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Dear CAI Family,
Like many of you, I went to bed last night worried about Israel. I thought about the restless night they were enduring and felt anxious about what may be yet to come. It is so upsetting to see images of rockets flying over the skyline of Jerusalem - a city which should be a symbol of peace and holiness.
I woke up this morning feeling a mix of emotions.
I felt concerned that this might be the beginning of a much larger and more dangerous conflict for so many in the region. Concerned for the soldiers and their families who have already endured so much through the war in Gaza and now face an even more daunting challenge. Concerned that these developments may make the possibility of a deal for the release of the hostages in Gaza even more unlikely.
I also felt a sense of gratitude - for the courage and skill of the pilots, engineers, and intelligence officers of the IDF, the US military, as well as UK and Jordanian forces that prevented this attack from causing more damage than it did. I shudder to think of what today would have been like if it weren't for their efforts.
I was grateful to hear from friends and family in Israel who were unsettled, but also exhibit great resilience and are going about their lives today. Their strength inspires me.
While none of us would ever have wished for this to happen, now that it has, and thankfully Israel has defended itself against the attack, I hope that this moment might bring into clearer focus the threat Israel faces. Perhaps by pulling back the curtain on Iran's involvement in the larger dynamics in the Middle East, I hope that people who care for Israel's wellbeing might better understand why Israel has behaved the way it has and be more attuned to its security concerns.
What do I do when I’m overwhelmed by different emotions? It helps me to write out some of my thoughts, so I thank you for reading them as I'm still processing.
And I pray. At minyan this morning, we prayed for peace and Israel. We prayed that "the Guardian of Israel who neither slumbers nor sleeps" watch over Israel at this delicate hour. We sang Hatikvah. I pray for wisdom for Israel's leadership - may they proceed with appropriate caution and do what is best for Israel's safety and security.
Next week we'll conclude our seders as Jews have for thousands of years with the hope, "next year in Jerusalem" with hopes for peace and a better future.
Every year, this is a meaningful part of the seder, but this year it will feel especially urgent.
Sending wishes for peace,
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