As we find ourselves often at a loss for words (אין מילים – ein milim) in a post October 7th Israel, with daily losses, the plight of hostages and their families, over 100,000 dispaced Israelis and the devastation in Gaza, some poets are rising to the challenge, expressing pain, anger, despair, and abandonment. Israeli poetry has always engaged with sacred texts such as Torah, Midrash, and Prayer, and contemporary poets continue this tradition, challenging God, rewriting the Akedah, creating new prayers, and offering fresh perspectives on Shabbat and the Holidays. Dr. Korazim will guide us through some of these powerful new works, providing insight into the diverse voices within Israeli society and their profound reflections on recent events.
Dr. Rachel Korazim is a Jewish education consultant specializing in curriculum development for Israel and Holocaust education. Over the past four years, in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Rachel created an online global community of hundreds of people who meet to study Israeli poetry. Through her teaching, she has opened a window into Israeli society through literature, stories, poems, and songs. Since October 7th, 2023, Rachel has been collecting and sharing poems by Israelis who are grappling with the recent tragedy, offering a profound insight into the nation's collective grief, resilience, and hope.