Rabbi's Blog

Last Shabbat, as part of my drash, I spoke of empathy. We looked at empathy for Avraham and Sarah as well as for the Israelis embroiled in a horrific war with Hamas. I also shared of empathy for civilians in Gaza who are affected by this war.

One thing that enhances our empathy is personal experiences that give us more information from which to base our empathic understanding. Those who have served in the military have additional experiences that can increase their understanding and empathy of what those in the war are going through.

With this in mind, I begin this week’s message with an ask. Next Shabbat is November 11th, Veteran’s Day. In our Shabbat morning service we will make note of the veterans in our congregation. We have an extensive list but I’m sure that, due to new members joining and people we may have inadvertently missed in the past, it isn’t complete. If you served, even if you think we have your information, please click here to email me the branch of military you were in, your rank, the years you served and where you were stationed.

Last night, I attended the “Beyond Words” niggun session led by Rabbi Deborah Sacks Mintz. It was good to see some of you there. It was incredible to be in a space with powerful music expressing both the solemnity and intensity of the moment but also lifting us in joy together. Perhaps the most incredible thing was the lack of words. We all need that space from time to time. We are inundated with news reports and social media feeds. We are constantly discussing with those we agree with and with those we disagree with. Sometimes, we just need to go beyond the words.

That being said, words, and how we use them, are important. I want TI to be a place where we can share words that heal, words that lift up the discourse of the conversation and words that allow others to understand what we think and believe. These words are also meant for us to hear and listen as well. We should receive the words of others not as attacks or as an attempt to persuade us but as a means understand the other’s position.

To this end, in addition to the Israel resource page, I am adding a section on my blog (which you can find by clicking here) that contains resources people find helpful during this time. Examples are educational sites, podcasts or poems and prayers. If people send me materials of places where they have found hizzuk – strength – during this time, I will curate them into the site.

Before people ask, yes, I know this is the third rail of TI but I believe it is important that we have places to share and to hear from others. There will be a range of opinions expressed. My posting a piece there does not mean that I agree with all or even any of what it written, but that a congregant found them thoughtful and worth the time to read or listen to them. I will place one layer of editorial control -- I will not post anything that I find to be calling for, or justifying, intentional violence against civilians, or that dehumanizes Israelis or Palestinians.

Lastly, we are coming up on the end of four weeks following the attacks of October 7th. Each individual death is marked by a mourning period of Shivah, Shloshim and Shanah, a week, a month and a year. The end of Shloshim will be this coming week. There are two events on Sunday to mark the conclusion of this period. One is the weekly vigil at the Red Cross to demand the release of the hostages in Gaza. The second is a gathering at Beth El in Bethesda to come together as a community to mark this time.
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It’s time for Shabbat. A time when we can all use some peacefulness.
It is hard while we know there are those held hostage.
It is hard while we know Israelis struggling with injuries from the attacks.
It is hard while Israelis continue to head to shelters.
It is hard when friends, family and others are in the IDF.
It is hard when civilians in Gaza are fleeing for their lives.
It is hard when civilians in Gaza are losing their lives.
It is hard when there is so much uncertainty of the future.
It is hard when we just don’t know what to say or do.
This is precisely when we need Shabbat.
 
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Werbow