A letter I sent my congregation.

Dear Friends,

This has been a very difficult series of weeks in Israel. The stabbing of Israeli citizens in Jerusalem, Hebron and Pisgat Ze’ev, the attacks on public buses, the murder of Rabbi Eitam and Naama Henkin, Rabbi Yeshayahu Krishevsky, Alex Levlovitz and of numerous other Israelis and the explosion of Joseph’s Tomb in Shechem are unfortunately just a few of the attacks on Jews and on Jewish sites that have occurred. The Israeli Defense Forces have been called to supplement the police forces for added security. Many of us are disheartened, saddened and scared by what is occurring. The question is how do we respond to it?

Our congregational Israel trip is planning to leave on Wednesday November 4. This is an important trip in which we show solidarity with Israelis, demonstrating that we stand together as one people. However, we also need to respond as a congregation as a whole, and we have an opportunity to do so TOMORROW. Join us for an Israel Solidarity Shabbat when we will sing some Israeli songs and hear from Tikva Mussafi, who just returned from Israel.

Shabbat Shalom-May this truly be a Shabbat of Peace for each of us,

Rabbi Herman