Duty Calls: Grassroots Action and Torah Wisdom in Times of Crisis

Episode Description:
In this episode, we speak with Rabbi Joe Wolfson about his experiences building and leading Jewish communities during challenging times - from COVID-19 in New York City to the recent Israel-Hamas war. Rabbi Joe Wolfson shares inspiring stories of grassroots volunteerism, reflections on finding meaning through Torah study, and insights on sustaining hope and action in difficult circumstances.

Key Topics Covered:
• Rabbi Joe Wolfson journey from the UK to leading JLIC communities in NYC and Jerusalem
• Coordinating volunteer efforts and support for evacuees and soldiers during the Israel-Hamas war
• Finding new resonance in Torah texts and Jewish wisdom during times of crisis 
• The power of small acts of kindness to create positive change
• Balancing action with processing grief and trauma
• Sustaining hope and community engagement over the long-term

Notable Quotes:
"The magic of this work is that it does restore a sense of agency to people."

"We've witnessed so much beauty. We have seen such incredible strength of our society and we've witnessed things we never expected."

"The role of rabbis and community leaders...is to say to our communities and to Israel in this extremely depressed moment: It's going to be good. It's going to be ok."

About the Guest:
Rabbi Joe Wolfson is the director of JLIC's first young professional community in Tel Aviv. He previously served as co-director of JLIC at NYU. Rabbi Wolfson studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion and received his rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate.

 

Recorded July 10, 2024