Staying Engaged with Israel and Gaza

After the horrific attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas, Israel continues attacks on Gaza. On January 9, 2024, state and local elected officials from across the country issued an open letter to President Biden – urging the Biden administration to continue with the pressing and immediate need for a negotiated end to the violence as the only way forward to release Israeli hostages and Palestinian political prisoners, deliver aid, stop bombing, and save lives.

You are invited to join Jewish Fast for Gaza for a Tu B’Shevat for Solidarity

Sunday, January 21st at 4:30pm

At Grace Church of Logan Square

3325 W. Wrightwood Avenue,

Chicago, IL 60647

Tu B’shevat is the Jewish holiday known as the “birthday of the trees.” Please join us as we commemorate this sacred occasion by celebrating Indigenous struggles to protect people, land and water in Gaza, Atlanta, and around the world. Our gathering will feature music, speakers, stories, youth-centered art making and a call to action.

People of all faith traditions and ages are encouraged to attend.

If you have questions, please contact Gail Smith through the Realm Membership Directory or at admin@ucevanston.org.

Due to safety concerns, please do not repost on social media.

Invitations to people you know through email or word of mouth are encouraged.

Tzedek Chicago reignited the Jewish Fast for Gaza. In Jewish tradition, communal fasting is an act of mourning as well as a call to action. By calling this fast, we are coming together to visibly oppose: the ongoing violence, bloodshed and war crimes committed by the Israeli government on the people of Gaza, with the unqualified support of the US government; and the Israeli government’s manipulation of the grief of Jewish people who lost loved ones in the Hamas attacks of October 7.

We are being invited to join the weekly fast and donate the money we would have spent on food to direct aid organizations in Gaza, including the Middle Eastern Children’s Alliance (MECA, through this fundraiser which is a collaboration with the Palestinian Feminist Collective).

The weekly fasts will continue until there is:

1. a ceasefire

2. an end to the blockade of Gaza

3. the pursuit of a just peace

Also, please save these dates in February and March to participate in programming that the Evanston Interfaith Clergy and Leaders group is providing to help our communities address the violence in Gaza and Israel.

· A two-part lecture series with Dr. David N. Myers and Dr. Hussein Ibish who teach about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from Arab and Jewish perspectives on February 17th and 18th from 2:00-4:30pm with facilitated discussions afterwards. Dr. Myers is a professor of history at UCLA and Dr. Ibish is a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Click here for printable flyer with registration QR code.

 

· There will be an Interfaith book discussions on the book, Apeirogon, which is a historical fiction by Colum McCann, on Sunday, March 24th. Click here for printable flyer, with registration QR code.