A Guide for Navigating the War in Israel

As of Monday, November 27th, we are no longer updating this page. However, you can still find relevant events on our calendar, here. 

“A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak…a time for war and a time for peace.”
–Ecclesiastes / Kohelet, 3:8-9

The end of the High Holiday season is supposed to be a time of communal joy as we begin a new year. This year, our holiday celebrations were abruptly cut short by the terror attacks in Israel. Unfortunately, Jews throughout history have experienced this kind of emotional whiplash before. The Book of Kohelet quoted above captures this exact tension, that any given moment can contain the experience of healing or breaking, of action or inaction, of unrest or peace. Often, these experiences coincide, conflict, and shift, leaving us unsure of what to do or how to respond.

This guide, which we will update regularly, is here to connect you to people and resources to help you navigate this time. Whether you’re looking to be in community, to process the news, to talk about loved ones, or to know what support is available, this guide is for you. If you have no idea what you want or need, please honor that, too. The most important thing is to know that you’re not alone in whatever it is you’re thinking about, asking, or going through right now. 

We are trying to learn, to grieve, and to process in a way that feels impossible to handle all at once – an overwhelming, incomprehensible set of tasks and feelings that many of us are facing. As always, our rabbi and our staff are around to listen. This stuff is traumatizing, heated, and heartbreaking, so let’s be kind to ourselves and one another as we go through it. 

May we move from this time of war to a time of peace quickly.

Rabbi Ilana Zietman + the GatherDC Team
October 9th, 2023

Visit this page for a Shabbat message from Rabbi Ilana, shared October 20th, 2023. 

Community Gatherings and Vigils

Monday, October 9th

• 5:30 p.m. — A Vigil for Israel and Its People with Washington Hebrew Congregation
  • In-person and via livestream
• 6:00 p.m. — Communal Tefillah with Kesher Israel
• 6:00 p.m. — Prayers and Solidarity for Israel with Chabad East DC
• 6:30 p.m. — Online Community Gathering with Temple Micah
  • Virtual event
• 7:30 p.m. — Community Vigil for Israel with the Den Collective
  • Virtual event
• 7:30 p.m. — Gather in Solidarity: Songs and Prayers for Peace in Israel with Temple Rodef Shalom

Tuesday, October 10th

• 10:30 a.m. — Community Gathering with the National Council of Jewish Women
  • Virtual event
• 1:30 p.m. — Communal Mourning and Prayer Space with T’ruah
  • Virtual event
• 4:30 p.m. — EDCJCC Vigil with the Edlavitch DC JCC
• 5:30 p.m. — Public Mourner’s Kaddish with IfNotNow DC
• 7:00 p.m. — DC-Area Vigil for Israel with Adas Israel Congregation
  • In-person and via livestream
• 7:00 p.m. — Sharing and Healing Space with EDCJCC’s Jews of Color Affinity Group
  • Virtual event

Wednesday, October 11th

• 5:30 p.m. — Community Gathering with EntryPointDC 
• 6:30 p.m. — Interfaith Vigil for Israel and Gaza with Abrahamic House
• 6:30 p.m. — Virtual Yoga for Israel with Eden Marcus
  • Virtual event
• 7:00 p.m. — Community Support Circle with JSSA
  • Virtual event
• 7:30 p.m. — Vigil and Solidarity Gathering for Israel with Ohr Kodesh Congregation

Thursday, October 12th

• 12:00 p.m. — Open Discussion About the Events in Israel with Congregation Beth El
• 7:00 p.m. — Together for Israel: A Vigil for Solidarity and Hope with Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia
• 7:30 p.m. — A Vigil of Jewish Unity & Solidarity with Israel with Congregation Har Shalom

