Did you know that yesterday marked 30 years since one of the worst attacks that Jews have suffered throughout the world after the Shoah and besides the 10/7/23 massacre?

The AMIA bombing occurred on July 18, 1994 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, targeting the AMIA "Argentine Israelite Mutual Association", the Jewish Community Centre. Executed as a suicidal attack, a bomb-laden van was driven into the AMIA building and subsequently detonated, killing 85 people and injuring over 300. 

Our beloved congregant Shoshana Dweck is in Buenos Aires right now. As a member of the Executive of the Jewish Agency and the board of Jewish Agency for Israel North America, she had been meeting with the Jewish community at large and the Reform Jewish community. She has also met with Ambassadors from the United States, Israel and Argentina, and Antisemitism Special Envoy, Deborah Lipstadt.

She says: “We are here to support the community and honor the 30th anniversary of the bombing. As a New Yorker and an American, it is striking that between the two attacks in Argentina (Israel embassy in 1992, AMIA in 1994) was the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993”.

To this day the relatives of the victims continue to demand the words of the Torah: "Tzedek tzedek tirdof", "Justice, justice you will pursue." Twice the word justice, indicating that for justice to be done, judges and legal institutions must be operated with fairness. Something that unfortunately has not happened until now in my country of origin since no one responsible has been penalized, even knowing the names of the Iranian officials who were involved in the mentoring, planning and execution of the bomb.

Beyond the sadness of these events, two great joys happened in my family that I would also like to share with you. My father's birthday yesterday and the Simchat Bat (naming in Hebrew) of my daughter Ludmila tonight.

In complex times like these, it is good to know that we continue to celebrate the miracle of life in the Jewish community!

This is why together with my husband Brian, we are thrilled to welcome all of you to the community celebration of Shabbat to share together an exciting prayer of peace and hope.

Additionally, I am excited to say that I will be releasing a new melody to bless our children that I have composed especially for Ludmila, but I dream that one day in Shaaray every parent will be able to sing it to their children on Shabbos!

Together with Rabbi D. Ross, we are looking forward to seeing you tonight!