From the Director of Jewish Studies
A Statement in Support of Israel
We mourn and honor the memory of the babies, children, women, and men; Jews and Arabs; Israelis and foreigners, who were slaughtered by the forces of Hamas in their unprecedented invasion of Southern Israel on the Jewish festival of Simchat Torah, October 7, 2023.
The horrendous, barbaric massacres left over 1,300 Israelis dead, thousands wounded, and more than 100 taken hostage. The loss of life is staggering, the tragedy difficult to comprehend, the pain profound. Individual lives were shattered, whole families wiped out, entire communities devastated.
We convey our gratitude to all the courageous individuals—women and men, civilians and soldiers, kibbutz members and city dwellers, policemen and members of the security forces, Arabs and Jews—who acted heroically, marshaling their creativity, resourcefulness, and intelligence to save lives until the Israeli Defense Forces responded to the carnage.
We are now all summoned to set aside our political and other differences, and to show our unwavering support for Israel as the country fights to eviscerate Hamas’s military capabilities. The coming weeks and months will be difficult, but Israel will emerge ever stronger.
May this tragedy ultimately inspire new solutions to the region’s numerous challenges, and let us all choose life, cultivate hope, and pursue peace.
Hava Tirosh-Samuelson
Director, ASU Jewish Studies
Upcoming Events regarding Israel
Monday, September 9 | 10 a.m. AZ time (Zoom)
“On War and Peace in Israel and in Jewish Tradition: A Conversation With Alexander Yakobson.” (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem).
Nadav S. Berman (University of Haifa) will interview leading Israeli scholars who will reflect on “the state of the State of Israel.” These interviews will explore profound questions on Israel’s current political and spiritual crisis, including: Is Israel interested in peace with the Palestinians and Arab nations, and if so, what kind of peace could this be? What does the Jewishness of the State of Israel mean, and how does it relate to democracy? What is the status of religious minorities in Israel, and how does a messianic interpretation of Judaism conflict with the commitment to democracy?
Monday, September 16 | 10 a.m. AZ time (Zoom)
The State of the State of Israel: “Jews, Arabs, Judaism and Islam Under a Christian Canopy: A Conversation With Uriya Shavit.” (Tel Aviv University)
Nadav S. Berman (University of Haifa) will interview leading Israeli scholars who will reflect on “the state of the State of Israel.” These interviews will explore profound questions on Israel’s current political and spiritual crisis, including: Is Israel interested in peace with the Palestinians and Arab nations, and if so, what kind of peace could this be? What does the Jewishness of the State of Israel mean, and how does it relate to democracy? What is the status of religious minorities in Israel, and how does a messianic interpretation of Judaism conflict with the commitment to democracy?
Monday, September 23 | 10 a.m. AZ time (Zoom)
The State of the State of Israel: “Political Theology Within the Jewish-Israeli Case: A Conversation With Annabel Herzog.” (University of Haifa)
Nadav S. Berman (University of Haifa) will interview leading Israeli scholars who will reflect on “the state of the State of Israel.” These interviews will explore profound questions on Israel’s current political and spiritual crisis, including: Is Israel interested in peace with the Palestinians and Arab nations, and if so, what kind of peace could this be? What does the Jewishness of the State of Israel mean, and how does it relate to democracy? What is the status of religious minorities in Israel, and how does a messianic interpretation of Judaism conflict with the commitment to democracy?
Past Events regarding Israel
If you wish to help, please consider sending donations to the organizations below.
IsraAID
The largest humanitarian aid organization in Israel, has responded to global disasters in over 50 countries, and is collecting donations through its Emergency Response Fund.
The organization's plans will develop as needs on the ground evolve. It is currently working with local partners to coordinate humanitarian activities in shelters housing evacuees from the Gaza border region, to operate child-friendly spaces where kids can play and process, to distribute resilience kits with stress relief activities for kids and families, to train local teams on self-care and stress relief, and to train local mental health specialists on emergency-specific psychosocial support.
Jewish Agency for Israel
A global nonprofit dedicated to securing "a vibrant Jewish future." The agency's Fund for Victims of Terror has been providing immediate, critical financial assistance to victims and their families. The group says it has disbursed hundreds of grants since the violence started, with representatives delivering checks of more than $1,000 within 48 hours of an event. It anticipates distributing more, as well as following up with long-term recovery and rehabilitative support.
Jewish Federations of North America
Represented locally by Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix, and includes nearly 400 Jewish communities in the United States and Canada. The orgnaization raises money to support the Jewish community on the continent and around the world.