From the Rabbi

Words of the Spirit

Elusive Words Towards Peace.
Words.
They are usually my friend. They bless me with their familiarity and function.
Now, they are elusive.

I rely on words to carry not just thoughts, but insight.
I feel bereft of insight, and so am leery of words.
And yet.

We need still to gather them up, to fill our baskets of bereavement, of fear, to do something in our wide-eyed sadness. To arrange them in ways that tell the story of our visceral pain as well as our unassailable values.

It’s deeply challenging to come to language in this moment. 

So I will call upon the poets’ and colleagues’ words to which I can say amen.

I will hold Peace in my arms,
and share my body’s breath,
lest Peace be added
to the body count.
-from Taking Sides by Rabbi Irwin Keller, October 18, 2023

We affirm what should not need to be said: Murdering civilians is a war crime, taking civilians hostage is a war crime, and targeting civilians with missiles is a war crime. There is no justification for these acts of terror. We call on all those who believe in the sanctity of human life to join us in affirming these truths.

“God, listen to my cry; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.” (Psalm 130:2)
-from a clergy letter released on October 23, 2023 from Truah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights [N.B. due to a technical error, the location accompanying my signature is in the U.S.]

This is the time to stand on the side of humanity. To protect civilians. To imagine a future when Israelis and Palestinians both live in safety and with dignity.
-from an essay on Reconstructing Judaism’s Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations by Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman, October 17, 2023

Oh, my own life is all I can hope to control
Oh, let my life be lived for the good
Good of my soul
Let it bring

Peace
Sweet peace
Peace will come
And let it begin with me
-from Peace Will Come by Tom Paxton