Rabbi's Message

Join us at Temple Beth Sholom on Tuesday, October 10 (Doors open at 6:30pm, program begins promptly at 7) for an Israel Solidarity Gathering with the South Jersey Jewish Community hosted by The Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey. For more information, click here.

Dear TBS Family,
 
On Kol Nidre, Rabbi Lindemann spoke about the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. He posed a question: does the future follow the past?

After the horrendous terrorist attack from Hamas that Israel endured on the joyous holiday of Shemini Atzeret and Simhat Torah, sadly it seems that the answer is yes.

We stand with our brothers and sisters in Israel against these heinous and unprecedented attacks. We mourn with the bereaved, send comfort to those who are injured, and offer our fervent prayers for the safe return of those held captive by Hamas in Gaza.

We know that this conflict is not over, and that Israel will continue to need our support. And we, as a TBS Family committed to Israel, will respond. Our daily minyanim will include prayers for Israel, the IDF, and the captives. Our teachers in all of our schools will provide age-appropriate support and resources for students and parents to speak with their children. 

We also call on you to do what you can to help. 

Reach out to friends and family in Israel, and those in our community with connections to Israel, to offer support. Give tzedakah to help those in need. Be an advocate for Israel by writing to our elected representatives to thank them for their support of Israel.

Most importantly, show up for Israel. 

There will be opportunities to gather as a South Jersey community and a TBS community to show our support for Israel. We are stronger when we stand together for Israel.  

In our haftarah this Simhat Torah morning, Joshua reminds the two and half tribes that settled outside of the land of Israel of their promise to help their brothers and sisters in Israel when they are in need. In response, these two and a half tribes unwaveringly kept their promise.  

As Jews who live outside of Israel, now is our moment to keep our promise to stand with our brothers and sisters in Israel. As we do, we also recall the words that Joshua said to the entire people at that moment: Hazak v’Amatz – Be strong, and have courage. 

We are stronger together, and may we have the courage and the conviction to stand with Israel at this critical time.

Shalom,
Rabbi Micah J. Peltz