Over nearly two decades since the post-9/11 disaster relief, I have met weekly with a diverse and wonderful group of seniors on the Lower East Side. Through their abundant life wisdom, my elderly students have invariably become my teachers.

The only members of their family to survive the Holocaust, Polish-born sisters Dora Benjamin and Hana Citron z"l were loyal group regulars during the final years of their lives. Both mostly listened, often smiling slightly as others talked. Yet when Dora did speak she became very animated, more than once affirming the core commitments of her survival — as well as her loving generosity and gratitude:

"I wanted to live. I wanted others to live. One potato, six pieces." —Holocaust survivor Dora Benjamin z"l

Dora died a week before Passover in 2015, some years after Hana z"l. On the eve of Passover this year, a dear friend whose Seder I usually attend reminded me of how I had shared Dora's wisdom in years past. And at the end of Passover week, Dora's legacy highlighted my own choices during this global crisis.

Every six months I donate the equivalent of 10 percent of my own food expenses to one or more food justice organizations.* Last week I sat considering my cash flow in the shadow of COVID-19. How much could I allocate now to local urban youth farmers, upstate agricultural workers, and others on the front lines  — many of whom barely earn enough to feed themselves and their families in the best of times?

I checked my bank account and discovered that I'd received my 2020 economic stimulus payment. Now I had the power to share even more with the most vulnerable, near and far, who remain ineligible for the payment I'd just received. LEARN MORE

Especially on this day of Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance — with Dora's ethical stimulus legacy of "one potato, six pieces"— how could I do any less?

At this time of global crisis, the lifesaving imperatives of "just-giving" — simple, fair, and flexible — have never been more vital.

Generous Justice offers a self-guided process of just-giving — including essential exploration of family money stories, support for emotional literacy around financial issues, and even "healthy money songs" — perfect for practicing social justice at physical distance. LEARN MORE

Order your copy of Generous Justice today!

*In our commitment to just-giving, WAYS OF PEACE walks the Generous Justice  walk. We donate at least 10 percent of net staff compensation forward to other organizations that uphold our core mandates of renewing justice and kindness across lines of diversity.

Ancient Jewish wisdom describes the world as standing on a tripod of Torah (study), worship (or work), and caring actions. Under normal circumstances, today's communities tend to run on the two legs of study and worship / work. The third leg of caring actions is generally shortened to save time.

Yet caring actions represent the only "leg" that can support us reliably over the long term. This is our "Torah on one foot" — traditionally focused on prevention, on restraint, on not doing to others what we ourselves experience as harmful.

We have borne witness and sustained each other "on one foot" of our global tripod through many past disasters. The restrictions on physical contact imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic offer us compelling public health reasons to STOP...breathe, look, listen, and feel. The current crisis calls us to remember how vitally we are all connected in our vulnerability, however we may be physically distanced by our preventive measures.

With greater mindful awareness and acceptance of what is, we can begin to reconfigure our shaky tripod into something slower, steadier, and more powerful. We can learn how to mourn AND organize. LEARN MORE

The first self-propelled wheelchair was invented by a disabled 17th-century watchmaker named Stephan Farffler. Farffler's wheelchair, which took the form of a tricycle, allowed him to participate more fully in the life of community. Our own communities can be similarly transformed from tripod to tricycle — to move forward with caring actions as our leading wheel, while the two wheels of study and worship / work move back to supporting roles.

This kind of transformation has always been the mission of WAYS OF PEACE. In the days and weeks to come, WAYS OF PEACE will be sharing time-tested resources for moving more slowly and mindfully through this frenzied time — and also more solidly on the paths of kindness and justice. We hope you will join us in our caring efforts.

WAYS OF PEACE Community Resources renews justice and kindness across lines of diversity and throughout the life cycle. We foster the dialogue among generations that is essential for learning the lessons of history — and healing our shattered world.

75 years ago, toward the end of 1944, the first woman ever to be ordained as rabbi perished in Auschwitz at the age of 42. As a chaplain and educator, she had offered inspiration and solace to thousands. Throughout Nazi Germany and in the Theresienstadt concentration camp, she had worked tirelessly to affirm human dignity at the end of life.

And for nearly half a century afterward, her legacy was mostly forgotten.

At my own rabbinical ordination 20 years ago, I invoked Rabbi Regina Jonas z"l (of blessed memory) as a pathfinder in whose name I stood. Today WAYS OF PEACE Community Resources honors the chaplaincy and education legacy of Rabbi Regina Jonas in all of our services and programs. LEARN MORE

WAYS OF PEACE fosters the dialogue between generations that is essential for learning the lessons of history — especially through How to Mourn AND Organize, our growing initiative for responding to hate speech and violence. During this season of remembering and giving, please honor the pathfinder legacy of the first woman rabbi with a year-end donation to WAYS OF PEACE.

WAYS OF PEACE Community Resources renews justice and kindness across lines of diversity and throughout the life cycle. At least 10 percent of net staff compensation is donated toward further healing of our shattered world.

