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By Sophia Ballin, HDUK

"Leave it at the door,
You can't bring that in here.
It'll leave stains all over the floor and fill the room with a smell.
It'll take hours to get rid of it."

Mosh Ken (DC) - by Dalya Block

The Hanukkah Sleepover was a blast! Moshniks gathered at Tifereth Israel Congregation for a magical evening of bringing light into each other's lives. We lit hanukkah candles (night three!), lifted our voices in song, and basked in the warmth of friendship.

By Michael Bricker, Shichvat Gal-Eyal, HDOZ Ken Perth

Over the past two months, I’ve witnessed my small Jewish community process shared trauma together, and it has been one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Growing up in Perth, large Jewish community events (celebratory or in solidarity) have been few and far between. For context, we are about 4,000 Jews spread out across the already sparse state of Western Australia. The Monday after the 7th, I saw over 300 people attending a community vigil at our only Jewish school. On Wednesday, I saw over 500 people attend a solidarity event at one of our shules. In the latter, the shule was filled to the brim such that extra seating had to be created outside, along with a projected livestream of the proceedings. This, by Perth standards, is extraordinary. These have been some of the largest community events that I have ever been part of.

The most culturally significant moments of the Jewish people exist predominantly in the face of shared trauma and antisemitism. I see this in my community, and I secretly loathe this. Over the past two months I’ve seen hundreds more people at shule, at protests, at community rallies, than I have ever seen in the ‘antisemitism off-season’. Where is our community when we celebrate Judaism? Where is our community when we celebrate Israel?

We Jews define ourselves too much by our opposition.

On November 14, the largest Jewish rally in American history took place in the capital city of Washington DC. 290,000 Jews marched in support of Israel and returning the hostages. Habonim Dror North America participated in the rally through the Peace Bloc, made up of left-wing Jewish organizations and movements. Two movement leaders reflect on their experience at the march:

It is with great relief and joy that we share the news that Ofri Brodutch, along with her brothers, Yuval and Oriyah, and her mother Hagar, were among the hostages released today, November 26th.

Ofri was a chanicha at Gesher this past summer in the youngest shichva, and celebrated her 10th birthday on October 8th -- the day after she was taken into Gaza. Ofri is an incredible girl who despite the language barrier, truly made Gesher her home away from home for the summer. Machaneh Gesher has attended rallies and protests to show support and solidarity with the families of the hostages.

We send our love and support to all of them, as well as to Ofri’s father Avihai Brodutch, as this family begins to recover from the unthinkable.