Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 2d

... please save! For I have said, ‘The world is built by chesed.’” (Psalms 89:3).”

לְמַֽעַן שִֽׁמְמוֹת עִֽירְךָֽ הַשְּׂרוּפָֽה בָֽאֵשׁ... הוֹשַׁע נָא!
“For the sake of the desolate remains of your city burnt up by fire... please save!”

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 2d

לְמַֽעַן צִדְקָתָֽךְ. לְמַֽעַן קְדֻשָּׁתָֽךְ. לְמַֽעַן רַֽחֲמֶֽיךָ הָֽרַבִּֽים. לְמַֽעַן שְׁכִֽינָתָֽךְ, הוֹשַׁע נָא! לְמַֽעַן תְּהִלָּתָֽךְ, הוֹשַׁע נָא!
כִּֽי־אָמַֽרְתִּי עוֹלָֽם חֶֽסֶד יִבָּנֶֽה׃

“For the sake of Your righteousness; for the sake of Your holiness; for the sake of Your great mercy; for the sake of Your Divine Presence, please save! For the sake of Your praise..."

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 2d

3/

Tweet Mairav Zonszein (@MairavZ): "It’s an emotional day. It’s a good day, but it’s also a day when the double standards and injustices are clear.
Everyone deserves to be free, and everyone deserves a home"

Tweet from Dimi Reider (@reider): May all hostages and political prisoners come to their homes. May all of them have homes to come back to, and freedom to rebuild.

Quoted tweet from Quds News Network (@QudsNen): Freed Palestinian journalist Hamza Al-Safi reunites with his family in Ramallah after being released as part of the exchange deal.
[Video still of a Hamza Al-Safi embracing a young girl as a small boy watches in the background]

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 2d

Continued... 2/

Instagram story screenshot from account bring.bipin.home, showing a single broken heart emoji.
Added comment: family and friends of 10/7 hostage and Nepalese agriculture student Bipin Joshi learn of his death)

Tweet from @khalil_hinawi:

Unfortunately, I was unable to find my father's body.

Forgive me, Father 😭

Quoted tweet from @khalil_hinawi (Oct 10):
I couldn't find my father in the temporary grave where I had buried him; the Zionists had exhumed the graves of all the martyrs😭😭💔
[Photo with piles of rubble]

Tweet @ori_goldberg:
How could a human being not be happy to see parents and spouses and children reunited with loved ones after two years of hell? How could a human being not be crushed seeing Palestinians sifting through the lunar rubble with their bare hands, looking for the lowliest remains?

A series of panels showing stills from a video, interviewing a Palestinian woman in Gaza:
(interviewer): Who are they and what's their story?
Woman:
- Nothing they went to get flour, but they were taken.
- I was told that they died.
- I found out ten days ago that they are still alive.
- And today, my joy is immense.
- My sons are returning.
- (interviewer): Are their names on the list?
- (woman): Yes.
- Mohammed Radwan Al-Bahtiti and Khaled Radwan Al-Bahtiti
- My joy is so big it doesn't fit in this world.
- They've been gone for 62 days.

Original video: https://x.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1977763383886729619

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 2d

Scenes from an intensely joyful and painful Hoshanah Rabbah...
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Tweet @AlonLeeGreen:
Einav won! Matan returned! Her struggle won! What an exciting moment we've all been waiting for. Unbelievable.
[Photo of released hostage Matan Zangauker embracing his mother Einav]

Tweet: @RamAbdu:
This grieving man, Hitham Salem — Israel killed all his children and his wife weeks before his release.
He made a gift for his daughter, whose birthday is in a few days. Look at the anguish consuming him.
[Video still of Hitham Salem, anguished at the news of his family's death]

Tweet @JohnLyndon_: Had privilege of spending time with Nimrod's Dad- Yehuda, pictured here- while in NY at UNGA & in meeting with @EmmanuelMacron. Where he not only advocated for Nimrod's release, but for Palestinian rights, statehood & lasting I/P peace.
I hope I'm half the Dad/human being he is.

