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Dear Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community,
Our hearts are broken as we watch with fear, anger, and anxiety the images that have been streaming across our screens since Shabbat morning, including rocket fire and the incursion of Hamas and their allies into border towns around Israel. We mourn the loss of innocent lives and pray for the safe and swift release of all Israelis kidnapped in these attacks.
There are many sources you are hearing from which will have the “facts on the ground”, knowing that the situation is fluid and changing rapidly, I will leave it to them to report them. I am not a citizen of Israel, I have not served in the IDF nor lost any of my family members to war in this region and so I do not feel as though I have the right to comment on the direction that those who have, ultimately make.
I can and do pray for the lives of those living in Israel; for the fathers, mothers, sisters, daughters, and sons of those that will not return from this battle or will return forever changed. I pray that this war is brief and that those who desire to perpetrate further atrocities in the region fail in their efforts. I pray that innocents can still hope in the face of the hopelessness of war and show compassion to those that are also paralyzed with despair and fear.
I ask that we resist hate and that we remain hopeful that we can someday build peace based on a shared vision, and mutual respect. Let’s dare to dream. Let us tell our stories, practice listening, and fortify one another against religious zealotry that would demand obedience to those who don’t have our best interests at heart.
B'Shalom,
שַׁאֲלוּ שְׁלוֹם יְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם יִשְׁלָיוּ אֹהֲבָיִךְ (תהלים )
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may those who love you have peace.” (Psalms 122:6)
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