Dear Or Shalom Community,

There are no perfect words for a moment such as this. There is nothing I can say this morning, or any morning, to soothe every aching soul that calls this community home. I know many of us are aching, shell-shocked, terrified in the wake of the killing of Israeli Embassy Workers Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky outside the Capital Jewish Museum last night. Whatever the motivation for this violence, it helps no one. It serves no one. It only begets more violence. 

And I know many of us are aching– have been aching–for months and months and months for those killed in Gaza–whether by bomb or starvation–, for the Israelis killed on October 7, 2023 and in the ensuing violence since, for those still held as hostage and political prisoner. We have been living in a constant state of nervous system activation for nearly two years, and the violence simply won’t stop. The traumatizing events simply won’t stop.

So I want to call in the words of Dove Kent, Jewish movement organizer and political educator, this morning:

“Take a deep breath in for four counts, hold it for four counts, let it out slowly for eight counts. Do this as many times as you need today.”

I do not have the words for you this morning. But I have the will, the capacity, the intention, to carve out space. For us to breathe. For us to feel. For us to grieve. For us to rage. For us to tap into our fear which is both so new and so ancient, and to do so together. For fearing together is better than fearing alone.

So if you would like to be with community this evening, I invite you to join me at 331 Cortland at 6 p.m. Bring with you all that you feel. Bring with you all of your terror. All of your anger. For we need all of you. We need all of us.

With care,

R’ Faryn