Dear PSJC Community,
I am heartbroken and enraged at the news of the tragic murder of six hostages in Gaza, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, z”l, Almog Sarusi, z”l, Alex Lobanov, z”l, Carmel Gat, z”l, Eden Yerushalmi, z”l, and Ori Danino, z”l. These precious souls, ranging in age from 23-39 years old, were murdered by Hamas while a deal for their return has been sitting on the table for two months. Each death in this horrible war is a tragedy, and as a community, this moment is particularly hard to hold. We mourn the loss of people whose names and faces have become so familiar to us, whose stories we have shared for 11 months, who are themselves precious individuals and who have come to represent, for many of us, the pain and tragedy of this war.
It was only a week ago when many of us listened to Hersh’s parents, Rachel and Jon, speak so powerfully at the Democratic National Convention about the pain and and tragedy brought by this war and about the need for a ceasefire deal that would bring Hersh and the other hostages home. I was deeply moved as I watched the tears from people across the room as they spoke, knowing that this was, as Jon said: “not a political issue, but a humanitarian one”.
For more than 330 days, we have prayed for the safe return of all of the hostages. Even as we mourn the loss of these precious souls, we continue to pray for the safe and immediate return of all of the remaining hostages, and we plead with the Israeli government and the international community to do everything in their power to bring them home. . .before it is too late.
For those who are moved to do so, please consider joining me and others across the NY City community for a Vigil with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum to mourn those who have been lost and to speak for those who might yet be saved. The vigil is today, Sunday, September 1st at 8PM at Columbus Circle.
These days are so difficult to manage, and the one thing I know is that we should not do this alone. So, please consider joining us on Wednesday morning (7:45AM) for minyan. We will mark Rosh Chodesh Elul, the first day of the sounding of the Shofar, that broken call that awakens us to the coming of the New Year. May its shattered call give voice to the pain of this moment in our world. And may its final extended cry help us hear the possibility of hope and wholeness that seem so far away at this moment.
May the memories of those we have lost be a blessing. May comfort come to all who are mourning this day. And may each of us find strength as we move forward together.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Carie Carter
Comments