October 12, 2023

Dear Religious School Parents,

There are no words to describe the unfathomable situation in Israel right now. It is incredibly challenging for parents to navigate how to talk with their children about these horrible events.

We wanted to share that last Sunday; Rabbi David took a few minutes to speak with students in fourth grade and older to share some information and his thoughts. After everyone had read a Prayer for Israel, the Rabbi shared the facts of what had happened, what is happening: that Hamas is a terrorist organization that caught Israel by surprise with the goal of destroying Israel. He also stated that no matter our differences, this kind of violence is never the answer.

We understand that parents need support. Please do not hesitate to contact any of us; we will help you navigate these trying times.

We have included some resources below for you to have for your reference.

• “How to Talk with Kids About What’s Happening in Israel Right Now” from Kveller
• “How to Talk to Children About Israel Today” recorded webinar from Jewish Ed Project
• “Poems for Reflecting on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict” from Moving Traditions
• “How to Talk to Children About the Conflict in Israel” from the Union for Reform Judaism
• “Talking to Children About War” from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
• “Grieving in Uncertain Times” from the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing
• “Helping Children to Process Acts of Terrorism” from the Union for Reform Judaism

Am Yisrael Chai.

Respectfully,

Rabbi David Ariel-Joel
Senior Rabbi

Shannon Rothschild
President