
Civil Rights Trip
January 15, 2025Our Hostages – Liri Albag
January 22, 2025Commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day

We welcome the release of three Israeli hostages, and hope and
pray that they will find the strength to renew their lives and yet
again experience joy and fulfillment.
Yes, we welcome the return of these three women, even as we
remember those who are still being held in captivity. Did Israel
give up too much by releasing so many terrorists? Not if it’s my
child or parent who might be among the hostages. Yes, we Jews
truly believe that every life is precious, and I appreciate so much
that Israel was willing to pay an awful price for the sake of these
three lives.
Tonight at our Shabbat service we will commemorate International
Holocaust Remembrance Day. As we do so, we will remember that
all of those precious and holy lives were so cruelly taken, not only
because of the human capacity to hate, but also our capacity to
turn away from each other’s humanity. On this Shabbat especially,
we remember the six million who perished, and we remember
those who are still being held in Gaza, their lives all but taken from
them.
Taught one of my teachers: “In order to be human, you have to be
more than human!”
Wishing you Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Emeritus David Greenberg