Hitbodedut

Kyiv view with various cultural heritage monuments: St. Andrew's Church, Kyiv River Terminal

This week before turning to actions we can take in support of others; a little self-care is needed. Take Shabbat as a time away from the news. Use Shabbat as a day of renewal. We are no good to others if we are unable to be good to ourselves. 

Whether you take on the practice of Hitbodedut as described briefly above and more fully in the attached piece by Ariel Burger, or simply spend time doing something you love to do. Use this Shabbat as time apart from the world. Allow the second soul that is Shabbat to bring you comfort.

Last week we observed Refugee Shabbat to help Afghan refugees. The newly formed NW Bronx Coalition for Refugees, an interfaith coalition of 40+ volunteers supported by HIAS and WJCI (Westchester Jewish Coalition for Immigration), is raising money to resettle an Afghan refugee family. We are pleased to announce that we have a family. Help them by being a part of the support system.

• The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale (HIR) is serving as the fiscal sponsor and set up the following donation link: https://www.thebayit.org/afghan#
• And the second, also most urgently, is to aid the Ukrainian people. There are many opportunities for giving and support whether to HIAS Ukraine response, or to go to https://linktr.ee/RazomForUkraine. 

“To save a life is to save a world” Talmud (Sanhedrin 37a)