Shalom to my Bnai Shalom family!
We have moved from the month of Jewish holidays to the season of secular holidays, with Halloween finishing up October and Thanksgiving on November 27th.
While we know the traditional story of the first Thanksgiving is incomplete and inaccurate, nonetheless this holiday first created by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 has become a marker in our year, one that reminds us to gather with family and friends and to be thankful for what we have. We are lucky, though, because we have so many Jewish holidays that do the same! From Rosh Hashanah to Sukkot and Pesach, there is no shortage of Jewish occasions that celebrate being together.
Right before Simchat Torah, the last of our living hostages were returned to Israel. Our feelings of relief and gratitude were – and are – overwhelming. We say Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, matir asurim – Blessed are you Adonai Our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who frees the captives. We took off the "Bring Them Home Now" dog tags. We removed the yellow ribbon pins from our lapels. We sang and danced on Simchat Torah with joy we did not feel last year.
And yet, we are holding sadness, too. Sadness for those killed on October 7th. Sadness for the hostages who died in captivity, the last of who have yet to be returned. Sadness for the many innocent people who have died in this war in the past two years. Sadness for the people whose mental health will be forever affected by the events of that day and its reverberation throughout the world. Just as we break a glass at a wedding to remind us that there is still suffering in the world, in the midst of the joy at the release of the hostages, it is more than okay to also feel sadness. It is human.
Chodesh Tov – Have a wonderful month, feeling whatever you are feeling at this moment in time. We hope to see you here at Bnai Shalom, either in person or online!
Rabbi Adrienne :)
Rabbi@bnaishalomeaston.org
Cell Phone: 609-577-6842
SERVING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF EASTON SINCE 1839