Jewish Literary Links
Posts Tagged‘Israel’
Words of the Week: “After October 7”
This week, something a little different:
“After October 7: Readings, Recordings, and Resources”
Thank you for reading.
Jewish Literary Links
Toward the end of each week, the My Machberet blog presents a collection of links, drawn primarily from the world of Jewish books and writing.
First, I want to spotlight this:
Words of the Week
If you’re having even a fraction of the difficulty that I am “keeping up” right now, here’s something small that may help.
(more…)Hillel’s Hints for How to Help
![Hebrew and then excerpt from Pirkei Avot: "He [Rabbi Hillel] used to say: If I am not for me, who will be for me? And when I am for myself alone, what am I? And if not now, then when?"](https://www.erikadreifus.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-22-at-09-22-50-אם-אין-אני-לי-מי-לי-If-I-am-not-for-me-who-will-be-for-me-Pirkei-Avot-1-14-Sefaria.png)
Like many Jews, I encountered this famous aphorism, attributed to the ancient sage Rabbi Hillel and compiled in the teachings known as Pirkei Avot (Ethics of our Fathers), fairly early in my Jewish education. I’ve thought of it again, often, in these first two weeks since Hamas launched its inconceivably brutal attack on southern Israel. And I’ve recalled it for multiple reasons. But what I want to focus on here is how it has guided my most recent charitable giving.
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