain, and despair, May and Rula shared their vision and discussed the compelling and practical solutions they offer for the thorniest sticking points in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Check out our blog post recapping the event here. (This event was co-sponsored by B’nai Jeshurun, New Israel Fund, and American Friends of A Land for All.)
• On February 3 we hosted an event, “Shared Grief, Shared Hope: Bereaved Palestinians and Israelis for Peace,” featuring Robi Damelin and Mohamed Abu Jafar of The Parents Circle—Families Forum. The event brought together bereaved Israelis and Palestinians in a poignant dialogue about loss, hope, and the unwavering belief in peace as the only solution. Check out our blog post featuring a few clips from Robi, Mohamed, and Rabbi Felicia Sol.
• Rabbi Felicia Sol shared some reflections from her recent Israel trip in a kavannah on Friday, February 2. Watch the full teaching or a short clip on YouTube or share it on Instagram.
• In late-January and early February, Rabbis Roly Matalon and Felicia Sol led a delegation of 48 BJ members on a trip to Israel to visit our partners and shared society organizations, witness the devastation of October 7, and meet with the survivors and family members of hostages. Our rabbis recorded and shared reflections on Facebook and some of the participants shared their reflections.
• In mid-January, Rabbi Rebecca Weintraub traveled to Israel with several New York area rabbis and Jewish professionals, supported by the UJA Federation of New York and The Jewish Agency. The cohort met with leaders, activists, and families affected by the October 7 terrorist attacks and visited some of those sites. She reflected on her trip in an in-depth conversation.
• As the prolonged conflict in Israel and Gaza continues, Rabbi Felicia Sol shared some important reminders during her D’var Torah on Shabbat, January 6. Watch and share a short clip from her teaching on Instagram or on Facebook, or see the full D’var Torah here on YouTube.
• On December 16, we were honored to host a delegation of family members of Israeli hostages, including Eyal Eshel (father of Roni Eshel z”l), Natalie Ben Ami (daughter of Ohad Ben Ami), and Ofir Sharabi (daughter of Yossi Sharabi), to hear their stories and offer our solidarity and support at this unbearable time. They spoke after the Torah service and you can see their remarks here.
• On December 5, Rabbis Roly Matalon and Felicia Sol hosted a conversation with Donniel Hartman, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, about the critical questions of this moment, the obligations of Jewish Peoplehood, and the moral considerations related to fighting a just war. Watch it here.
• Leading up to Thanksgiving weekend, Rabbi Roly Matalon shared in his Toward Shabbat that week shared three articles to inspire and nurture a vision of a peaceful future.
• On November 15, the Family Life & Learning department co-hosted with other Manhattan congregations a conversation with Dr. Rachel Fish for teens and parents on responding to antisemitism. Watch it here.
• On November 14, Rabbi Felicia Sol traveled with a delegation of BJ members to the March for Israel rally in Washington, D.C. See some images here from her experience.
• On November 8, we hosted a conversation in partnership with New Israel Fund, with Sally Abed and Alon-Lee Green—co-directors of Standing Together (Omdim Beyachad-Naqif Ma’an). Standing Together is predicated upon the centrality of Arab-Jewish partnership, and the organization is an essential voice during this difficult moment in Israeli history. Sally and Alon-Lee will share personal stories about the work they have done and the support system they have created through their thousands of members to maintain a group of dedicated Jews and Arabs who are devoted to creating a society capable of achieving peace, equality, and social justice for all. Watch the full event or read our blog post of six key takeaways from this event.
• On November 4, we co-sponsored a Havdalah service and a benefit concert in support of the families of those kidnapped on October 7, which featured our Artist in Residence, Shira Averbuch.
• On November 3, Governor Kathy Hochul gave powerful remarks at Kabbalat Shabbat services. We were honored to have Gov. Hochul address our community in which she expressed her continued support of the Jewish community and for doing all she can to help press for the release of the hostages. Watch her full remarks here or share this short clip on Instagram or on Facebook.
• On October 27, we unveiled the empty Shabbat table installation on the Upper West Side. This powerful symbol served as a poignant reminder of more than 200 captives held by Hamas (at the time), who are absent from their families’ tables once again. See images of the installation here or here. Rabbi Becca Weintraub also reflected on her visit to the installation in her Toward Shabbat, “The Two Tables.” Rabbi Roly Matalon also reflected on the installation in his D’var Torah that Shabbat.
• On October 18, we hosted a special briefing featuring Dr. Michael Koplow, Israel Policy Forum’s chief policy officer. Koplow offered his expert analysis of the current moment and an informed assessment of what lies ahead for Israel’s future as a secure, Jewish, democratic state. Watch it here.
• On October 9, the Upper West Side Jewish Community gathered together in prayer and solidarity following the tragic events. Rabbi Felicia Sol shared a kavannah to close out the evening, before concluding with the singing of Hatikvah. Watch the recording of the vigil or read Felicia’s kavannah here.
• On October 7, BJ held Erev Simhat Torah services without dancing, reciting a different psalm during each hakafah. You can view the powerful service here or a clip of singing Im Eshkaheh here.

