Embracing Light: A Visual Respite Before Hanukkah

Processing emotion through Illustration, Hanukkah Moodboard, Podcast Picks, Reading Recommendations + Some Jewish Laughs

Nov 30, 2023

Hanukkah is next week!

These past two months have been an emotional roller coaster, running the gamut from rage, shock, fear, feelings of betrayal, and sadness to moments of Jewish pride. Amidst the turmoil, however, the vital silver lining emerged—heightened togetherness and unity within our community.

As the news cycle and social media inundated us, I found myself glued to the news and social media updates. Thankfully, in the past two weeks, I've managed to step back, redirecting my focus to podcasts and books that provide a deeper understanding of the contracted conflict. I know many of you share this exhaustion, whether from advocating for Israel, speaking out against anti-Semitism, or simply trying to wrap your heads around the complexity of the situation.

Today, in this letter before Hanukkah I offer a visual respite as a break from the noise. I’m also sharing resources I’ve been reading and listening to, to help me process and understand this current situation. My hope is that this letter provides a supportive space for those of you in need of it.

#currentmood illustration

To process my feelings and thoughts, I made this “After Oct. 7th” illustration.

Holding this sad and clear idea in my left hand: “More than 3,800 years of Jewish history keeps yielding the same bracing lesson: In the long run, we’re alone.” Bret Stephens

+ this purposeful and hopeful idea in my right hand: “We cannot let ourselves be defined by those that hate us. We will be defined by being a blessing to the world.” Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Click here to read Rabbi Sacks piece “A People That Dwells Alone?”. Read Bret Stephens full piece “For America’s Jews, Every Day Must Be Oct. 8” here

If you want to download this illustration “After Oct 7th” - click the green download button below.

Afteroct7

1.34MB ∙ PDF file

Download

Judaica Moodboard

One day in November when I was feeling particularly agitated after scrolling on social media and seeing too much hate, I made this Hanukkah moodboard to calm down and feel connected to the beauty of Hanukkah.

Jewish Quote for the Month Kislev

What I am listening to:

American Jews on the Left, Post Oct. 7th

Dan Senor interviews Ruby Namdar about the unique migration experiences and traumas in the Jewish American community and how left leaning American Jews are processing this moment. Listening to their ideas crystalized parts of my family's history and how I view the left more and more since leaving the United States 20 years ago.

Listen here on Spotify.

Listen here on Apple.

Antisemitism Everywhere
This episode discusses important historical moments of Antisemitism, and unpacks the elements at play in today’s manifestations of antisemitism. After a massacre of Jews in the Jewish State, the response by many is to target Jews around the world. Jewish people are being targeted by violent rhetoric, vandalism, intimidation, and actual physical violence. Is this new? What are its origins?

Listen here on Spotify

Listen here on Apple

What I am reading

Every day since 29 Oct, I have been reading the military briefing from the IDF here. This newsletter shares what’s going on within the IDF. One of my favorite newsletters is this one about International Law and Proportionality.

The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace by Adi Schwartz and Einat Wilf

This book proves both insightful and challenging to digest as it expands beyond the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, delving into its underlying essence.

The contemporary conflict, as portrayed in the book, traces its origins to a broader Arab resistance against acknowledging a Jewish state and the founding and sustenance of UNRWA.

In 1948, the first Arab-Israeli War displaced seven hundred thousand Palestinians, whose descendants, now millions, remain registered as refugees. Unlike other post-conflict displacements, these Palestinians demand a "right of return" to settle in Israel, posing a significant obstacle to regional peace. In "The War of Return," Adi Schwartz and Einat Wilf, both proponents of a two-state solution, uncover the origins of this demand. They argue that the "right of return" lacks legal and moral basis, urging the US, the UN, and the EU to recognize this for the benefit of Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Jewish Humor

Eylon Levy is an Israeli Government Spokesman, representing Israel on international television and radio in the war with Hamas after the October 7 Massacre.

Below is a compilation of his facial expressions in response to a interview question laced with antisemitic denial of the Oct 7 terror attacks. We have all been through this facial and emotional cycle many times in the last weeks!