Dear Lab/Shul,

This week, with Passover behind us, we enter the modern season of sacred days, starting with today’s observance of Yom Ha’Shoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, into next week’s observance of Yom Ha’Zikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut – Israel’s days of remembrance and independence.

These sacred days weave together multiple strands into a single tapestry of past pain, present reality, and future hopes. Through this immense complexity this new month of Iyar enables us to rise up with resilience, joy and healing.

What does it mean to rise up? This past Saturday night, at the main protest in Jerusalem, Rabbi Amichai shared the prayer that helped his father survive the Holocaust, along with the call for justice and hope that will help Israel – and all of us rise up from the rubble to these challenging times – with compassion, courage and care.

Watch a full video of Rabbi Amichai’s powerful speech with English subtitles here.

This year, more than ever, many of us are holding Israel’s present and future with care and concern, as the 75th birthday is celebrated in the midst of growing rifts and ongoing protests for democracy and justice.

Scroll down to see the events that Lab/Shul will be participating in this week and next marking these days and please join us, online or in person, to stand in solidarity together. Our voices and presence really do make a difference.

Join us this Friday night 5/21 for Sabbath Queen at The Invisible Dog Art Center in Brooklyn and online as we collectively explore these strands representing the voices of healing and the faces of peace.  We’ll sing and pray together as we mark the new month, Earth Day, The end of Ramadan – Eid al-Fitr, and prepare for Israel’s sacred days. Rabbi Amichai, just back from Israel, will share reflections.

Following our Sabbath Queen ritual, honoring Earth Day, join us for a catered vegetarian Shabbat feast by Eat Offbeat, a team of refugees and immigrants from around the world with a passion for cooking. Learn more & RSVP here. (Please note – you must reserve your seat in order to join us for dinner!)

This year, we are marking Yom Hazikaron + Yom Haatzmaut at a variety of events throughout NYC + online: 

  • 4/20 @1pm ET ONLINE  – Coming Together As a Movement for Israel’s 75th – The Progressive Israel Network invites you to an online event featuring conversations with American, Israeli and Palestinian leaders and activists, music and community, discussion and connection. Rabbi Amichai will be one of the moderators.

  • 4/23 @12pm ET at Washington Square Park – Protest for Israeli Democracy – Back for the 16th week (!!) join Rabbi Amichai in Washington Square Park, with special performance by superstar duo -Israeli singer-songwriter Noa, Achinoam Nini & Gili Dor.

  • 4/24 @1:30pm ET ONLINE  – The Joint Memorial Ceremony – Join American Friends of Combatants for Peace online for the largest Israeli-Palestinian peace event in history. Taking place annually on Yom Hazikaron, it provides a unique opportunity for Israelis and Palestinians to grieve and heal together. 

  • 4/25 @7pm ET Kane Street Synagogue, Brooklyn – Sadness & Celebration: The Days of In-Between – A special event featuring study, transition ceremony and live music, followed by light nosh and wine. Speakers include Rabbi Amichai. Co-Sponsored by Lab/Shul.

May this month of sacred days  help us all rise up, with care, compassion and courage –

With Love,
The Lab/Shul Team