Kirva - Inside Out Wisdom and Action

Many of us are carrying grief, fear, anger, exhaustion, and uncertainty right now. In his latest blog, Yehudah Webster, Kirva’s Program Director and Lead Faculty, reflects on why tending to our inner lives is not separate from the work of creating change—it is what helps sustain us in it.

How do we remain committed to justice without burning out? How do we care for ourselves without turning away from one another?

Read “Fight for Me, for Us, for You, for WE” at the link in our bio.

Image Description: Graphic with text on top of an image of an alpine lake surrounded by trees, mountains, and fog. Text reads: From Fight for Me, for Us, for You, for WE: “The inner work is not a retreat from the fight but rather a necessary condition that makes the fight survivable and winnable.” —Yehudah Webster, in Kirva’s Rosh Chodesh Tammuz Newsletter

Happy Pride! 🌈✨

Join us next week for “Protecting LGBTQ+ Rights: A Jewish View”
Monday, June 8 at 3pm ET/ 12pm PT
With Rabbi Micah Buck

Jewish tradition offers us powerful language for affirming, protecting, and advocating for trans and q***r civil rights - and it is more important than ever to have the tools to bring a faith voice for equality to the table. We will learn about the current landscape facing the LGBTQ+ community, understand what the Jewish tradition has to teach about defending LGBTQ+ rights, and identify concrete action steps for this moment.

This event is par of the “Social Justice in Our Texts” Study Series.
Free and open to all. Register at laasok.org/current-offerings/ or the link in our bio.

Image description: graphic with a background showing the pride flag. Text is shown on the left, with a circular headshot of Rabbi Micah Buck On the right. Text reads, “protecting LGBTQ+ Rights: A Jewish View. Monday June 8th, 3pm eastern on Zoom with Rabbi Micah Buck. Below text shows the logos of all event sponsors for the “Social Justice in Our Texts” series.

Applications are open for Kirva’s Disability Wisdom as Soul Care (DWASC) cohorts, beginning this September, led by Rabbi Lauren Tuchman, DWASC’s Program Director, and Kohenet Dr. Harriette Wimms, who we’re thrilled to share will be joining as a new co-facilitator this year.

DWASC cultivates vibrant Jewish learning communities for people with disabilities, led by leaders with disabilities. Grounded in the wisdom of Mussar (applied Jewish ethics) and Chassidut (applied Jewish mysticism), the program offers spiritual nourishment, meaningful connection, and embodied Jewish practice, while centering disabled experience. Rooted in the belief that disabled people bring essential wisdom to Jewish life, DWASC creates space for connection, growth, and healing. We hope you’ll join us! Apply by June 15th. Learn more and apply at the link in our bio!

Image Description: Graphic with text on the left and a background of purple and light blue swirling texture, along with two headshots, one of Rabbi Lauren Tuchman and another of Kohenet Dr. Harriette Wimms. Text reads, “APPLY TODAY Disability Wisdom as Soul Care Cohorts with Rabbi Lauren Tuchman & Kohenet Dr. Harriette Wimms. On Zoom, Starting September 2026, Applications Close June 15th. Apply at bit.ly/disabilitywisdom26

Thank you to Jake Green for sharing these powerful words as we approach Shavuot and Pride Month amidst so much heartbreak.

As we grieve alongside our Muslim neighbors and communities in light of the horrific Islamophobic attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, we are moved by Jake’s invitation to understand anger not as something to suppress, but as a sacred call toward solidarity, collective action, and deeper connection.

What does it mean to receive Torah in the wilderness — in moments of uncertainty, grief, and rupture? What might holy anger ask of us right now?

Read “Holy Anger in the Wilderness This Shavuot” at the link in our bio.

Image description: Quote graphic that shows text on a photo of an orange sunrise over a jagged mountain range. Text reads, “Today, we encounter tragedy so regularly that it feels constant. And because of our 24-hour news cycle, we have that encounter collectively, too. Within moments, we all bear witness to what is broken — to violence in schools, synagogues, churches, clubs, museums, and mosques. This collective experience asks for something we can share, too. We must not only witness together or mourn together, but build together. To channel our holy anger toward a world where everyone can gather in community safely and freely.” —Jake Green, written in Kirva’s Rosh Chodesh Sivan Blog, Holy Anger in the Wilderness this Shavuot

We’re thrilled to announce the newest cohort of Ovdim, Kirva’s leadership cohort for experienced Jewish changemakers working at the intersection of spirituality, justice, culture, and collective transformation.

