Effective Communication: Parshat Vayigash

Abstract

Dear Friends,

This week we officially passed the 75-day marker - a day of war for every year of the State - and another week of loss. We've lost soldiers and hostages, and hostages who were killed by our own soldiers, bringing us deeper into the complexities and tragedies of war.

Along with this week's parsha essay, we've included the recordings of an interview and a presentation by Dr. Daniel Gordis on the complications of this current situation in Israel and on the impossibilities of the hostage crisis. This is Dr. Gordis' first trip to the United States since October 7th. He came as the 2023 winner of the Sacks Book Prize, funded by the Rohr family, for his book Impossible Takes Longer: 75 Years After Its Creation, Has Israel Fulfilled Its Founders' Dreams?

Students who attended described the talks as "very moving and emotional," "Incredibly thought provoking and interesting." We hope you will similarly benefit from his raw, painful, and inspiring words.

Shabbat Shalom,

Erica Dr. Erica Brown Vice Provost, Rabbi Sacks-Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership