Dear Friends,
This morning, during Shabbat services, we read aloud a prayer in our
siddur
that we usually skip over. It’s the
Av HaRachamim
prayer, which was composed following the terrible devastation wrought by the Crusaders as they moved from town to town in medieval Europe, and entire Jewish communities were massacred. This prayer was composed to mourn those terrible losses; it continues to be recited to this day to memorialize the deaths of Jews in other places and in other times.
It was only an hour or so later that we learned of the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. We still don’t know all of the details, but what we have learned is horrifying. Our hearts go out to the members of that congregation, including the victims of this terrible attack, their loved ones, and the greater community. The devastation even one heavily armed hateful person can achieve is enormous.
Jews all over the country are feeling increasingly vulnerable and fearful. And yet, things have changed since the days of the Crusades. We are fortunate that the clergy in our community share our distress and our pain. In the wake of the attack, text messages and emails have been steadily arriving.
One was from a Baptist minister whose church our seventh graders visited last year. She sent “prayers of comfort and peace.” Another was from the Episcopal priest who is the head of the Needham Clergy Association (whose church our seventh graders are visiting next week). He wrote that he was “sickened, heartbroken and angry.” A third was from a Catholic priest, who included words of support and consolation from
Cardinal O’Malley
. The Presbyterian minister sent her prayers, as did the Muslim representative on our Association. A final email came from a colleague who ministers to a church in Roxbury. He wrote:
“Three years ago, we stood in the place in which you now stand as we heard the news unfolding about the massacre at Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC. It was awful; but we remember that one of the things that helped us through that terrible time was the support of friends like you who called, who came, who prayed, who let us know that we were not alone. And now we want you to know that we are here, we are praying, we will come at any time and in any way to support you and let you know that you are not alone.
“These are dark and terrible times through which our country is passing. But hatred will not have the final say. Our faith, our hope, our love for each other and our work together will overcome the fear and terror that others are whipping up all around us. God bless you.”
A Vigil of Remembrance and Support
We want to bring to your attention that
tomorrow (Sunday) evening, October 28th, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, a communal vigil of remembrance and support will be held at Temple Beth Shalom (670 Highland Ave., Needham).
Clergy from the various houses of worship in Needham will participate. We will share readings, psalms and prayers of memorial, and people will have the opportunity to write messages to be sent to the Tree of Life community.
Safety and Security
We also want to assure you that our congregation takes the safety and security of our community very seriously. We have an excellent working relationship with the Needham Police. They are stepping up their surveillance. We are constantly evaluating our security needs, and will certainly be reviewing our safety and security procedures in the light of today’s attack.
We’re here to help.
Some of us may be shaken up in the wake of this terrible event. Please feel free to reach out to our clergy and synagogue leadership if you would like to talk.
What should be our response?
Let’s come together as a community. Let’s seek to deepen our Jewish connections -- including our connections with one another. Let’s not allow hatred to diminish our commitment to learn
torah
, observe
mitzvot
, and practice Judaism to the best of our ability.
May those who lost their lives this day be remembered. May they remain blessings in the lives of their loved ones, and in our lives as well.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Carl M. Perkins
David Farbman