This year’s cohort brings together twelve visionary leaders from across movements, organizations, creative practice, organizing strategies, education, and communities. Together, they represent a wide range of work and wisdom, and a shared commitment to building a more just, courageous, and interconnected world.

Learn more Ovdim, and about each cohort member at the link in our bio.

Image Description: Graphic with an abstract aqua swirling background, with a grid of twelve photos, each showing a member of the cohort, including Kohenet Shoshana A Brown, LMSW, they/she, Diaspora Alliance Eddie Chavez Calderon, National Council of Jewish Women Sarah Cohen Domont, she/her, Jewish Social Justice Roundtable Photo of Emilia looking at the camera headshot of Eric looking at the camera Photo of Adam performing, playing the guitar and speaking into a microphone Emilia Diamant, Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps Eric Greene, UCLA Adam Horowitz, Artist and Consultant Headshot of Cynthia smilling and looking at the camera Photo of Susan smiling looking at the camera Headshot of Sasha, smiling and looking at the camera Cynthia Katz, HIAS Susan Lubeck, JUFJ, Collaborative for Jewish Organizing Sasha Raskin-Yin, she/her, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights Headshot of Violeta, smiling and looking at the camera Headshot of Marcella, smiling and looking at the camera Headshot of Tikvah, smiling and looking at the camera Violeta Stolpen, she/ella, Jewtina y Co. Marcella White Campbell, Author and Consultant Tikvah Womack, Counselor, Expressive Arts Therapist. Text at the top reads, “Meet Kirva’s 26/27 Ovdim Cohort!”

Join us for our upcoming Disability Wisdom as Soul Care Info Session on Wednesday, May 6 at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT.

During this session, we’ll share more about the program and its next chapter, walk through the application process for this year’s cohorts, and leave space for your questions.

Image Description: Graphic with text on the left and a background of pink and purple clouds, along with a photo of Rabbi Lauren Tuchman, smiling. Text reads, “Disability Wisdom as Soul Care INFO SESSION. Wednesday, May 6th, 7-8 PM ET on Zoom. Learn about the next phase of the program! With Rabbi Lauren Tuchman. bit.ly/dwasc-info-session”.

On this day, when many celebrate the founding of the State of Israel, we must also face the reality that people who believe in Jewish supremacy are actively influencing policy in Israel with lethal consequences to Palestinians. As Rabbi David Jaffe shares in his Rosh Chodesh Iyar blog, this is a crucial moment to revisit the concept of Tzelem Elokim, and its universal application. Our work at Kirva asks us to use the world as a mirror to reflect on where we may need to grow in our belief in the application of Tzelem Elohim. However you mark this day, we invite you to reflect with some Cheshbon Hanefesh/soul accounting or journaling. Ask yourself, “Am I treating myself like a Tzelem Elokim? Am I treating others as Tzelem Elokim? Where may I harbor feelings and beliefs of superiority?” You’re welcome to share reflections in the comments.

Read the full piece, "Countering Supremacy with Tzelem Elokim", here: https://www.kirva.org/post/countering-supremacy-with-tzelem-elokim

Image description: Text graphic with text on top of a gold rectangle, on top of a photo of a golden sunrise, with the sun peaking over a mountain and trees. Graphic reads “ From Countering Supremacy with Tzelem Elokim - “With our new month of Iyar being the time Jewish sovereignty in Israel is celebrated with Yom Ha’atzma’ut (Independence day) and Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem day), this is a crucial moment to revisit the concept of Tzelem Elokim and its universal application.” - Rabbi David Jaffe, written in Kirva’s Rosh Chodesh Blog

We’ve had two wonderful sessions so far! Join every Tuesday from 5-5:30 PM ET on Zoom through May 19th to count the Omer, explore the middah of the week through a short teaching, a guided meditation, and a brief practice.

Whether or not you count the Omer every day, you’re warmly invited to drop in, once or throughout the remaining weeks. No prior experience is needed. All are welcome. This program is offered at no cost and will be held on Zoom. We hope you’ll join us! Register at bit.ly/kirva-omer or at the link in our bio.

Image Description: Graphic with text on the left and a background photo of a forest with the sunrise peaking through thin pine trees. Text reads, “WEEKLY DROP IN PRACTICE SPACE - Counting the Omer with Kirva, Join us every Tuesday through May 19th. Weekly Zoom Sessions 5-5:30 PM ET, bit.ly/kirva-omer”