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THE SHVILLI CENTER
SHVILLI is dedicated to honoring and uplifting the unique voices, stories, and spiritual journeys of Jewish women. We provide a nurturing space, online and offline, where women can explore their inner worlds through well-being workshops, writing, book publishing, and guided meditation.
Our workshops, books, and offerings prompts culturally-sensitive conversations that engage with Jewish values, history, culture, and language in a meaningful way. Our focus encompasses aspects such as identity, lived experiences, personal and intergenerational memories, and aspirations for the future, all while acknowledging the shared human experiences that connect us all.
SHVILLI IS A COMBINATION OF TWO WORDS:
“Shvil and Bishvilli,” meaning, “A path forward for me.”
We are all walking our individual pathways towards healing and growth.
The SHVILLI Center’s first publishing imprint in conversation with Jewish women’s
stories, spirituality, and well-being.
PRINTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LAYERS PROJECT
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PRE-SALE - ORDER NOW TO GET IT IN TIME FOR THE SEASON
In the ongoing shadow of war, amidst the heartbreak and heroism of our time, emerges Az Nashir: Between Silence & Song -- Women’s Prayers for Our Days of Remembrance & Celebration.
This NEW volume has over 45 prayers that focus on Israel’s national days of mourning and joy;
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Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
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Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day)
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Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day)
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Lag BaOmer (Jewish Day of Mysticism and Celebration)
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Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day, celebrating the city’s reunification since 1967)
These prayers follow the profound tradition of “techines,”where Jewish women weave their personal prayers into the fabric of daily life, capturing their contemporary struggles and conversations with the Divine.
Born from the turbulence following October 7th, this book not only continues the narrative of its predecessor Az Nashir: We Will Sing Again, but deepens it, exploring the intricate dance of mourning and celebration in Jewish life. As Israel faces unprecedented challenges, these prayers serve as beacons of strength and solace, embracing both the joy and sorrow of our days.
Between Silence & Song is more than a book; it's a companion for those moments when the heart yearns for expression. Through these prayers, we connect past, present, and future, weaving together the threads of memory, valor, and hope into a tapestry that guides us toward a more harmonious and resilient future.
“Az Nashir - We Will Sing Again: Women’s Prayers for Our Time of Need,” is an anthology of prayers written by Jewish women in Israel addressing the unique experiences and urgent issues correlated to living in Israel today in a post-October 7th world.
Written by female Torah scholars, teachers, spiritual leaders, activists, poets, writers, and masters of artistic expression, these prayers have given voice to the myriad of complex emotions, ideas, needs, and hopes that have arisen in our time.
This siddur-companion follows in the footsteps of our ancestors, emulating a long tradition of Jewish women writing their own tefillot, techinot, and piyutim, an organic outpouring of our hearts, in our own mother tongues.
Every prayer is presented in both Hebrew and English, side by side, to allow as many Jewish women as possible to access the depths of these texts in their own language of calling out to the Divine.
From prayers that engage directly with the new challenges that have arisen since the war began, to prayers that explore the interconnectedness between national tragedy and mundane, intimate moments, this book’s entries touch upon the fullness of our lived experience.
For example, the book includes prayers for:
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Release of the hostages
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Sending a child off to war
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Gratitude for a spouse coming home safely from war
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Surviving a rocket attack, parenting in crisis
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Loss of a loved one
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Wrestling with infertility, illness, pregnancy, dating, motherhood, and more, with national tragedies acknowledged alongside personal struggles
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Women’s mitzvot, such as candle-lighting, baking challah, and mikveh, at this challenging time.
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The challenges and blessings of Shabbat during wartime
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Mental and physical well-being under prolonged grief and pressure
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Grappling with a myriad of emotions such as anger, grief, hope, impatience, and more
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Personal growth in a time of suffering and in a time of miracles
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Expressions of emunah and bitachon
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Reaffirmation of Jewish identity in the face of antisemitism
And many more…
Az Nashir features incredible art inspired by the war, prayer, and life in Israel created by Israeli artists who offer more inspiration and beauty to this book.
This anthology has been compiled and edited by Shira Lankin Sheps, Anne Gordon, and Rachel Sharansky Danziger, and it is published by The Layers Press, an imprint of The SHVILLI Center.
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Az Nashir- We Will Sing Again
WOMEN'S PRAYERS FOR OUR TIME OF NEED
IF YOU NEED MORE CARE:
For those who feel like they need emergency emotional support or therapy, please connect with our organizational partner, Get Help Israel.
They have a free Wartime Emotional Support Clinic now during the war in Israel for people in Israel. 1:1 crisis support online with a volunteer professional and support groups.
For regular individual and group therapy, they also have a robust network of qualified, English-speaking therapists and specialists who provide trauma work and therapy, licensed in both Israel and America.
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IMPORTANT
HELPLINES
IN ISRAEL:
The Ministry of Aliyah and Immigration in association with ERAN operates an anonymous emergency psychological support hotline in the languages Russian, Amharic, English, French and Spanish. To reach the hotline, dial *3201, or chat with a representative online: https://www.eran.org.il/helpline-for-olim-eng/
NATAL Helpline: 1-800-363-363
Chai Lifeline Helpline is open to all Anglos in Israel, specializing in English-speaking students in yeshivas and seminaries, and English-speaking parents of students in Israel. CALL: 732 377 5135 USA / 03 978 6304 ISRAEL / EMAIL: crisis@chailifeline.org