Dear Friends,
We continue to live in the aftermath of Hamas’ brutal and violent attack on Israeli citizens, and Israel’s determined military response. I suspect that this will be the case, and the condition of Jewish life, for a considerable while, and it is telling how continually the weekly Torah portion offers an echo or message on this situation.
This week we read in the Torah of the death of Sarah, Abraham’s wife, and mostly, of the careful burial arrangements undertaken by Abraham. This process of grieving, selecting a burial plot, negotiating its purchase, cooperating with the non-Jewish neighbors, paying for the land in a public transaction, and finally burying Sarah and taking perpetual ownership of the gravesite unfolds over an entire chapter of Genesis. It is no small undertaking.
Now, magnify that effort by 1400. Such has been the state of affairs in Israel earlier in October, and likely still continues as bodies of the murdered and slain are still being discovered and released.
As well, with deepest compassion, there are reportedly thousands of Palestinian deaths in Gaza – though nearly 2000 of their deaths were of Hamas and allied fighters who were killed in Israel while on their murderous assault. For each who die in this war there is the process of mourning and burial.
If the death of one individual can subsume a full biblical chapter, how much more when we face thousands of deaths and burials in one month in a region racked by war and bloodshed. The grieving is endless, and the work of caring for the deceased and the mourners is all consuming. And, each deserves no less attention than that given to Abraham in his mourning, and Sarah in her burial.
Thus, Torah reminds us of the value and eternal meaning of each life, and of the devotion which we ought to offer on each occasion. Of course, it is difficult for those of us living far from the conflict. Yet, through the efforts of the Temple, and of our partner agencies of the Federation, the Reform Movement, and more, we try to bring meaningful moments and engagement to each of us:
Wear the blue ribbon, which is emblematic of our dedication to the hostages, and explain its meaning to those whom you meet. (Available in the Temple lobby)
Wear the blue square with its anti-hate hashtag and speak against hate to those who ask about it. (Also available in the Temple lobby)
Make your donations to the Magen David Adom (Israeli Red Cross), or to Hadassah (for the hospital), or to the Reform Movement, which is participating in a joint support project with the other major organizations.
In short, we feel the anguish of ancient Abraham, and we grieve the loss of his beloved Sarah. And, we live amid the anguish and grief of today’s descendants of our first Jews, and we extend our hand and our resources to them.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
We continue to live in the aftermath of Hamas’ brutal and violent attack on Israeli citizens, and Israel’s determined military response. I suspect that this will be the case, and the condition of Jewish life, for a considerable while, and it is telling how continually the weekly Torah portion offers an echo or message on this situation.
This week we read in the Torah of the death of Sarah, Abraham’s wife, and mostly, of the careful burial arrangements undertaken by Abraham. This process of grieving, selecting a burial plot, negotiating its purchase, cooperating with the non-Jewish neighbors, paying for the land in a public transaction, and finally burying Sarah and taking perpetual ownership of the gravesite unfolds over an entire chapter of Genesis. It is no small undertaking.
Now, magnify that effort by 1400. Such has been the state of affairs in Israel earlier in October, and likely still continues as bodies of the murdered and slain are still being discovered and released.
As well, with deepest compassion, there are reportedly thousands of Palestinian deaths in Gaza – though nearly 2000 of their deaths were of Hamas and allied fighters who were killed in Israel while on their murderous assault. For each who die in this war there is the process of mourning and burial.
If the death of one individual can subsume a full biblical chapter, how much more when we face thousands of deaths and burials in one month in a region racked by war and bloodshed. The grieving is endless, and the work of caring for the deceased and the mourners is all consuming. And, each deserves no less attention than that given to Abraham in his mourning, and Sarah in her burial.
Thus, Torah reminds us of the value and eternal meaning of each life, and of the devotion which we ought to offer on each occasion. Of course, it is difficult for those of us living far from the conflict. Yet, through the efforts of the Temple, and of our partner agencies of the Federation, the Reform Movement, and more, we try to bring meaningful moments and engagement to each of us:
Wear the blue ribbon, which is emblematic of our dedication to the hostages, and explain its meaning to those whom you meet. (Available in the Temple lobby)
Wear the blue square with its anti-hate hashtag and speak against hate to those who ask about it. (Also available in the Temple lobby)
Make your donations to the Magen David Adom (Israeli Red Cross), or to Hadassah (for the hospital), or to the Reform Movement, which is participating in a joint support project with the other major organizations.
In short, we feel the anguish of ancient Abraham, and we grieve the loss of his beloved Sarah. And, we live amid the anguish and grief of today’s descendants of our first Jews, and we extend our hand and our resources to them.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
