Dear CBAJ Family,
Needless to say, this has been a dark and difficult week for the entire Jewish people. Words cannot possibly express the depths of our sorrow and anger over hearing of the news of the abhorrent and brutal slaughter of 1,200 Jews in Israel, Hashem Yikom D’meihem, by Hamas terrorists which cruelly targeted civilians, babies and young children, the elders, and the vulnerable, along with the taking of at least 150 hostages, including civilians of all ages, thousands more injured, and other brutal atrocities. Our hearts with Israel now more than ever.
We continue to urge you to look for opportunities to support Israel, including donating money (either to the Federation's fund, or any of the other organizations we recommended to you earlier), through prayer and learning, through personal outreach, and through political advocacy.
We have been in touch with the Jewish Federation as well as the authorities about our local safety. We have been assured that in spite of Hamas's despicable calls for "global jihad," we should feel safe continue normal activities. Local authorities are taking our security seriously, and we have coordinated with the Albany County Sheriff's office to have extra patrols in neighborhoods where congregants will be walking to and from CBAJ.
The impossible question now for me is: what should the mood of this Shabbat be? On the one hand, we cannot ignore our intense feelings of mourning, grief, and anger. We will be expressing these feelings with special prayers, including Avinu Malkeinu, normally not recited on Shabbat, but with Rav Herschel Schachter, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University and Senior Posek of the OU, is instructing communities to recite.
On the other hand, we cannot let Hamas or anyone else break our joy, our determination, our confidence, our love for Israel or being Jewish. In light of that, I encourage you to come to shul, and we will still be singing and celebrating Shabbat.
I know that this may be hard to do right now. But if it helps, please watch this widely-circulated video by a brave Israeli soldier, Arkie, encouraging Jews around the world to joyously celebrate this Shabbat as a sign of our resolve and determination.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ben Kean
