Dear Friends,
On
Shabbat/Sh'mini Atzeret we woke up to the unthinkable - attacks on Israel by land, sea and air. As the day unfolded, we learned of the ferocity of the terror. Murder. Kidnapping. Filming of atrocities to post on social media for the world and families of the bereaved to see. Hundreds murdered. Thousands more injured. Soldiers and Civilians alike. A dance party turned into a pogrom. The comparisons to
Amalek are significant, going after women, children, the weak and infirm. The atrocities are indigestible.
We send prayers of comfort to the bereaved in Israel and around the world. We send prayers for strength to those who defend Israel's right to safety and security. We pray for a time when we will no longer know war. We affirm our commitment to stand with Israel. As Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, Avigdor Lieberman and Merav Michaeli, leaders of the opposition parties Yesh Atid, National Unity, Yisrael Beiteinu and Labor parties declared,
We are united in the face of terrorism. The terrorist seige on Israel remains imprinted on our hearts and minds. Our brothers and sisters in Israel are not ok. Many here are not ok either. Take time in the days ahead to check in on one another. Send a meal to someone struggling with anything in life. Bring good into the world. When others forget the horrors of this past Shabbat and holiday, remind them this was not a dream. The horror is real and needs our attention. As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proclaimed,
Terror should have no place in the world, because it is always a crime, not just against a specific country or this terror's victims but against humanity in general and our entire world. Anyone who resorts to terror commits a crime against the world. Whoever finances terror is committing a crime against the world. The world must stand united and in solidarity so that terror does not attempt to break or subjugate life anywhere and at any moment. For those who can offer monetary support to Israel, support the
Emergency Israel Fund at the UJA Federation of New York or the
Joint Distribution Committee Emergency in Israel FundThose able to offer home hospitality to Israelis not yet able to return home can register
HERE to connect with families in need.
For those who frequent social media, it is imperative that we continue to post pro Israel messages. Demonstrating strength with Israel is crucial at this time.
We will update the community with additional opportunities for organizational support and information about gatherings as they arise.
This morning we took the Torah scrolls from the ark, brought them close to the community and read the final words of Torah moving right into the opening words of our biblical narrative, joining the final letter of the scroll ל with the opening letter ב. Together, the end of the Five Books that circles into the transformation of chaos into cosmos spells
lev/heart. We pray the heart of Israel remains strong and resilient in what feels like unbearable times as we join the depth of love of our heart with them.
b'vracha,Rabbi Lisa Gelber
