When a person has reason to cry, and he wants to cry, but is not able to cry – that’s the greatest cry of all.
– Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe…
whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality.
– James Baldwin
Friends,
At Adamah, we cultivate vibrant Jewish life in deep connection with the earth. We build inclusive community, we embody a sense of hope, and we lead a burgeoning, big-tent movement in Jewish life.
We believe in Israel, and we believe in the Jewish People. We educate, inspire, and mobilize Jews across the country and around the world to build a more sustainable future—a powerful shared goal for our people and our planet. We are committed to Jewish Peoplehood & Planethood.
We are devastated by the deep trauma enveloping Israel and the Jewish People right now. Millions of American Jews and our allies are feeling deep sadness, pain, anger, fear, and confusion—but it’s nothing compared to the unspeakable pain of Israelis immersed in a national shiva, ongoing rocket barrages, and sending their beloved children and partners, brothers and sisters off to war.
There will never be any justification for the evil that Hamas has perpetrated upon Israel and the Jewish People. We condemn these horrific acts. We honor the Israeli heroes who stepped up to protect and support each other amidst this emergency, many of whom lost their lives while saving others. We pray for the safe return of the more than 200 hostages, we stand with the people of Israel as they mourn, and we recognize their existential need to re-establish security. As Israel acts upon this need, it is bound by its own moral values, anchored in Jewish tradition.
We also believe compassion is a renewable resource, and we ground ourselves in this foundational Jewish value: rachamim. Heartbreak for our people does not negate our ability to feel empathy and pain for innocent Palestinians suffering right now. Hamas is destroying the lives and livelihoods of the people it purports to represent. We pray for the safety of innocent Palestinians, we mourn their lives lost, and we send our love to their families who have lost loved ones. We support Israelis and Palestinians who work every day for a brighter future. Israel has many challenges, but we will not walk away.
We are appalled by voices who blame Israel for the evil actions of Hamas, and those who used this moment to call Israel a genocidal state while Hamas was massacring innocent civilians. Hamas is part of a radical violent expansionist movement threatening not only Israel but the broader Middle East, the United States, and the entire world. Their goal is to kill Jews and destroy Israel at any cost, using their own people as human shields. There is nothing progressive or liberal about justifying this evil. It is morally perverse to equate Hamas terrorism with Israel’s efforts to defend itself, or to ignore or minimize the massacre of Israelis. True progressivism means compassion for all, striving for a just and sustainable peace for all sides, and the courage to speak out against wrong regardless of how that may conflict with our prior political assumptions.
The Jewish People are strong, and we will get through this together. Antisemitism is real, but we are not going to hide; we are not going to be silent; we are not going to equivocate. We are clear.
Many of us feel helpless right now. We offer these Jewish practices as an antidote, foundations of our approach to building community:
- Acts of Tzedakah: Reach out to people who have been impacted, support them, send a meal, make a donation in their honor. Donate through JFNA’s Israel Emergency Campaign, the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, or others.
- Gather in Community: Come together—to eat, to cry, to sing, pray, discuss, or just be together. Our need for each other is profound right now, so let’s show up and be there for one another.
- Self-Care: We are needed as parents, students, and leaders—so taking care of ourselves is essential. Sleep, nutrition, exercise, nature connection, prayer/meditation—and/or whatever else you need to be your whole self, right now.
- Deep Listening: Profound differences of opinion about Israel-Palestine exist across the Jewish community and beyond. That’s OK, and that doesn’t mean we should give up and look away. Stay informed, read reliable and diverse news sources, attend educational events that delve deeper into the issues and history. And work hard to cultivate deep I-Thou relationships, open our minds and hearts to each other, and find ways to hold brave, vulnerable space together.
- Speak Up: None of us has all the answers, but we all have a sense of Jewish values, and an ability, or responsibility, to ask questions and speak up for what we believe. We can all help create a healthier, more heart-centered discourse—for our people, for Israelis & Palestinians, and for our planet.
Praying for justice and peace, courage and compassion.
Jakir Manela
Chief Executive Officer
Aaron Max
Board Chair
At Adamah, we believe in the deep connection between people and planet, adam and Adamah. Every day, we help people feel that connection, spark Jewish inspiration, and help build a more sustainable future. Because we are the link between our ancestors and our descendants, so in this generation we are called to respond to the existential crises of our time with the full power of the Jewish spirit.
Our mission is to cultivate vibrant Jewish life in deep connection with the earth, catalyzing culture change and systemic change through Jewish environmental education, climate action, and immersive retreats.
I Don’t Know You
A Poem by Roee Kiviti
