Rabbi Susan Elizabeth Lippe

Y'all, I could list reasons/texts justifying why so many current events are infuriating and heartbreaking. Instead, I want to say: YOU make a difference - even if you are not old enough to vote, even if you don't have a bunch of money to donate. Make a phone call to your elected representatives. Show up somewhere to be supportive or choose not to shop somewhere because of who/what they do or do not support. Reach out with love/care to someone you worry about. Be present in the world - vote with your feet (AJ Heschel). Of course, if you have a bunch of money to donate and a chance to vote, do that, too - but that's not all each of us can do. Be safe and be yourself.

I have two favorite poems that I've repeatedly posted. The Diameter of the Bomb, by Yehudah Amichai and First They Came, by Pastor Martin Niemöller. Instead of reposting them here today, I want to wish a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful, Safe, Loving, Delicious, Nourishing, Musical, Comfortable, Home-y New Year to Everyone all over the world. As my prayerbooks remind me - I can't have peace until my neighbors have peace - whoever and wherever they are.

I've posted this poem before. Unfortunately, it never ceases to be relevant. "First They Came," by Pastor Martin Niemöller

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

First They Came - by Pastor Martin Niemöller - Holocaust Memorial Day Trust Download a copy of First They Came by Pastor Martin Niemöller First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists And I […]

Sometimes being an ally is risky and/or challenging. Sometimes being an ally simply means sharing valuable words with more potential allies. Please read. Please pass it on - by email, by text, by mail, and/or whichever ways can best reach more and more potential allies.
https://www.ccarnet.org/central-conference-of-american-rabbis-statement-of-concern-for-vulnerable-colleagues-our-families-and-the-communities-we-serve/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJqCvFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHqls94G0vcS9xP-S_pFkhP5-JXCECbRTHHHyOEaPLG83P-x9VGwZJ56bzf35_aem_Ee0ho4lBT8Igew1-ehxWZQ

Central Conference of American Rabbis Statement of Concern for Vulnerable Colleagues, Our Families, and the Communities We Serve - Central Conference of American Rabbis April 8, 2025 The Central Conference of American Rabbis is deeply concerned about the welfare of its members, its members’ families, and members of the communities we serve whose lives, health, homes, and livelihoods have been placed at risk by executive orders and proclamations issued by the curr...

American Friends, I'm worried about this trend of telling people to either avoid the news or to only focus on "good news." On the one hand, I acknowledge the pain of mental illnesses of all sorts. Of course, everyone needs to do what is best for their own mental health. It's our responsibility to care for ourselves, AND we are responsible for making the world better, too. Democracy/community works better when we are more educated and more involved and better read. There are many ways to protect your mental health while also working to better the world. Maybe choose to READ the news instead of listening/watching. Maybe choose to read the news in only one physical place or time of day. However, please do not disconnect yourself from the news entirely. We all need each other to participate in the betterment of our communities. I'm not saying this because my family and friends were affected by fires. I'm not saying this because I have family and friends in Israel. I'm saying this for my local community, too. Our neighbors need us. Our communities need us. Please please please do not disconnect. Please find ways to know more and participate more. Thank you. Love, Susan

My heart is in Los Angeles this week. When I'm teaching, I often use fire as an example of something that can be incredibly helpful or incredibly horrible depending on context. Wind is the same kind of force. This week the combination of fire and wind has been powerfully destructive. I'm not putting a "prayer" here because don't all prayers encompass the feelings we feel this week - helplessness, despair, frustration, and more? Prayers for strength, for community, for safety, for hope? For clean air? And, of course, prayers to express grief for loss and gratitude for safety - often in the same moment.
To those of you who are in harm's way, please take good care of yourselves. I've heard a lot of survivors' guilt in recent days. Please know: when you take care of yourself and evacuate, you are contributing by letting fire fighters and other first responders focus resources on others. Taking care of yourself IS taking care of the city.
When we are at our best, humans struggle to find ways to make the world better. I hope we can continue work together to help keep more and more people safer and safer.

