Rabbi Janine's Messages

Dear Community, 

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us last night for a prayer service for Israel. It is a dark time for us as Jews in the world, for Israel, and for the many in the region who are caught in this cycle of fear, violence, and hatred. Being together in community is the light that can guide us through the most difficult of times. 

I want to share with you this prayer written by Rabbi Maurice Harris, Reconstructing Judaism’s Associate Director of Thriving Communities and Israeli Affairs Specialist:

A Prayer in this Time of Crisis

As Rosh Hashanah approaches and news alerts flash,
We pray, we worry, we watch, and we hope.

We pray that these flames will not erupt into a bonfire.
We pray for the return of hostages.
We pray for all in the region to be spared the terror of bombs and bullets and for just and lasting peace.
 
We worry about leaders who may bend the arc of history toward chaos.
We worry for loved ones – of all religions and all nationalities –
That they could lose their lives,
That they could lose their humanity.
 
We watch with concern for our tribe in The Land and our tribe in this land,
For the safety of our own kin and the safety of all God's children:
The sages teach that no one's blood is redder.
 
We hope for calm during the Days of Awe.
We hope for quiet phones and a loud shofar's call.
We hope because the hour calls for it.
We hope because we must.
 
May we write ourselves and all of creation into the Book of Life. 

​​​​​​​As Rosh Hashanah this year transitions right into Shabbat, this will be my final email message of 5784 (and for this week). And so, I want to wish you a meaningful holiday.

May this upcoming year be a sweeter one.

May it be full of connection and love.

And may we always find the light even in these dark times. 

L'Shanah Tovah Tikateivu, May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year.

Rabbi Janine Jankovitz