If there were ever a night to light candles, sing songs of peace and bless our children... This is it.
Truth: I don't feel as connected to Israel as many of my Jewish friends, colleagues, and community. I've never even been there. (How many of you would have guessed that?!)But I feel deeply, viscerally affected by the slaughter of 260 innocent Jews doing my favorite thing on earth, attending live music. I know how happy their hearts were just moments before the horror. I feel it in my soul.
On Saturday night I was on the lawn at CSU with thousands of other people watching my favorite band Goose. It was the perfect evening. I even got a high five from one of the guys in the band! I hadn't seen or heard any news that day. I didn't know what had happened in that desert.
I felt deep sadness for the attacks at concerts at the Bataclan in Paris (130 dead) and in Las Vegas (58 dead). My safest, happiest place had been invaded and attacked by terrorists and a mass shooter.
But the musicgoers near Kibbutz Re'im were not chosen because they were easy targets at a concert.
No. They were targeted because they were Jews.
Because. They. Were. Jews. I cannot stop thinking about the moment when euphoria turned to terror.
I've felt this kind of soul solidarity before.
I was the religious school director at our synagogue when the Pittsburgh massacre happened. I held Hebrew School the next day. I refused to let the Jew-haters (a term I prefer over the wishy washy "antisemite") terrorize me, my students, my community.
As soon as that awful Shabbat ended, I emailed my teachers. My message concluded with this:
"Remember our purpose and our focus: Teaching Jewish values to children and young adults so they can go out and make this world a better place to live. We do holy work. Take care of yourselves as you need to. Take a break from the news of you need to."
We had one of the best days of school of my career. Every child was a reason to maintain the hope for peace. HaTikvah.
May we all find moments of peace this Shabbat. Inhale the crisp fall air. Gaze into the sky for the awe-inspiring dance began the sun and the moon. Crunch a dry leaf in your hand and fell the circle of life.
I'm going to turn off my phone, watch British Baking Show with Evan and Elliot, my hopes.
Shabbat Shalom
שבת שלום