These are heartbreaking times. We are still reeling following the horrific attacks on innocent Israeli civilians on October 7th. Weeks later, we pray for the end of Hamas to come as quickly as possible and for the safety of so many young Israeli soldiers. At the same time, we pray for innocent people caught in the crossfire and that Israel’s neighbors do not cause an escalation in the violence. 

These are also difficult times to be Jewish in San Francisco. Some of us have faced shocking acts of overt antisemitism. Many of us have seen institutions we trust release tone-deaf statements that do not understand what it means to be Jewish. Many of us feel some combination of worried, confused, abandoned, angry and sad. 

We as a Sherith Israel community are here for you. We are therefore inviting members to “Coping Together,” a processing group that will provide a safe space to share our experiences, emotions and worries.