One of the most moving, meaningful events I’ve ever done in my life (and I’ve done events all over the world for 15 years) is the Global Day of Unity and Prayer that we hosted at the Dan Family Aish World Center across from the Kotel, mere days after the horrors of October 7.
I was shaking for a long time after that event. Many of you shared with me that you felt the same watching from your corner of the world, on your screens, your souls soaring to Jerusalem to pray together for our brothers and sisters.
The soul-wrenching emotional impact of meeting the families of the hostages was both inspirational and devastating in equal measures. All from the depths of their personal pain, our shared pain, they gave us strength and spurred us toward true unity.
Unfortunately, almost six months later, we are in a position where we have to put together another such event. I wish with every fiber of my being that we weren’t in this dire situation so many days later. But here we are, and we are still united.
One of the core tenets of Judaism that Aish teaches the world is taking responsibility for the Jewish people. Yet, when they first asked me to host this event, I actually said no. Not me, choose someone else. Maybe me, but with a greater co-host worthy of bringing enough attention to this moment. (And I’m scared, and can’t do this and can’t do it alone and not me…)
But taking responsibility for the Jewish people means we need to stand up when we are called upon and use whatever we have within our means to help each and every fellow Jew.
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So here I am again. Putting aside my own self-doubt to beseech you to join me and thousands, actually millions of Jews from across the globe so we can continue to pray with all our hearts for these names that have become achingly familiar.
The Bibas family.
Hersh.
Naama.
Noa.
Omer.
Karina,
Romy.
Shlomo.
And so many more. Too many more.
We know them.
In the dark of the night we weep for them.
We miss them.
We will not leave them behind.
But we are not alone. We are coming together on the Fast of Esther to rip open the skies with our tears. Our one true battle cry, SHEMA YISRAEL, will be heard from every corner of the world, from London to Las Vegas, Costa Rica to Calcutta, Jamaica to Jerusalem.
During this auspicious time, we know we will be heard and, like in the time of Esther, Hashem will hear our cries and overturn the evil decree against our nation.
I know it’s not easy to join live. But there is a power to this hour.
Haman was destroyed through our unity. Hamas is being destroyed by our unity. And our unity WILL ensure our precious ones will be returned to us. Each one.
The program will take one hour and include never before heard stories. You will walk away forever changed. Empowered. Grateful to be part of the Jewish people. Together we will cry out and together we will mend our broken hearts.
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