Friday, October 13th

• 12:00 p.m. — Community Support Circle with JSSA
  • Virtual event
• 12:15 p.m. — Stand with Israel with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington
• 5:00 p.m. — Together at the Table for Light with OneTable
  • Virtual event on Instagram Live
• 6:00 p.m. — Candle Lighting and Community Gathering with Jewish Women International
• 6:00 p.m. — Friday Night Live Unity Shabbat with American Friends of Lubavitch
• 6:00 p.m. — Friday Night Services with Rabbi Aaron at Sixth & I 
• 6:15 p.m. — Shir Yachad Friday Evening Service with Congregation Beth El
• 6:30 p.m. — Friday Night Community Shabbat with Adas Israel 

Sunday, October 15th

• 1:30 p.m. — Rosh Chodesh (New Hebrew Month) Circle: Comfort in Community with the Den Collective
• 7:00 p.m. — Community Event in Support of Israel with Magen David Sephardic Congregation

Monday, October 16th

• 7:15 p.m. — Parashah (Torah) Study + Discussion: Seeking Solace with the Den Collective

Tuesday, October 17th 

• 5:30 p.m. — Open Space: Israel with Rabbi Nora with Sixth & I

Thursday, October 19th 

• 7:30 p.m. — Open Space: Israel with Rabbi Aaron with Sixth & I

Saturday, October 21st

• 7:30 p.m. — Havdalah Gathering for Israel with Temple Rodef Shalom

Sunday, October 22nd

• 1:00 p.m. — Voices of Peace in Times of War with the Jerusalem Youth Chorus

Thursday, October 26th

• 5:30 p.m. — Sip & Schmooze with JNFuture

Friday, October 27th

• 3:00 p.m. — Empty Shabbat Table Community Gathering with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum
• 6:00 p.m. — Kabbalat Shabbat, Together with Five Families of Hostages in Gaza with Adas Israel Congregation
  • “Rabbi Noa Sattath, Executive Director of ACRI (The Association for Civil Rights in Israel) will be giving the D’var Torah, and will talk personally about her experience as an Israeli in this moment.”
  • In person and virtual

Sunday, October 29th

• 10:30 a.m. — Nefesh Mountain Concert with JxJ
  • Reception with Baked by Yael begins at 10:30 a.m., before the concert at 11:30 a.m.
  • Ticket proceeds will go towards the Israel Crisis Relief Fund
• 12:30 p.m. — American Red Cross – Advocate For The Release Of The Hostages From Gaza with and Bring Them Home DC

Wednesday, November 1st

• 7:45 p.m. — Gathering Space for Meditation & Conversation with Hill Havurah

Thursday, November 2nd

• 7:00 p.m. — Israel Relief Concert with Washington Hebrew Congregation
  • Also available on a livestream
• 7:30 p.m. — Beyond Words: A Rising Song Gathering with Hadar DC

Sunday, November 5th

• 12:30 p.m. — Release the Hostages Rally with UnXeptable
• 4:30 p.m. — Community Shloshim for Israel with Congregation Beth El

Monday, November 6th

• 6:30 p.m. — Gather. Pray. Heal. with Washington Hebrew Congregation

Saturday, November 11th

• 4:00 p.m. — Havdalah, Healing, & Healthy Conversations with 2239

Sunday, November 12th

• 10:30 a.m. — Wisdom + Wellness Circle: Support Networks with the Den Collective
• 12:30 p.m. — Release the Hostages Rally with UnXeptable

Monday, November 13th

• 10:00 a.m. — Rabbis For Cease Fire: Public Morning Prayer Service with New Synagogue Project
• 6:30 p.m. — Gather. Pray. Heal. with Washington Hebrew Congregation

Tuesday, November 14th

• 1:00 p.m. — March for Israel with Jewish Federation of Greater Washington

Wednesday, November 15th

• 6:30 p.m. — How Are You, Really?: A Creative Processing Space with Sixth & I

Thursday, November 16th

• 6:30 p.m. — A Night of Healing Together with Friends of the IDF
• 7:00 p.m. — Grief Processing Space hosted by Justice Team & NSP Chevre with the New Synagogue Project

