A message from Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell
Shabbat Shalom,
Shabbat is fast approaching, the first one in Deuteronomy and the month of Av. I hope you will join Cantor Nelson and I to welcome Shabbat together tonight.
Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, observed on July 26-27 this year, reminds us that over 2,600 years ago Jews failed to heed the warnings of the prophet Jeremiah about the importance of changing their ways. On Tisha B’Av, we mourn the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, as well as other tragedies that the Jewish people have endured throughout our history.
Many congregations and communities mark Tisha B’Av by mourning present-day disasters, such as environmental degradation. The connection between Tisha B’Av and mourning for the planet is grounded in Jewish texts. In the Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, the Temple and the Earth both embody the Shechinah, or the indwelling presence of God.
The relationship is complex between human agency and devastating tragedy. Today, these themes resonate with the crisis of climate change and our moral responsibility to address it. Our feelings of rage and injustice could be similar to what our people felt in past times of destruction as we endure all-consuming wildfires, intensifying storms, record-shattering heat waves, dangerous air quality and catastrophic floods. Our participation in a society that fuels climate change does not mean that we deserve to suffer its consequences, but it does mean we have the responsibility to advocate for climate action.
On Tisha B’Av, as we grieve for the Earth and the countless lives lost to climate change, we must also harness our power to limit the scale of future tragedy. Even as we feel the effects of climate change in our daily lives, we still have the chance to stave off worst-case scenarios.
Here are three online programs you can participate in through the Religious Action Center (RAC) of our movement and with other Jewish groups:
Power for Purpose: All Politics is Local (7/25@8-9 PM ET)
Jewish Earth Alliance Lobby Days (7/25-26)
I invite you to join me at the Jewish Earth Alliance Lobby Days which is online. We are waiting for a confirmed meeting with our Senators’ staff members.
Jewish Rally for Climate Pollution Solutions (7/31@8-8:40 PM ET)
Supporting Israel’s fight for Democracy
Last Shabbat I spoke about supporting the thousands of people fighting for democracy in Israel with weekly peaceful demonstrations throughout Israel. I was asked how we can do that from here. I recommend supporting the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) Support IRAC — The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism through the World Union for Progressive Judaism, Support the World Union for Progressive Judaism | World Union for Progressive Judaism (wupj.org) or the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (Rabbi Moa Sattath, Executive Director) english.acri.org.il. Please share with me other ways you have found to show our support for these massive wellsprings of support for democracy and pluralism in Israel these past 28-plus weeks.
Shabbat Shalom! Have a great Shabbat and a good week!!
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