Quoted tweet:
@LucBernard:
Nimrod is back 😭 [photo of released Israeli hostage Nimrod Cohen with his family, sitting together and smiling]

Tweet @HowidyHamza:
It's worth noting that hundreds of Gazans have been arrested by Israeli forces since October 7 under what’s called the “unlawful combatant” law, a legal framework that allows indefinite detention without charge or trial. Most of them are civilians taken from evacuation zones, hospitals, or shelters, with no evidence presented against them.

Quoted tweet: @gazanotice
"BREAKING: Freed Palestinian abductee embraces his son in an emotional reunion in Khan Younis Southern Gaza Strip, following his release as part of the exchange deal."
[Video of a crowd of people welcoming a Palestinian released from Israeli custody, with different people embracing him as he walks through the crowd]

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Reposted by Halachic Left

Elad Nehorai @eladn.bsky.social · 3d

Seeing such familiar names now being released seems utterly surreal. Just an incredible moment

Kaitlan Collins
@kaitlancollins • 6m
Omri Miran was one of the seven living hostages just handed over to the Red Cross.
Kaitlan Collins Y
@kaitlancolli... •11h
I first spoke with Moshe Lavi in November 2023, one month after his brother-in-law was kidnapped by Hamas. He told me then how his sister would take their daughters out to look at the stars at night and wish goodnight to dad - something she continued for two years. Omri Miran

H
Haaretz
18 minutes ago
Father of hostage Guy Gilboa Dalal: Guy handed over to Red Cross, will be handed over to IDF in 15 minutes
Ilan Dalal, father of Israeli hostage Guy Gilboa Dalal, said that his son "was handed over to the Red Cross, and in fifteen minutes he is expected to be handed over to the IDF, and then he will arrive here."
He added, "This is a dream come true, we are euphoric, very excited and dying to hug him."

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Reposted by Halachic Left

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 3d

Lishay’s last post before putting the girls to bed:

“For two years now, every night we go out under the moon and say, "Good night, Daddy Omri," hoping he hears, hoping he feels.
Today, for the last time.

Tomorrow, Roni and Alma will say it to Daddy himself 🎗️ “

Credit: Ofir Berman

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 3d

ברוך מתיר אסורים!

unxeptable.bsky.social @unxeptable.bsky.social · 3d

Einav's first call with Matan after two years
Unbelievable

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Reposted by Halachic Left

unxeptable.bsky.social @unxeptable.bsky.social · 3d

Einav's first call with Matan after two years
Unbelievable

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Reposted by Halachic Left

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 3d

Breaking News: Israel said the Red Cross had custody of some of the hostages in Gaza who were to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Israel Says First Hostages Have Been Released in Swap: Live Updates

The Israeli military said the Red Cross has custody of seven of the first hostages who are to be released as part of an exchange for Palestinian prisoners. President Trump was scheduled to land in Israel and address Parliament.

nyti.ms

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 13d

Came out of Yom Kippur to this terrible news -- our hearts are with the UK Jewish community 💔❤️‍🩹

Na'amod @naamoduk.bsky.social · 13d

Our hearts are with the victims and their families at this terrible time.

We are heartbroken to emerge from Yom Kippur into news of the attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Manchester. No one should face violence for attending synagogue services and our hearts are with the victims and their families at this terrible time.
For many in our community, this news may only just be reaching you after a day spent in prayer, reflection, and fasting. To be confronted with such awfulness in this moment is particularly painful: please know that you are not alone.

In moments like this, it is vital that our communities - Jewish and non-Jewish alike hold one another close. Our safety and liberation depend on solidarity between all those who are marginalised and targeted, and we must not allow those who seek to divide us to succeed. Every person deserves to live, gather, and worship in safety and dignity. We condemn this act of violence unequivocally, and restate our commitment to building a world where this kind of horror is no longer possible.

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 15d

You can download our High Holiday reader "Ya'aleh Zikhroneinu" (w/ different formats according to your printing needs) here: www.halachicleft.org/torah

If you would like to donate so we can continue our work (we pay writers), you can do so here: www.paypal.com/donate/?host... Thank you & gmar tov!