Friday, November 17th

• 6:30 p.m. — Kislev Shabbat with Tikkun Leil Shabbat

Sunday, November 19th

• 2:00 p.m. — We Sing for Israel! with Beth Israel Congregation

Monday, November 20th

• 6:30 p.m. — Gather. Pray. Heal. with Washington Hebrew Congregation

Monday, November 27th

• 6:30 p.m. — Gather. Pray. Heal. with Washington Hebrew Congregation

Thursday, November 30th

• 7:00 p.m. — B’Yachad: A Time to Come Together with the Den Collective

Sunday, December 3rd

• 4:30 p.m. — Vigil for Peace in Palestine and Israel with Am Shalom: Jews and Allies for Ending Violence

Tuesday, December 5th

• 7:15 p.m. — Gathering Space for Meditation & Conversation with Hill Havurah

Speakers, Talks, and Debriefs

Saturday, October 7th

• Israel At War: Communal Moment of Prayer, Briefing and Call to Action with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington
  • Use passcode “n3#7?2PY” to view the recording

Tuesday, October 10th

• 12:00 p.m. — Expert Briefing: Terror Onslaught, Israel at War with Hamas with J Street
  • Virtual event
• 12:00 p.m. — Israel at War, featuring Ambassador Dennis Ross with the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
  • Virtual event
• 5:00 p.m. — Briefing for the Jewish Community on the Terrorist Attacks in Israel with the White House

Wednesday, October 11th

• 12:00 p.m. — Emergency Briefing with Yossi Alpher with Americans for Peace Now
  • Virtual event
• 12:00 p.m. — DC Metro Community Gathering with J Street
  • Virtual event

Thursday, October 12th

• 12:00 p.m. — Conversation with Sarah Tuttle-Singer in Jerusalem with Adas Israel
  • Virtual event
• 12:30 p.m. — Emergency Webinar in Response to the Crisis in Israel with New Israel Fund
  • Virtual event
• 7:00 p.m. — Community Gathering with IPF Atid DC
• 7:00 p.m. — We Stand with Israel
  • Virtual event
• 7:30 p.m. — Israel at War: National Emergency Briefing with AIPAC
  • Virtual event

Friday, October 13th

• 10:00 a.m. — Fighting Hate From Home: Israel Under Attack & Antisemitism in the U.S. with ADL
  • Virtual event

Tuesday, October 17th

• 7:00 p.m. — Israel Update with Adas Rabbis and Rob Satloff with Adas Israel Congregation

Thursday, October 19th 

• 5:30 p.m. — Jewish Ethics: Freeing Captives with Sixth & I 

Sunday, October 22nd

• 5:00 p.m. — Israel Crisis Update: A Report from the Ground from Federation’s CEO, Gil Preuss with Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
  • Virtual event

Monday, October 23rd

• 7:00 p.m. — Modern-Day Antisemitism with Sixth & I 

Wednesday, October 25th

• 7:00 p.m. — Intersections of Israel and Judaism with Sixth & I 

Thursday, October 26th

• 6:00 p.m. — Zionism 2023 with AJC Washington
• 7:00 p.m. — The Jerusalem Youth Chorus Live in DC at Sixth & I
  • This event has been postponed

Sunday, October 29th

• 3:00 p.m. — Faith and Polarization: A Participatory Afternoon with Braver Angels DC Alliance

Monday, October 30th

• 7:00 p.m. — Diaspora and Jewish Peoplehood with Sixth & I

Sunday, November 5th

• 10:15 a.m. — Where Are We Now in Israel with Dr. Eyal Hulata of Beit Morasha with Adas Israel Congregation

Monday, November 6th

• 7:00 p.m. — 5 Conversations on Israel with Washington Hebrew Congregation
• 7:00 p.m. — Learning From Each Other: Jewish Wisdom for Hard Times with EntryPointDC
  • One of four total sessions – participants are encouraged to attend at least three to build a cohort experience.

