Rabbi Janine's Messages

Dear Community, 

I won't use this week's Shabbat email to tell you more about what you already know is happening in Israel and Gaza.

I pray for the hostages. Gd willing, the remaining hostages will be found, alive, and brought home soon. I pray that the survivors and their families are being held with love and compassion as they continue the grueling work of healing from October 7th. I pray for all of us as we continue to heal as well.

I also cannot look away from the horror of witnessing the growing famine in Gaza. Wherever we fall along the political spectrum, this is our chance for all of us to see clearly that humanity suffering. Suffering anywhere is a call for our action. 

James Baldwin famously wrote, 

The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality. 

Whenever I feel my own fears for Jewish safety and the safety of our people in Israel, I push myself to remember this quote. It's not always easy. Remembering our collective humanity, putting lives first, and taking responsibility even when others (including world leaders) refuse to, can only make us a more holy people. It not only would make the Jewish people safer, it might be the only thing that can save us.

I will not give up hope.

The meditation and mindfulness pioneer, Sharon Salzberg, wrote,

Only love is big enough to hold all the pain in this world. 

Love is not a limited source.

One's love for their people is not diminished by showing love to “the other.” 
​​​​​​​
Let love be in abundance. 

Shabbat Shalom, 

Rabbi Janine Jankovitz