Every year the Jewish community studies this commandment: "You shall not wrong nor oppress the stranger, for you were strangers in the Land of Egypt" (Exodus 22:20). Please take this empathy with you to the voting booth and everywhere you go. I pray over and over that we can all learn to deepen and broaden our empathy for people who our society treats as "strangers." No one is born as a stranger. Many American leaders work hard to marginalize people who are not straight and white and middle class and Protestant and cis-gendered. Everyone else here - we are not "strangers." We are not marginal. Every person some American leaders work so hard to marginalize - trans folks, people of color, Native Americans, people with disabilities, women, Muslims, Jews, immigrants, non-English speakers, and more - MILLIONS of us - I pray we can learn to work together to lift each other up quickly, in our days.

Thanks to Rabbi Neil Blumofe for reading me this poem, by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Hersh's mom.

"One Tiny Seed"
There is a lullaby that says your mother will cry a thousand tears before you grow to be a man.
I have cried a million tears in the last 67 days.
We all have.
And I know that way over there
there’s another woman
who looks just like me
because we are all so very similar
and she has also been crying.
All those tears, a sea of tears
they all taste the same.
Can we take them
gather them up,
remove the salt
and pour them over our desert of despair
and plant one tiny seed.
A seed wrapped in fear,
trauma, pain,
war and hope
and see what grows?
Could it be
that this woman
so very like me
that she and I could be sitting together in 50 years
laughing without teeth
because we have drunk so much sweet tea together
and now we are so very old
and our faces are creased
like worn-out brown paper bags.
And our sons
have their own grandchildren
and our sons have long lives
One of them without an arm
But who needs two arms anyway?
Is it all a dream?
A fantasy? A prophecy?
One tiny seed.

'One Tiny Seed' — A hostage's mother penned a poem for 'a woman in Gaza' Rachel Goldberg, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin is being held by Hamas, delivered this poem before the UN.

I'm never really ready for Yom Kippur. This time, I wasn't ready for October 7, 2024 either. Yesterday, I was ready to fight someone. Today, I don't want to fight with anyone. Bottom Line: I know that friendships/partnerships make our world better - even if it's only a tiny corner. Please check out these hard-working peaceniks: https://parentscirclefriends.org/ and https://www.afcfp.org/ I hope they bring you inspiration and/or hope and/or comfort. If you can donate, that's great. Please also share/amplify these organizations in which people from All The Sides work together to build more peace, love, and understanding. Praying for a healthier, safer, more peaceful world for everyone, everywhere.

AFCFP: Growing the Movement of Palestinian & Israeli Peacebuilders, Working to End the Occupation Join American Friends of Combatants for Peace in advocating for peace, justice, and collective liberation in Palestine and Israel. We focus on conflict transformation, human rights, and cross-border community building through nonviolence, education, and international awareness. Explore Israeli-Pales

Solemn Reminder: My love for Israelis doesn't shrink because my heart breaks for the people of Gaza. I pray for peace and safety, health and home for EVERYONE.
I also am trying help the folks in my own city/neighborhood.
Also, I believe that working together is the only way towards peace.



Yes, I focus most of my attention, love, and information sharing on/for my Israeli friends and family. Also, I share organizations that focus on partnership.
Please check out:

World Central Kitchen

Shabbat Shalom. Here is the project one of my Israeli cousins is working on https://www.jgive.com/new/he/ils/collect/donation-targets/112957/amount
No donation too small or too late.
Thank you.

המעלה השתים עשרה - גיוס תרומות אונליין | JGive תרומה מהירה ומאובטחת המוכרת לצרכי מס

On October 6th, Israel had a cease fire with Hamas. On October 7th, Hamas broke the cease fire, burned homes, r***d people, kidnapped people, and murdered people. There was another tentative cease fire that Israel agreed to so they could bring some hostages home. Israel has offered cease fires since then. Hamas has consistently said no. When you call for a cease fire now, are you asking Hamas to change their mind/s? What is the best way to do that? How can anyone get Hamas to agree to a cease fire, to return hostages, to stop the attacks on Gaza? What do you think we should all be doing to get Hamas to agree to a cease fire?