Wednesday, November 8th

• 7:00 p.m. — What It Takes: How to Talk About Israel-Palestine with Sixth & I
• 7:00 p.m. — An Evening of Solidarity with the IDF with Friends of the IDF

Thursday, November 9th

• 6:30 p.m. — The Israel / Hamas War, One Month Later with ACCESS DC
• 7:00 p.m. — “Above & Beyond” Documentary Viewing with Magen David Sephardic Congregation

Sunday, November 12th

• 9:00 a.m. — Communities in Conversation at J Station: Day of Worldwide Learning in Memory of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks with Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust
• 10:30 a.m. — Arabs and Jews Choosing a Shared Future with The New Israel Fund and Adas Israel Congregation

Monday, November 13th

• 11:30 a.m. — The History of the State of Israel, Zionism through 2023 with Washington Hebrew Congregation
• 7:00 p.m. — Learning From Each Other: Jewish Wisdom for Hard Times with EntryPointDC
  • One of four total sessions – participants are encouraged to attend at least three to build a cohort experience.
• 7:00 p.m. — Arabs and Jews Choosing a Shared Future with The New Israel Fund and Sixth & I 
• 7:00 p.m. — 5 Conversations on Israel with Washington Hebrew Congregation

Wednesday, November 15th

• 11:30 a.m. — The History of the State of Israel, Zionism through 2023 with Washington Hebrew Congregation

Sunday, November 19th

• 10:00 a.m. — Asylum seekers in Israel: A special event with Julie Fisher, Mutasim Ali, and Kuchinate with Adas Israel Congregation
• 1:00 p.m. — Sundays with Israel with Temple Rodef Shalom

Monday, November 20th

• 11:30 a.m. — The History of the State of Israel, Zionism through 2023 with Washington Hebrew Congregation
• 7:00 p.m. — Learning From Each Other: Jewish Wisdom for Hard Times with EntryPointDC
  • One of four total sessions – participants are encouraged to attend at least three to build a cohort experience.
• 7:00 p.m. — 5 Conversations on Israel with Washington Hebrew Congregation

Wednesday, November 22nd

• 11:30 a.m. — The History of the State of Israel, Zionism through 2023 with Washington Hebrew Congregation

Monday, November 27th

• 11:30 a.m. — The History of the State of Israel, Zionism through 2023 with Washington Hebrew Congregation
• 6:30 p.m. — What It Takes: How to Talk About Israel-Palestine with Sixth & I
• 7:00 p.m. — Learning From Each Other: Jewish Wisdom for Hard Times with EntryPointDC
  • One of four total sessions – participants are encouraged to attend at least three to build a cohort experience.
• 7:00 p.m. — 5 Conversations on Israel with Washington Hebrew Congregation

Wednesday, November 29th

• 11:30 a.m. — The History of the State of Israel, Zionism through 2023 with Washington Hebrew Congregation

Wednesday, December 6th

• 11:30 a.m. — The History of the State of Israel, Zionism through 2023 with Washington Hebrew Congregation
• 7:00 p.m. — Morality and Peoplehood in a Time of War with Adas Israel Congregation

Tuesday, December 19th

• 7:30 p.m. — Hadar Learning: When Worlds Fall At Our Feet with the Den Collective

