|
“Avinu Shebashamayim, stronghold and redeemer of the People Israel, bless the State of Israel, the beginning of our redemption. Shield it with your love, spread over it the canopy of your peace.”
Shavua Tov, Dear Congregants and Friends of CSBE,
As you are most likely aware, on Shabbat morning, our brothers and sisters in Israel, awoke to brutal and unprecedented attacks from Hamas. What should have been a day of joy, celebrating Simchat Torah as we did together as a community on Friday, was instead marked by horror and fear.
On Shabbat, Simchat Torah, and the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, Israel’s streets should have been filled with dancing and singing. Instead, the streets of Israel have been filled with blood, bullet casings, and destruction.
Our hearts are broken as we watch, from thousands of miles away, the horrific brutality and unconscionable loss of life that has unfolded in our beloved State of Israel.
As former Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett said this morning, “This is not an act of humans. This is an act of monsters.” There is no justification for this atrocity.
In her autobiography, Golda Meir stated, “When peace comes we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons. Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”
Now as our nation, the nation of the Jewish people, prepares to defend itself, our hearts and prayers are with all of Israel. We pray that our soldiers return home safely, the wounded are healed, that the hostages are released quickly and without harm, and that this asymmetric war comes to an end swiftly, and with minimal casualties for all.
Please join us on Friday evening at 7:00 PM for a Shabbat service of love and solidarity for Israel. We will lift our voices in song and prayer together.
We pray for the People of Israel, for Jews around the world, and for the State of Israel to continue as a beacon of democracy in the Middle East.
L’Shalom,
Rabbi Michael
Cantor Eryka
Joy Gluzman
Barton Slavin
|