“I cannot grant forgiveness to the man who shot me for the murder of my 11 friends. But, strange as it may sound, I try my best to grant him forgiveness for having shot me.” — Daniel Leger, Pittsburgh survivor and Jewish burial fellowship leader 

This past Sabbath marked the first yahrtzeit / anniversary by the Hebrew calendar of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. The sacred story of how Abraham and Sarah welcomed and accompanied wayfarers will be part of the ritual, as it was last year.

The Hebrew word levayah is usually understood as accompanying the dead — but it actually includes the full range of ways we are called to show up for each other throughout life's transitions. Now as in so many times past, accompanying each other and bearing witness are among the most healing and effective recourses available to us. LEARN MORE

“Grounding Ourselves”: WAYS OF PEACE returns to Earth Island Journal

November 8, 2019

Our most sustainable practices — those that quietly prevent the depletion of vital natural resources — are rarely headline-grabbing. Natural burial, like community composting, involves acceptance that the organic remains of the living are neither trash nor personal commodities. They belong to the earth.

Yet, even though human bodies have been continuously returned to the earth for millennia, the idea that our world will be overrun by cemeteries remains entrenched in popular consciousness. The experience of the United Kingdom — a tiny island nation that has long promoted cremation to save space — teaches otherwise. LEARN MORE

"How to Mourn AND Organize," a project of WAYS OF PEACE, has begun to offer contemplative interfaith walks through the 9/11 commemorative labyrinth in downtown Manhattan.

We will offer our next labyrinth walk on Sunday, October 27th at 4:00 pm to commemorate the first year since the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue attack. Our NYC walk will mark the hour before the day's final "Remember. Repair. Together." gathering in Pittsburgh.

A labyrinth fosters mindfulness that how we walk is integral to where we are going. As we follow the winding path together, we will bear witness to the shattering AND the resilience of our communities near and far — and recommit ourselves to the still, small voices of peace. LEARN MORE

The walk will take place rain or shine. PLEASE REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE BY SATURDAY 10/26 to confirm your participation and get directions. Space is limited due to Parks Department regulations, and the labyrinth can be challenging to locate within the park.

Emerging from the 9/11/01 disaster relief — and gathering momentum since the 2016 elections — "How to Mourn AND Organize" brings together the timeless wisdom of prophets, sages, activists and artists in dialogue with contemporary best practices for responding to hate speech and violence. LEARN MORE

“Life and death have I placed before you, blessing and curse—so choose life, that you and your descendants may live!” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

In Jewish tradition, the combined eighth and tenth letters of the Hebrew alphabet represent the number 18—and the intrinsic value of life. On the 18th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, join WAYS OF PEACE as we “choose life” by walking the 9/11 commemorative labyrinth in downtown Manhattan. We will offer this intimate and contemplative walk at 4:00 pm on both Wednesday 9/11 and Monday 9/23 (the Hebrew date of the anniversary). 

A labyrinth fosters mindfulness that how we walk is integral to where we are going. As we follow the winding path together, we will bear witness to the ongoing devastation of post-9/11 wars and recommit ourselves to the still, small voices of peace. LEARN MORE

EACH WALK IS LIMITED TO 18 PARTICIPANTS due to Parks Department regulations (as well as the 18th anniversary). PLEASE RSVP to reserve and confirm your participation on either Wednesday 9/11 or Monday 9/23.

These 9/11 anniversary peace walks are offered through “How to Mourn AND Organize,” an integrative project of WAYS OF PEACE. The Wednesday walk is offered in collaboration with Judson Memorial Church. 

Emerging from the 9/11/01 disaster relief—and gathering momentum since the 2016 elections—“How to Mourn AND Organize” brings together the timeless wisdom of prophets, sages, activists and artists in dialogue with contemporary best practices for responding to hate speech and violence. LEARN MORE

Join WAYS OF PEACE at the Hazon Food Conference!

Aug 14th-18th, 2019

Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center,

Falls Village, CT      LEARN MORE

Thursday, August 15th at 10:30 AM

 
How did food become money? How can money become food justice? In Part One of this program, we’ll trace the original mini-cycles of food sharing within the biblical rhythms of sabbatical / release. We'll consider principles of fairness and sustainability that ancient prophets and sages developed from these rhythms, as we field-test emerging practices of solidarity to help each other face—and digest—our own Jewish choices with love and courage.

Friday, August 16th at 10:30 AM

In Part Two of this program (open to all, regardless of previous participation), we’ll apply the principles and practices identified in Part One to a core challenge articulated by Hazon: empowering “those whose disadvantage is invisibly connected to our own food choices.” Through storytelling and discussion, we'll center the personal experiences of front-line food workers and others as we deepen our understanding of food insecurity. Approaching food justice as an ongoing action / reflection process, we'll highlight current best practices as we continue to help each other face—and digest—our own Jewish choices with love and courage.

