Tonight Jwcatlanta hosted our annual Challah Bake.
We were led by the inimitable Gitty Fredman of JustBakeIt, who uplifted the preparation of challah (and cinnamon buns) with her trademark upbeat attitude and spiritual teachings.
It might seem surprising that Jwcatlanta hosted a Challah bake in such uncertain times.
Our hearts go out to our brethren in Israel in this dark and tragic time of war.
Which is absolutely the reason to proceed with such an event.
First of all, the tone of the evening did pivot as we moved from celebration to introspection.
The program consisted of the preparation of Challah for Shabbat as we also included prayer and a focus on advocacy.
Jwcatlanta was fortunate to hear from Shaked Angel, the regional director of Israel American Alliance who shared the heroic efforts of his childhood friend whose bravery saved his Kibbutz 13 days ago. We were able to hear directly from the wife of this hero as she described via video, the harrowing hours she and her three children endured in their safe room while their father and husband was literally battling outside for their lives.
Then we heard from Moran Mizrachi who is involved in various advocacy projects including an organization that has printed the photos of each of the 199 kidnapped Israelis and is trying to get those pictures posted all over. This puts a name to the faces of our brothers and sisters, some of them very young children, who are being held captive in Gaza.
Our dear Shari Magnus hand crafted beautiful jewelry which was yours for the taking, if you committed to donating to charity of your choice to benefit Israel.
And the generous Rachel Goldschein donated Shabbat candles for us to light this Shabbat. A little bit of light can overcome a lot of darkness, and the spirit of Shabbat can enlighten and uplift us.
We separated Challah, separating a portion of the dough prior to shaping it, with a powerful prayer on all our lips.
It was also an evening of community and sisterhood, with so many commenting on how much they needed our special connection at this difficult time.
Bringing together 300 Jewish women to pray, study and create food that will nurture them body soul - that was the recipe for tonight.
It is so important for us women, to remember what our job is during these times.
Everyone is constantly asking
“What can we do?”

And tonight there were some answers to that question.
Get involved in advocacy for Israel.
Study Torah.
Give generously to support our brethren in Israel.
Pray!
The Talmud states explicitly that it was only in the merit of Jewish women that the Jewish people were released from the Egyptian bondage.
How so?
Because the women refused to give up hope. The situation then was dire. Babies were being murdered on a regular basis.
The nation suffered deeply under the yoke of slavery.
Yet, the women stayed focused on the mission.
They knew the Jewish people would prevail.
The Talmud continues with the rest of the statement.
Not only were the women the catalyst, the source of merit, for the redemption in Egypt, says the Talmud, it will be in the merit of the Jewish women that we will ultimately be redeemed.
We are suffering through a long and dark exile, one that has taken a sharp and devastating turn.
Dear sisters, we can wait no longer, the time is now, it’s up to us.
Each of us has to find the methodology of “warfare” in which we can excel, be it spiritual, be it physical.
Time is of the essence.
I know we are all up to the task.
Shabbat Shalom and so much love.