How do I feel about the Palestinian people?  Even as I wish every Palestinian baby a life of peace and fulfillment, I know that close to 80% of Palestinian adults showed overwhelming support for the atrocities of October 7th which evokes great disappointment in me.  In fact, I would have hoped that there might be some degree of outrage, that Hamas had acted in such a barbaric way.  But we heard no such voices.  I recall hearing one terrorist calling his parents during the massacre, and relating to them that he had killed a number of Jews with his own hands, and hoped that his parents would be proud of him.  Yes, the Palestinians are grown ups and should be held responsible for their own actions which has been to reject peace with the Jews since 1948.  So sad that there could have been a functioning Palestinian state a long time ago it they actually wanted one, but such an opportunity has been rejected by the Palestinian leadership repeatedly.

Most of us Jews, I believe that we still cling to a hopeful vision of two peoples living side by side, with the recognition that peace is the only hope if their children are to flourish and realize the best that is within them.  May we see that day:  a day of blessing for both the people of Israel and the Palestinians as they will have learned the lesson that only peace can lead both peoples to the realization of their highest aspirations as fathers and mothers, whose children deserve much better than what they have been given.  And while I doubt that I will see that reality in my lifetime, I hold the hopeful vision for my grandchildren and yours.

I wish you Shabbat Shalom and would welcome seeing you this evening at our Shabbat service at 7:30.  Yes, we all need some Sabbath Peace.

Rabbi David Greenberg