London Still: Own Your Star

First Prologue

They brought a woman
from the street
And made her
sit in the stalls
By threats
By bribes
By flattery
Obliging her to share
a little of her life
with actors

But I don't understand art

Sit still, they said

But I don't want to see sad things

Sit still, they said

And she listened to everything
Understanding some things
But not others
Laughing rarely,
and always without knowing why
Sometimes suffering disgust
Sometimes thoroughly amazed
And in the light again, said

If that's art I think it is hard work
It was beyond me
So much beyond my actual life

But something troubled her
Something gnawed her peace
And she came a second time, armoured with friends

Sit still, she said

And again,
she listened to everything
This time
understanding different things
This time
untroubled that some things
Could not be understood
Laughing rarely
but now without shame
Sometimes suffering disgust
Sometimes thoroughly amazed
And in the light again said

This is art,
it is hard work
And one friend said,
too hard for me
And the other said,
if you will
I will come again
Because I found it hard
I felt honoured

-- Howard Barker,
from The Bite of the Night

05 November, 2021

Own Your Star

One of the most profound ways to fight Anti-Semitism is to live a joyful and proud Jewish existence. In times of hatred and annihilation, ✨JOY CAN BE A RADICAL ACT. ✨

So on this Shabbat, I welcome you to pause and fully experience your joy in any form it arrives in.
Dance.
Sing.
Make music.
Read poetry.
Be in nature.
Nourish your body.
Experience togetherness.
—Whatever makes you feel connected.

The Hillel International #OwnYourStar campaign was launched to create a public and shareable sense of peace, pride, community, and safety in Jewish students around the globe—by declaring our joy and “owning our star,” more Jews will know they are not alone in fighting the evils of hatred.

Shabbat Shalom, dear friends.

Joy always.
Joy everywhere.