יעלה זכרוננו / Ya'aleh Zikhroneinu
Essays for the Yamim Noraim
Published by Halachic Left, 5786 / 2025
Contributors:
Rana Bickel • Jonathan Boyarin • Rabbi Caleb Brommer • Rabbi Vincent
Calabrese • Rabbi Aryeh Cohen • Rabbi William Friedman • Avi Garelick
• Rabbi Avigayil Halpern • Lexi Kohanski • Raphael Magarik • Zev Mishell
• Ya’aqov Shenkin • Laynie Soloman • Rabbi Leead Staller • Rabbi Lauren Tuchman

Edited by Rabbi Lexie Botzum, Max Buchdahl, Caroline Morganti, Eliana
Padwa, and Noam Weinreich

[background image: a watercolor of the sky at either sunset or sunrise]

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 15d

Ahead of Yom Kippur, we're sharing our Suggested Tzedakah page from our Yamim Noraim reader. We encourage you to donate to any of the following initiatives:

Gaza Soup Kitchen: bit.ly/gaza-sk
Umm Al-Kheir: bit.ly/umm-al-kheir
Palestine Children's Relief Fund: bit.ly/pcrf-gaza

Suggested Tzedakah
ותשובה ותפילה וצדקה מעבירין את רוע הגזרה
"But repentance, prayer, and charity avert the evil decree."

We encourage you to donate to the initiatives in both Gaza and the West Bank below:
Gaza Soup Kitchen: https://bit.ly/gaza-sk
"The initiative began by feeding 150 families a day in April 2024 and quickly grew to serving 3,000
people daily. Operating amidst unimaginable scarcity and risk, our team works tirelessly to prepare
and serve hot, nourishing meals. We are not an outside aid group; we are the people of Gaza, serving
our own community. Currently, across 10 active kitchen sites, the team prepares simple vegetarian
meals-like rice, pasta, and khubeza (a wild foraged green) — often with severely limited supplies."
Palestine Children's Relief Fund: https://bit.ly/pcrf-gaza
"Gaza is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis — families are struggling to survive amid
destruction, severe shortages of medical care, food, and clean water, and a collapsed healthcare
system. PCRF is on the ground, providing urgent medical aid, food, and life-saving treatment to
those in desperate need, including orphans and amputees. We are also deploying international
medical teams, evacuating injured children for specialized care, and rebuilding healthcare facilities
to restore critical services.
"Your support brings hope, healing, and a path to recovery for Gaza’s most vulnerable."

Umm Al Kheir: https://bit.ly/umm-al-kheir
"This fundraiser is to support the community of Umm Al Khair, those most impacted by the
devastating loss and brutal murder of community and human rights activist Awdah Hathaleen,
and to continue projects and dreams that he had for his community. Awdah was dear friend of so
many all over the world, a loving husband and father of three children...Please join us in supporting
the community and his family... All funds
raised will be distributed in the community in coordination with his family and the village council."

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 20d

Original half-page pdf if you need to generate your own booklet/pagination:
drive.google.com/file/d/1mgUB...

high-holiday-5786-reader-half-page.pdf

drive.google.com

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 20d

You can now download a half-page version of the pdf to print yourself a folded booklet.

Duplex (two-sided) printers: drive.google.com/file/d/1kfHN...
Non-duplex printers: drive.google.com/file/d/146Ot...

Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 25d

✨ "Ya'aleh Zikhroneinu," our essay collection for the High Holidays, is now live!
Download and print it out to read over the chagim here: bit.ly/hl-reader-5786 ✨

יעלה זכרוננו
Essays for the Yamim Noraim
Published by Halachic Left, 5786/2025

Contributors:
Rana Bickel • Jonathan Boyarin • Rabbi Caleb Brommer • Rabbi Vincent Calabrese • Rabbi Aryeh Cohen • Rabbi William Friedman • Avi Garelick • Rabbi Avigayil Halpern • Lexi Kohanski • Raphael Magarik • Zev Mishell • Ya’aqov Shenkin • Laynie Soloman • Rabbi Leead Staller • Rabbi Lauren Tuchman

Edited by Rabbi Lexie Botzum, Max Buchdahl, Caroline Morganti, Eliana Padwa, and Noam Weinreich

[Cover image: a watercolor background of clouds in the sky near either sunset or sunrise]

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Reposted by Halachic Left

Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 25d

✨ "Ya'aleh Zikhroneinu," our essay collection for the High Holidays, is now live!
Download and print it out to read over the chagim here: bit.ly/hl-reader-5786 ✨

