{"id":2122,"date":"2024-08-12T10:43:57","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T10:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/?p=2122"},"modified":"2024-10-04T10:47:37","modified_gmt":"2024-10-04T10:47:37","slug":"night-of-the-murdered-poets-tisha-bav-2-wars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/2024\/08\/12\/night-of-the-murdered-poets-tisha-bav-2-wars\/","title":{"rendered":"Night of the Murdered Poets, Tisha B’Av & 2 Wars"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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<\/p>

Dear Friends,\u00a0<\/p>

Remembering, Learning, and Healing: A Spiritual Reflection<\/strong><\/p>

When history and current events converge, they compel us to pause and reflect on their deeper meanings. The Night of the Murdered Poets, Tisha B’Av, the war in Ukraine, and the tragic events of October 7th<\/strong> all signify moments of profound loss but also highlight the resilience and hope that endure.<\/p>

The Night of the Murdered Poets, observed on August 12th<\/strong>, marks the execution of thirteen Soviet Jewish intellectuals in 1952. Their deaths remind us of the dangers of totalitarianism and the need to protect cultural and intellectual freedom.<\/p>

Tonight, August 12th, starts, Tisha B’Av<\/strong> is a day of mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, urging us to reflect on the internal divisions that led to these tragedies. It calls us to heal the rifts within our communities and strive for unity.<\/p>

In light of the war in Ukraine (day 899) and the violence of October 7th, (day 311<\/strong>) we are reminded of the ongoing struggle for justice and human dignity. These events challenge us to confront the darkness and work tirelessly for peace.<\/p>

Many educators write that the connection between memory is not just about the past; it is a way of shaping the future. This idea is central to the mission for Action for Post-Soviet Jewry, which has served communities in the former Soviet Union for decades. Our work exemplifies the power of remembrance in driving meaningful action.<\/p>

As we reflect on these events, we must remember that our task is not just to recall the past but to learn from it and act. By doing so, we honor those who suffered and commit ourselves to making the world more just and compassionate.<\/p>

Leyb Kvitko\u2019s poem *Day Grows Darker*<\/strong> (1893-1952), one of the poets murdered, and can be found in the picture above, poignantly, captures the fear and uncertainty many have felt throughout history and we are certainly feeling in today\u2019s world. It resonates deeply with the Jewish experience of internal and external struggles, especially in the context of Tisha B\u2019Av. This day symbolizes not only physical destruction but also the spiritual darkness that follows division and hatred.<\/p>

In the wake of October 7th and the war in Ukraine, the world has become a place where many struggle to balance external and internal battles. The mitzvah of Tzedakah\u2014charitable giving and justice\u2014offers a way to add light to the world by restoring balance and bridging divides.<\/p>

Kvitko\u2019s poem reminds us that while darkness is a part of life, it is not the end of the story. The Jewish tradition teaches that we have the power and responsibility to bring light into the world, repair what is broken, and fight against despair and division.<\/p>

By embracing the lessons of Tisha B\u2019Av and the mitzvah of Tzedakah, we can turn these challenging times into opportunities for growth and healing. In doing so, we honor the memory of those who have suffered and work towards a brighter future. With your partnership, this memory is a heart-tap to the work we do every day as we strive to bring dignity to Jews in circumstances in the war-torn communities in Ukraine we serve.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

With gratitude and hope for a more peaceful world,\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

<\/p>

Executive Director, Action-PSJ<\/p>

Chair, Action for Ukraine<\/p>

P.S. Your support truly makes a difference. Please donate today to help us continue our critical work. Thank you!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTo support our work in Ukraine<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the wake of recent events, the words of my friend echoed in my mind: “My heart breaks twice\u2013once for Ukraine and now Israel.” These sentiments<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":918,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2122"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2126,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122\/revisions\/2126"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/918"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}