הרפא לשבורי לב we recite each morning in Psalm 147, “God heals the broken hearted.” How very great, indeed, is the work that lies ahead for the Divine this Shabbat as we stand with shattered souls in the aftermath of Hamas’ catastrophic incursion into Israel last Saturday. The sheer scope and magnitude of the devastation, the utter brutality of the violence perpetrated - indiscriminately, against civilians, targeting even the most innocent and vulnerable members of society, the fundamental, base inhumanity of rejoicing in the face of torture – all these things make the events of the past week a trauma unlike any that most of us have ever known. So many have close friends or relatives in Israel about whom we are consumed with worry. Even those we do not know personally feel like family, their tragedies and sorrows – captured all too graphically by the triumphant lens of a terrorist’s camera, becoming our own. We are broken hearted this Shabbat and likely will be for a long time still to come.

Along with feeling broken hearted, many of us also feel helpless as we watch events unfold with little ability to provide tangible assistance. I hope that many will join us this evening at 5:30 pm as we process and share together before evening worship and then stand in solidarity with a special service of strength and healing beginning at 6:10 pm. But for those looking for other forms of meaningful action, I offer the following suggestions:

Advocate: The current moment is not about the failings of the Netanyahu government or Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians or any of the other partisan tropes being circulated.  It is a coordinated, intentional campaign of fear and violence from a radical terrorist group that wishes to kill Jews and wipe Israel off the map. No matter how right one’s cause, there is no possible justification for the kind of barbarism being perpetrated here. We would not tolerate it in any other place, from any other people, or against any other country.  

Already, there are those defaming Israel with claims of colonialism or extremism or moral relativism, and these voices are only likely to grow as Israel continues to do what she has every single right and responsibility to do: fight back against Hamas in order to protect her citizens. Speak up when you see lies about Israel being spread – in person and on social media. Point those less knowledgeable towards credible sources of news. Display your pride for Israel and be vocal in your support. Show up and be counted at communal gatherings so that others will see how strong and steadfast our loyalty to Israel truly is. 

Watch: In a week that has been almost unremittingly bleak, some of the few glimmers of light for me have come from feeling the support of elected officials, community leaders, and clergy from other faith traditions here in Westchester County and beyond. President Biden has condemned Hamas’ actions in no uncertain terms, warned other nations not to join the conflict, sent military aid, and unequivocally affirmed Israel’s right to defend herself. White Plains Superintendent Joe Ricca called me personally on Tuesday to express his horror at current events and his commitment to creating an environment of safety and acceptance in our district and our schools. At the WJC community rally on Tuesday, held at TIC with about 2,000 people participating both in person and by Livestream, our sanctuary was graced by a slew of public officials expressing solidarity including New York State Senate Majority Leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Westchester County Executive, George Latimer, Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman, Vedat Gashi, and so many more. When clergy of all faiths were called up to the bimah for HaTikvah, we filled it to overflowing.

When it comes to elections in the next year, let us remember who has a strong track record on Israel and who does not. Our votes are one of the most powerful weapons that we have.   

Give: While it can sometimes feel paltry in the face of so much devastation, sending money is an essential and significant way of both expressing moral support and providing tangible aid at a time that it is so badly needed. Please be vigilant – there is a lot of misinformation circulating ranging from the well-intentioned but wrong to the patently fraudulent. While we often feel a strong urge in these moments to organize collection drives, what we hear from organizations on the ground is that money is more useful than supplies for logistical, security, and efficiency reasons. The Jewish Funders Network is updating and maintaining a list of trusted agencies and non-profits in the US and Israel. Five organizations I particularly recommend are:

Friends of the IDF

IsraAID

The Jewish Agency

Magen David Adom

UJA Federation of New York Israel Emergency Fund 

Go: There is nothing that expresses support for Israel more strongly than traveling there as our community will do this spring, God willing, on our congregational trip to Israel being held from May 19-30, 2024. While elements of our plans and itinerary may, of course, change depending on circumstances, Diaspora presence and dollars are never so meaningful as they are during a time of crisis. Whether thinking about the trip initially or now considering it is a “mission” of sorts, please be in touch with me if you’d like further information. And hold the date of Sunday, December 10 at 10:00 am when Kayla Ship from our tour provider, Keshet, will be here at TIC to meet with our group.  

Reach Out: In these devastating times, reaching out to check-in, show concern, and express love can be deeply healing – for those in Israel and for those in America, too, who are living with so much sadness, anxiety, and grief. Please know that the clergy is here at any time for those who need support. Let us be kind to and care for each other. Together we can soothe our broken hearts.

Shabbat Shalom - with prayers for safety and for peace,

Rabbi Annie Tucker