Donations and Drives

• American Friends of Soroka Medical Center
  • “American Friends of Soroka Medical Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the outstanding medical care and breakthrough research at Soroka Medical Center, the leading medical center in Israel and the only major hospital in southern Israel, the country’s fastest-growing and most diverse region.”
• Challah Back Girls
  • “For every ten challahs ordered, Challah Back Girls will contribute $18 toward humanitarian relief efforts on the ground via the Global Empowerment Mission.”
• Doctors Without Borders / MSF
  • “MSF is an independent charity providing medical care and supplies to victims of conflict, disease outbreaks, and disasters. It has called on all parties to ensure the safety of civilians. It is donating medical supplies to hospitals in Gaza.”
• Dror Israel
  • “Dror Israel educators are jumping into action to meet immediate needs,” including “[s]upporting evacuees,” “[y]outh counselors in bomb shelters,” “[d]ay care for children of hospital workers and other essential staff,” and “[s]upport for children and families sheltering in place.”
• Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
  • “FIDF is the sole organization designated by the IDF in the United States to collect donations for its soldiers. As their true and only partners, help FIDF respond to their urgent requests for humanitarian support.”
• International Committee of the Red Cross
  • “ICRC is an impartial, neutral, and independent organization with a humanitarian mission to help victims of armed conflict and violence.”
• IsraAID Emergency Fund
  • “We are partnering with local organizations and civil society initiatives working with vulnerable communities and evacuated families to coordinate humanitarian efforts, focusing on psychosocial support, stress relief activities, Child Friendly Spaces, and relief supplies as needed.”
• Israel Crisis Relief with the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
• Israel Resilience Campaign with JNF-USA
  • “We are hard at work finding ways to help ease the pain and trauma, through temporary housing for displaced residents, fire and rescue equipment, respite activities, psychological support, and more.”
• Letters of Support with JDC Entwine
  • “Entwine is gathering letters and drawings of support for our friends in Israel. These letters will be distributed to JDC staff based in Israel, Entwine alumni and others, including kids and teens across the country. It’s a small act that can go along way to help someone feel loved and cared for.”
• Magen David Adom in Israel
  • “Magen David Adom in Israel is the State of Israel’s national organization responsible for emergency pre-hospital medical care and blood services.”
• NATAL
  • “NATAL – the Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center, is an apolitical organization providing multidisciplinary treatment and support to direct and indirect victims of trauma due to terror and war in Israel.”
• New Israel Fund’s Emergency Response Plan
  • Donations support “[b]asic care for the most vulnerable groups,” “[c]ombatting violent speech and incitement online,” “[p]reventing inter-communal violence in mixed cities,” and “[m]ental health and trauma counseling.”
• Pizza IDF
  • “Our mission is to send food and love to the men and women working hard to protect the State of Israel.”
• United Hatzalah
  • “We are a community-based volunteer emergency medical services (EMS) organization committed to providing the fastest response to medical emergencies across Israel even prior the arrival of ambulances and completely free of charge.”
• ZAKA
  • “ZAKA is Israel’s dominant non-governmental rescue and recovery organization, with over 3,000 volunteers deployed around the country, on call 24/7 to respond to any terror attack, disaster or accident immediately, professionally and with the necessary equipment.”

Mental Health Resources

• GatherDC’s Rabbi Ilana is available for any community member who wants to process or talk, as are many rabbis throughout the DMV. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you want us to help you connect to a local rabbi for emotional and spiritual support. If you’d like to get in contact with Rabbi Ilana directly, you can email her here.
• Crisis Text Line
• J-Caring Community Support Line with JSSA and The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
  • “The horrific events unfolding in Israel are understandably triggering fear, anxiety, anger and more, especially among people with close personal ties to Israelis or with children or other relatives serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. Those in need of emotional support and/or mental health services should contact the Federation and JSSA’s J-CARING hotline at 703-J-CARING.”
• JQ Helpline
  • The JQ Helpline provides inclusive support and resources for LGBTQ+ Jews, their families, and allies.

Jewish Wisdom

• Counting: Remembering Victims of Hate by Brasha Smith from Ritualwell
• God, Oh God: A Prayer on the Outbreak of War Simchat Torah 5784 by Simkha Y. Weintraub from Ritualwell
• Mi Sheberach: A Jewish Prayer for the Sick from My Jewish Learning
• May It Be by Velveteen Rabbi from Ritualwell
• Oseh Shalom: A Prayer for Peace from hebrewsongs.com
• Prayer for Peace in Israel during Wartime by Rabbi Ron Aigen from Ritualwell
• Today’s Shema: For the Victims of Terrorist Attacks in Israel by Cyd Weissman from Ritualwell
• Toxic polarization and how not to be part of the problem featuring Rabbi Rachel Schmelkin of Washington Hebrew Congregation with the Jew-ish Podcast

For those in the USA seeking information about relatives / loved ones currently in Israel: please contact the Israeli Consulate in New York at 917-756-8387 or 212-499-5321 for information. 

The views and opinions expressed by the organizations featured on this guide and on this website are solely those of the original organizations. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the organization GatherDC, the GatherDC staff, the GatherDC board, and/or any/all contributors to this site.