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 25d

Here's the table of contents:

Contents
Introduction • 7
Rosh Hashanah
✶ The Promise of God's Memory in a World of Lies by Rabbi Vincent
Calabrese • 8
✶ Can We Take Accountability For the Fate of Hagar? by Avi Garelick • 10
✶ Hearing the Enemy’s Mother’s Cries: The Radical Rabbinic
Reinterpretation of the Shofar by Rabbi William Friedman • 13
✶ Turning Towards Communal Teshuvah by Rabbi Lauren Tuchman • 18
✶ The Web of Life Has Become the Monster by Lexi Kohanski • 21
✶ Blessing the King by Laynie Soloman • 26
Yom Kippur
✶ Permission to Pray by Rabbi Caleb Brommer • 30
✶ Nevertheless, Doing Jewish Things by Jonathan Boyarin • 33
✶ Does God Want Our Fasts? by Ya'aqov Shenkin • 35
✶ Yom Kippur and the Jubilee by Raphael Magarik • 37
✶ A String of Crimson by Rana Bickel • 39
✶ Jewish Theology in Exile by Zev Mishell • 43
✶ No Sacrifices? No Temple? No Problem by Rabbi Leead Staller • 46
✶ Al Chet / על חטא by Rabbi Aryeh Cohen • 49
✶ Bad Feelings and the Future by Rabbi Avigayil Halpern • 53
Suggested Tzedakah • 57
About Halachic Left • 58

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · 25d

✨ "Ya'aleh Zikhroneinu," our essay collection for the High Holidays, is now live!
Download and print it out to read over the chagim here: bit.ly/hl-reader-5786 ✨

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Reposted by Halachic Left

Peter Beinart @peterbeinart.bsky.social · Sep 9

@khalilsayegh.bsky.social 's father died from lack of medical attention in December 2023 while taking shelter in a church in Gaza. If he can still retain his humanity--and insist upon the incalculable preciousness of all life--so can we

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · Sep 9

We saw his name on the registration and wondered if someone was pranking us 🙈

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · Sep 9

‼️ When the author of the book shows up to the Halachic Left Book Club meeting...!

Thank you to Prof. Avi Shlaim for his surprise appearance at our Zoom discussion of his book "Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab-Jew," and for graciously answering all of our questions!

HL's Aaron and Prof. Avi Shlaim on the Zoom meeting for the Halachic Left book club

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · Aug 29

"Yes, you don’t trust Hamas, but Israel doesn’t allow reporters in...Every bit of information that I’ve been able to ascertain, and I read different things, and I listen to reports from doctors, is that it’s a [humanitarian] crisis [in Gaza]." - R' Yosef Blau
www.jta.org/2025/08/28/i...

Yosef Blau, author of an Orthodox rabbis’ letter calling out Israel, responds to his critics - Jewish Telegraphic Agency

The longtime student adviser at Yeshiva University says Israel, and Orthodoxy, are strengthened by dissenting voices.

www.jta.org

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · Aug 10

You can also watch our Q&A with Omri Dayan, director of the film "Seven Jewish Children: A Film for Gaza" youtube.com/watch?v=plz-...

Watch the film for free at sevenjewishchildren.com
Every screening of the film raises money for
@medicalaidpal.bsky.social: map.org.uk

Q&A with "Seven Jewish Children" Director Omri Dayan

YouTube video by Halachic Left

youtube.com

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · Aug 10

Didn't get to make our Tisha B'Av zoom programming last week? Watch Rabbi Leead Staller's shiur "Why Do We Fast on Tisha B'Av?" here!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtK0...

"Why Do We Fast On Tisha B'Av?" shiur with Rabbi Leead Staller

YouTube video by Halachic Left

www.youtube.com

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Halachic Left @halachicleft.org · Aug 5

A year and a day ago, @bradlander.bsky.social stopped by our Tisha B'Av vigil on the Upper West Side and took time to look through our read, which includes Megillat Eicha surrounded by Palestinian voices (along with other essays and tefilah):
drive.google.com/file/d/1FDnU...

Brad Lander holding our "For These Things I Weep" Tisha B'Av supplement in August 2024

Brad Lander reading our "For These Things I Weep" Tisha B'Av supplement in August 2024.

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