Clergy Blog

Shabbat Shalom,

As I write this email, the scorcher is giving way to a short thunderstorm, which should eventually give way to our 85° equilibrium. Needless to say, Shabbat services will be indoors tonight, and as you drive to the Temple and into the parking lot, please be careful of any downed branches or trees. Today’s weather, however, did not put a damper on yesterday’s Temple BBQ. Evie and I had just returned that morning from a few days away, and I’m so glad our flights were on time. It was a really lovely evening and so nice to see so many of you on a beautiful night. 

Much of my week was spent navigating the various corners of the Jewish and secular press that are writing more regularly about starvation and malnutrition in Gaza. I have been guilty of averting my eyes from articles addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but news of food insecurity is now present across virtually all news sources: CNN, WSJ, NYT, WAPO, Fox News, Jerusalem Post, The Forward, Ha'aretz, Yedidot Ahronot, right, left, and center.

There are too many truths in this conflict to name all at once. It is an enormously delicate needle to thread: Zionism, Jewish peoplehood, self-determination, human rights, moral courage, responsibility. You don’t need me to tell you that starvation is bad, nor that Hamas is unquestionably making the crisis far worse, nor that according to the Israeli government’s own figures, aid to Gaza in May, June, and July has dropped off precipitously.

You don’t need me to tell you anything, so I’m going to share with you what I’ve recently told myself: It’s ok to feel moved and devastated by the images and stories emerging from Gaza. It’s ok to question why more news sources aren’t placing more blame on Hamas. It’s ok to wonder why the goalposts of this war seemingly keep moving further and further into the distance. It’s ok to remind people that there are still hostages eating less than 300 calories per day deep underground, for almost two years now. It’s ok not to have the perfect analysis. It’s ok to trust that the wells of Jewish wisdom will never let us down. 

כָּל דִכְפִין יֵיתֵי וְיֵיכֹל, בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים, יְהִי שָׁלוֹם בְּחֵילֵךְ שַׁלְוָה בְּאַרְמְנוֹתָיִךְ.

Let all who are hungry come and eat. Blessed are you Adonai, who frees the captives. May there be peace within your walls, tranquility in your palaces.

Shabbat Shalom,

Max