Rabbi's Message

Our Torah portion this week is Lekh Lekha¸ and it describes God’s call to Abraham and Sarah to found the Jewish people.  According to our tradition, Abraham was an outsider.  He didn’t conform to the norms of his time, and he was a fierce fighter for his beliefs.  Rabbi Samson Rafael Hirsch notes in his commentary that Abraham’s example is meant to instill within us the courage to be a minority, and the conviction to stand up for our beliefs and our people no matter what or who challenges us.  This is how our people have prevailed from one generation to the next, and now it is our turn.  

The brutal terrorist attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians on October 7 has set off ripple effects that have made many of us feel like Abraham.  We can feel like outsiders in a bizarro world where terrorists who indiscriminately murdered men, women, and children are hailed as freedom fighters.  Where Israel is accused of genocide for defending its citizens and fighting a just war.  Our children can feel like outsiders on college campuses, in our schools, and on sports teams where Israel and Jews are unfairly accused of unspeakable things.  All of this can make us feel like Abraham, like outsiders.  

Have you been feeling this way?  I certainly have.  While I am grateful for the strong support that the Jewish community and Israel have received from many political and campus leaders, it is hard to shake the feelings of fear and stress that come in this climate.  Abraham’s example is also instructive as to how we live in this world and respond to its challenges.  By standing together, we gather the strength and conviction to stand up for Israel and our people.  This is what we have done, and will continue to do, in our TBS community.  And this Shabbat, we do it with partners from our own community and from around the world.  After our kiddush lunch this week, we are grateful to have with us two social workers from JFCS that will help us share our experiences and support one another.  Anyone who would like to join is welcome to come.  Additionally, the Conservative/Masorti Movement has designated this Shabbat as #SolidarityShabbat.  We not only come together in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel, but this Shabbat is also the 5th anniversary of the Tree of Life Synagogue attack in Pittsburgh, the deadliest antisemitic attack ever in the US.  I know, it’s a lot.  But together we can give each other support and hizuk (strength) to do our best as parents, teachers, and lovers of Israel to face these challenges.  Abraham might have been an outsider, but he was able to bring people together to found a great religion, a religion that has changed the world for the better.  It is now our generation’s turn, to play our part in keeping our people strong by living out our values.  Every time we come together in community is meaningful and important, but these days it feels even more meaningful and even more important.  I hope that you will join us this Shabbat and keep joining us for Shabbat and our other opportunities to come together.  We need it.  Our people need it.  By showing up for our community, we can better show up for our people and for Israel.   

Shabbat Shalom.