LEARN MORE 

Join WAYS OF PEACE at ANTIGONE IN FERGUSON
Thursday, June 27th at 7:00-9:30 PM

FREE ADMISSION / St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church
157 Montague Street, Brooklyn, NY

Antigone in Ferguson aims to...bring diverse and—at times—divergent communities together to remind them of their humanity and the core values they share. — Bryan Doerries, Theater of War Productions

Sophocles’ Antigone is an ancient play about a teenage girl who wishes to bury her brother, Polyneices, who recently died in a brutal civil war. Conceived in the wake of Michael Brown’s death in 2014, Antigone in Ferguson is a collaboration between Theater of War Productions and community members of Ferguson, MO and features an original score performed by a core choir of Brown’s teachers, activists, and law enforcement from St. Louis and New York City.

Every night that we sing “I’m Covered” at the end of the play, it’s my way of covering my student Michael Brown. — De-Rance Blaylock (Soloist)

Each performance culminates in a powerful, audience-driven discussion about race and gender-based violence and social justice. Rabbi Regina Sandler-Phillips is honored to represent WAYS OF PEACE as a panelist at the post-performance discussion on Thursday, June 27th.

In cities of diversity...we bury the dead of non-Jews along with the dead of Jews, for these are ways of peace. We console the mourners of non-Jews along with the mourners of Jews, for these are ways of peace. — Jerusalem Talmud (~400 CE)

New York City Council Testimony on Hart Island

More than one million dead, most of them lost to family and forgotten by history, have been buried on Hart Island since 1869. At a recent City Council hearing, Rabbi Regina Sandler-Phillips gave testimony on behalf of WAYS OF PEACE in support of expanded family and public access to the island, a new municipal office that would support and assist all New Yorkers to access vital funeral resources; and an inter-agency task force on issues related to public burial.

I was privileged to visit Hart Island in September 2017, and I want to express my gratitude for all that has brought us to this point: for the solidarity of anonymous prison inmates who built monuments to honor those they buried; for the loving courage and tenacity of Hart Island family members, friends, and community activists; for the stewardship and accompaniment of supportive municipal representatives through decades of challenge and change....

The honor of the dead is not an isolated funeral product, but rather an ongoing process of building community across all the lines that too often divide us. READ MORE

"But she persisted...." These exact words were among those I spoke 20 years ago at this time—to honor the first woman ever ordained as rabbi, at my own rabbinical ordination. You can read my full speech here, and an excerpt appears further below.

I reached my 60th birthday last month, and I am observing both of these milestones as a celebration of all the choices that my life, freedom, health, and abundance have made possible. I hope you'll join me! LEARN MORE

Today WAYS OF PEACE honors the legacy of Rabbi Regina Jonas z"l (of blessed memory) in all of our services and programs. We foster the dialogue between generations that is essential for learning the lessons of history.

There's still time to support our DOUBLE-ANNIVERSARY FUNDRAISER. At this time of celebration, help us take our work to the next level!

Excerpt of Ordination Address
(May 27, 1999 / 12 Sivan 5759)

Esther Broner said in the name of Virginia Woolf: "A woman writing thinks back through her mothers." And a woman being ordained, I believe, can do no less...

So today it is fitting that I "think back" through two particular mothers...both of whose names I consider myself to bear, and by whose merit I stand here....

And as I stand here today, by the merit of all of my fathers and mothers...and in the name and special merit of Regina Sandler and Regina Jonas, I pray that we not...use our celebrations as blinders, to avoid facing the pain and suffering of our broken world. May we rather be strengthened by our seasons of joy to open our own hearts wider and to take up the work of tikkun, of repair—to seek justice, to pursue peace, to turn toward each other every day with greater lovingkindness—now, while we're alive; now, while we're free; now, while we remember. READ MORE

I am grateful to have reached my 60TH BIRTHDAY this past week — and will mark 20 YEARS OF ORDINATION as a rabbi in the coming weeks. I am approaching these milestones as a celebration of all the choices that my life, freedom, health, and abundance have made possible. I hope you’ll join me!

Since 2012, WAYS OF PEACE has facilitated personal and community transformation through compelling programs, unique publications, and life-changing consultations — with at least 10 percent of net staff compensation donated forward to other nonprofits that promote justice and kindness across lines of diversity.

We have been called to facilitate healing conversations in the aftermath of the 2016 elections. Our caring community impact has spread around the world. Our book sales have reached the triple digits, and hundreds more read our newsletter each month. We continue to guide individuals and families through both joyous and sorrowful changes in their lives.

Through all of this, WAYS OF PEACE has grown without any primary institutional funding support. At this time of celebration, please help us take our work to the next level!

* Make a tax-deductible donation to support:

How to Mourn AND Organize 

 

MA'AVAR: Music of Passage and Transition

 

I Know Six: Our Servant-Class Matriarchs

 

or any of our other innovative programs and services

* Refer us to visionary foundations and other like-minded individuals who may be willing to support our efforts

* Bring a program to your community

* Schedule an individual or family consultation

* Order copies of Generous Justice  or Counting Days

CONTACT US with words of encouragement!

WAYS OF PEACE Community Resources renews justice and kindness across lines of diversity and throughout the life cycle. We foster the dialogue among generations that is essential for learning the lessons of history.