Ep #23: "Shiva" – Poems of October 7

About this episode

This episode explores how Israeli poets responded to the tragedy of October 7th through powerful verses, examining the anthology 'Shiva: Poems of October 7'.

In the months following October 7th, Israeli poets responded to the tragedy through powerful verses that gave voice to the nation's grief, rage, and despair. This episode explores selections from Shiva: Poems of October 7th, an anthology containing 59 Hebrew poems alongside English translations, examining how poetry serves as a distinctly Jewish response to catastrophe. Hebrew College faculty member Rav Rachel Adelman joins rabbinical students Deborah Anstandig, and Matthew Schultz, both of whom were in Israel during the October 7th attack, along with translator Michael Bohnen for an intimate discussion of these poems. Through close readings of works by Rabbi Osnat Eldar, they explore themes of faith, doubt, and the complex relationship between God and the Jewish people in times of crisis. Get full show notes and more information here: http://hebrewcollege.edu/podcast-23

People in this episode

Host: Rav Rachel Adelman

Guests: Deborah Anstandig, Matthew Schultz, Michael Bohnen

Topics covered

• Israeli poetry
• grief
• Jewish response to catastrophe
• faith
• doubt
• God and the Jewish people

Keywords

• Israeli poets
• October 7
• poetry
• Jewish response
• anthology
• faith
• crisis

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Shiva: Poems of October 7

More episodes of Speaking Torah

• Ep #29: Reclaiming Female Presence · February 2, 2026 · 50 min
• Ep #28: Heart of a Stranger · February 2, 2026 · 1h 0m
• Ep #27: My Legs Were Praying · December 8, 2025 · 57 min
• Ep #26: Every Body Beloved · December 8, 2025 · 36 min
• Ep #25: Jewish Creativity · June 9, 2025 · 14 min
• Ep #24: In Miriam's Footsteps: Jewish Women's Leadership and the Pursuit of Justice · June 9, 2025 · 41 min