Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch shares his grief over the crushing loss of the six Israeli hostages and prays for the speedy return of the hostages still alive in captivity.
“Our shofar blast is a cry of grief,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov, as we enter Elul heartbroken over the brutal and senseless murder of the six hostages. May they rest in peace. While we wait with great trepidation for the future, “this time of year calls us to the present moment, where we seek repair, return and reconciliation,” she says. “With open hearts, may we reach for God, connect with our spiritual selves and, in doing so, find strength and renewal.”
In this week’s parashah, God commands, ‘See, this day I set before you blessing and curse.’ Rabbi Dalia Samansky asks, “What does it mean to SEE rather than HEAR?” She explains, “To be rendered invisible is to be told you don’t matter. In our increasingly isolated world, maybe the imperative to see reminds us of the importance of seeing the people around us. If we don’t, we risk our lives feeling lonely and cursed.” How can we ensure we are seen and help others feel seen too?
Recognizing that “many of the anti-Zionist Gen Z Jews are lost to us,” Rabbis Ammi Hirsch and Tracy Kaplowitz organized the first Reform Birthright trip to Israel in years. “Something wonderful about sharing a bus with these Gen Z-ers is hearing their conversations about their aspirations and hopes,” said Rabbi Kaplowitz who led the group of young volunteers in early August. “Rabbi Hirsch and I are certain this trip won’t be the last.”
Rabbi Rena Rifkin recalls a late night spent with the 10-year-olds in URJ Eisner Camp’s Bunk 13, answering their “poignant, perceptive, and powerful” questions about Israel. “Our children have so many thoughts and feelings,” says Rabbi Rifkin, who worries: “When is the next time those campers will have the chance to ask those important questions? And who is the next adult they’ll trust to get a real response?”
Our Talmudic rabbis spent copious amounts of time theorizing about why the First and Second Temples fell, says Rabbi Dalia Samansky ahead of Tisha b’Av. “But as much as we try to find reasons, we also know that sometimes, there are none — life just isn’t fair. Each of us must face challenges and calamities that compel us to question our theology and ultimately force us to reexamine and refocus our values and understandings of life.”