Rabbi Hanna Yerushalmi never set out to be a poet. While she wrote extensively for her rabbinic work and occasionally kept a journal, she did not regularly read or write poetry.
Her emergence as a poet came in the wake of tragedy. After October 7, poems began pouring out of her. Since then, Yerushalmi has published three books of poetry in response and is preparing to release a fourth.
“I had this need to emote and I did it by writing,” Yerushalmi said.
Yerushalmi will discuss her poetry and books (Strip of Land, Oc7ober Shiva, and Let Us Be) with the Temple Emanu-El community on March 29 as part of the Women’s Passover Experience. She will share 16 poems, including several focused on Passover. Creating poetry about the holiday of liberation was particularly difficult in 2024 and 2025 while war raged and hostages remained in captivity, Yerushalmi said.
“There was a lot of dissonance in my thoughts,” she explained. “I thought, ‘How could we celebrate freedom when so many of our extended family members were suffering and imprisoned? How could we enjoy the upcoming spring holiday when so many were in darkness?’ It was very challenging.”
The power and intimacy of Yerushalmi’s work stem from her deep ties to Israel. She spent significant time there as a child while her father, Rabbi Isaac Yerushalmi, was on sabbatical from Hebrew Union College. She and her husband bring their family to Israel every summer.
“I have a very deep link to the land and people of Israel,” Yerushalmi said.
For Yerushalmi, Temple Emanu-El is a familiar and special place. The late Dr. David M. Posner, Senior Rabbi Emeritus, was her father’s student at Hebrew Union College. The two were very close. The families vacationed together and Yerushalmi viewed Dr. Posner like an uncle.
“It’s really special for me to be coming to Temple Emanu-El. I wish my father and Rabbi Posner were alive to see this happen.”
Register for Women’s Passover Experience: From Bondage to Freedom, Giving Voice to Feelings Since October 7 through the Poetry of Rabbi Hanna Yerushalmi on March 29 here.
