Dear Friends,
This week 450 Reform Rabbis gathered for the annual CCAR Conference in Philadelphia. Twenty-two Israeli Reform Rabbis joined us to give updates about life in their congregations since the devasting events of October 7 th . When my wife Debbie and I lived in Jerusalem we were members of The Reform Synagogue, Kol HaNeshamah. Our Rabbi, Oded Mazor, told me about his schul’s Executive Director’s sister, Karina. She is a 19-year-old soldier that was taken hostage from her Army base which was overrun by Hamas on October 7th . A few days later, Hamas published a video of Karina lying face down and bloody in a pick-up truck heading from Israel into Gaza. Just a few weeks ago, Hamas released another video of Karina and two other young women that are still being held hostage. This was the first sign in four months that Karina was still alive. Most women hostages were released in November. Hamas refuses to release women who are IDF soldiers. In Israel, there is barely 1 degree of separation. It seems everyone knows someone held hostage, or killed on October 7th , or someone killed or wounded in the fighting in Gaza. Israel is like one large family. Everyone feels connected. At the CCAR Conference this week, the Israeli Rabbis led a service in which they shared prayers they had written for their congregants. Rabbi Sivan Navon Shoval, who serves the Reform Congregation of Tzur Hadasah, a suburb of Jerusalem wrote:
“Our God and God of our ancestors, during these times of trouble and torment, watch over us and our loved ones. Give us the strength to overcome the pain, suffering and fear that engulf us. Give us a sound mind and a tenacious spirt to maintain our physical and mental health and care for those around us.
Give our defenders on the front lines, and on the home front wisdom, strength, courage, and resourcefulness. Fortify and guard their hearts and souls in the face of the battles and the sights that the mind can barely endure. Give our leaders reason and wisdom to navigate our people to security, hope and peace. Please watch over the souls and lives of the being held hostage, minimize their suffering, strengthen and embrace them with Your love and ours. May they return soon to their loved ones. Guard and protect those who cannot protect themselves and help us support and defend them as best we can. Heal us, strengthen and give courage to the injured and patience and spiritual resources to their caretakers.  May God’s presence be revealed like a merciful ray of light and hope, holiness and life. May it strengthen our hearts and minds and open paths of healing and recovery and may we fulfill the verse “Choose life so you and your offspring would live by loving (Deuteronomy 30.) Blessed are you God, who in compassion restores God’s  presence to Zion, bringing life and shalom to all who dwell in her midst.”
We are nearing Purim, a time when we faced genocide, and were miraculously saved by being “allowed” to defend ourselves. The Megilah near its conclusion says “For the Jews there was light and joy, gladness and honor.” So too may it be for us. (Ken tehe lanu.)

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi David Wilfond