A Rabbi’s Letter to his Community
on Hearing of the Slaughter at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh
Dear
Chavraya,
With
heavy hearts we hold each other, reaching out and encircling with love. Shabbos
peace was shattered today, but not the Shabbos hope for a world of peace. I
only heard toward the end of Shabbos, from someone knocking on the door, of the
horrific shooting today at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. We
joyfully celebrated a Bas Mitzvah this morning, oblivious to the terror that
engulfed others of our extended Jewish family. We are joined with them in pain
and sorrow, sending with so many others our grief filled prayers that might
somehow offer comfort, if simply to know that we are one.
At the
start of this evening's long-planned Jewish Arts program, we made Havdallah
together, a large circle taking in the sweetness, the bitter-sweetness now, even
more so than the usual touch of melancholy as Shabbos leaves. Havdallah marks
the transition from Shabbos peace, its wholeness and sweetness, to the days of
the week. Today that wholeness was shattered and with Havdallah we seek
transition from the violence and hate of this world, of this country, of this
time. The hope of Shabbos for a better time, its yearning for the day that is
all Shabbos, is forever intact, inspiring and urging us to go out from Shabbos
and help to bring that time. As this week begins, we go out as mourners
determined to say with our deeds a great amen to the blessing held in the
memory of each precious life that was taken today.
Near the
end of Shabbos my office phone rang. I didn't answer because it was still
Shabbos. Then immediately my cell phone rang and I knew I needed to get it. It
was the minister of Bethel AME calling with condolences and to offer a prayer.
It was three years ago that we gathered in his church to mourn with the African
American community in response to the massacre at Mother Emmanuel
AME Church in Charleston, SC. As we have reached out and stood with the African American
community, as we have reached out and stood with immigrants, as we have reached
out and stood with all of those who are hunted and hounded and hated in this
country today, they now reach out and stand with us. Racism, anti-Semitism,
xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and all other hatreds are part of the same
web of hate that poisons our country, a hatred that we have known as Jews
throughout our history and to which we continue to respond proudly as
Jews.
Many
text messages and emails have been coming in tonight from the interfaith
community of which we are so much a part. There was a police car parked outside
tonight during our program. Though its presence did not make me feel less
vulnerable, when I went out to thank the officers, I was touched by their offer
of condolence. Similarly, just now as I write, a call came from a police
liaison officer to remind us of their presence and partnership.
As we
come together as Jews, joined from one holy community to another, we are
encircled by the love of all of those who now reach out to us. We hold their
love as part of one circle of light, together becoming the wine, the spices,
the light of Havdallah. Going into this week of sadness, knowing that so many
of our people in Pittsburgh will begin to sit shiva in the coming days, we will
strive nevertheless to infuse the days ahead with the essence of Shabbos.
We
will be its gentle joy, its sweetness, its light, a light that shines brighter
because we are joined together with so many good people, joined as the many
wicks of the braided Havdallah candle. Shabbos peace was shattered today, but
not its hope for the world. In spite
of all, Shavua tov, a week that is good because we fill it with goodness,
Rabbi Victor H. Reinstein
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