The Death of 9 human beings, gathered in a church for Bible study and worship, screams out to me. Rage against the murderer threatens to overwhelm my heart and grief for the loss of life and the mourning families continually remains within me. Too much suffering is part of our world, borne out of racism and hatred. Too much anguish has filled the lives of too many people because racist poison has infected too many who refuse to see each of us as a human being.
This upcoming Shabbat has been declared one of solidarity with the African American community in the wake of the mass killing in Emanuel AME Church. Congregational and community groups from across the entirety of Jewish life have called out to their members and beyond to offer special prayers of, for and with the African-American community. Horror over this massacre has touched us all and we must respond in a manner which brings healing and strength to all of us.
I call out to all Shul members and friends, imploring you to join us for Shabbat services, both on Friday evening and Saturday morning. As a community, we Jews must stand in prayer, study, solidarity and hope with the African-American community, all citizens of the U.S.A. and indeed the entire world.
Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Orthodox and non- religious Jewish community agencies are all calling out for us to take a stand as a united people! We must declare in our Jewish life that we will not tolerate cruelty, racism or bigotry. Intolerance has no place in our lives. All of us, Jews and Americans, must stand together!
Parshat Chukat is read throughout the Jewish world on Saturday June 27th (Shabbat of Solidarity). Our ancients, deeply concerned over the spiritual impact of one death upon any member of our nation, observed a very strange ritual. A red cow, entirely burned up and reduced to ashes, provided the basis of a potion to be sprinkled upon any Israelite who came in contact with death. Whether actually touching a family member or friend or even walking into a room wherein a dead person had been, the Israelite needed to be sprinkled by a ritual leader. Very Puzzling! I think that the red-brown cow, color of blood, symbolized the loss of life suffered. Every member of the community, no matter how removed, was affected by the death of one particular individual. Death within our community harms us all and we all need to be 'healed' or strengthened in the aftermath of death.
We no longer burn cows or offer sacrifices, but we all are touched by the cloud of death which overhangs Charleston, S.C. We all need to assemble in prayer, searching for hope and demanding understanding of each other. Your presence this upcoming Shabat will prompt healing in our own community and will initiate a ripple effect outward, eventually touching Charleston and the families who were so violently assaulted.
May we all bring support into our world in the Shabbat ahead and thereafter.
Rabbi Steve Silberman
We remind the shul of the unveiling of the headstone of our long-term friend Melvin (Buddy) Stein on June 28th at 9:30 A.M. at the shul cemetery.
We also remind the shul of the Memorial service for our long-term friend Helen Small at 2:00 P.M.at the Temple (gathering to offer support from 1:15 PM-2:00 PM and a Shiva Minyan at the Temple at6:00 PM on June 28th)
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