אל אלהי הרוחות לכל בשר

Help us to acknowledge the destruction, trauma and devastation in Gaza,

To express the heartbreak for the tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians who have died- among them so many children,

For their lack of food, shelter and medical care, For the destruction of people’s homes, For the millions of refugees the war has created,

For the hopelessness and despair.

We pray for a cessation of the violence and the safe return of the remaining hostages.

We pray for our ability to hold in our hearts at the same time the suffering of Israelis and Palestinians.

We pray that we don’t harden our hearts or refuse to see what is happening before our eyes. We pray we preserve our humanity.

We pray for the future of both peoples on this land, for the acknowledgement of both peoples right to self determination and the freedom to live in justice and dignity.

We pray that there will be an awakening and a realization that the only path forward is one of coexistence.

וְיָשְׁבוּ אִישׁ תַּחַת גַּפְנוֹ וְתַחַת תְּאֵנָתוֹ וְאֵין מַחֲרִיד

So that every person might sit under their vine and fig tree and no one shall be afraid. — Micah 4:4

ה׳ עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן ה׳  יְבָרֵךְ אֶת־עַמּיו בַשָּׁלוֹם׃

May God grant strength to God’s people; May God bless of all of God’s people with peace. — Psalm 29:11

— By Rabbis Felicia Sol and Roly Matalon, B’nai Jeshurun, NYC

May the Holy One who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah; bless, protect and guard our missing brothers and sisters who are in distress and captivity. May the Holy Compassionate One, bring them out of darkness and the shadow of death; may God break their bonds, deliver them from their distress, and bring them swiftly back to their families’ embrace. May there be fulfilled in them the verse: “Those redeemed by God will return; they will enter Zion with singing, and everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
And let us say: Amen.

מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ שָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה, הוּא יְבָרֵךְ וְיִשְׁמֹר וְיִנְצֹר אֶת כָּל אַחֵינוּ וְאֲחְיוֹתֵינוּ הַנֶעְדָרִים הַנְּתוּנִים בְּצָרָה וּבְשִׁבְיָה. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִמָּלֵא רַחֲמִים עֲלֵיהֶם, וְיוֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת, וּמוֹסְרוֹתֵיהֶם יְנַתֵּק, וּמִמְּצוּקוֹתֵיהֶם יוֹשִׁיעֵם, וִישִׁיבֵם מְהֵרָה לְחֵיק מִשְׁפְּחוֹתֵיהֶם. וִיקֻיַּם בָּהֶם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב: וּפְדוּיֵי ה׳ יְשֻׁבוּן, וּבָאוּ צִיּוֹן בְּרִנָּה, וְשִׂמְחַת עוֹלָם עַל־רֹאשָׁם, שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה יַשִׂיגוּ, וְנָסוּ יָגוֹן וַאֲנָחָה: וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן

Banner photo by Sarah Merians Photography.