I'd like to thank Rabbi Appleby for letting me come to the bimah to share some thoughts and a prayer as the representative of Congregation Tifereth Israel, your "sister" congregation in town. An attack We stand in solidarity with you. First I'd like to share some words by the former Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks and follow it with a prayer of my own.
"If we truly believe that one life is like an entire
universe, then all you have to do is change one life, and you’ve begun to
change the universe the only way we can, one life at a time, one day at a time,
one act at a time. So when, out there, there is despair, let us bring hope.
When out there, there is hurt, let us heal. And when out there is division, let
us show that we are enlarged and not diminished by our differences. Let us show
the world what it is to stand together and respect one another. (Therefore, I
say) never waste a crisis. Never stand still. Go out there, continue the Jewish
journey, and be a blessing to the Jewish people, and to the world."
May G-d give
us the courage to continue the hard work of healing the divisions we see that
are fueled by hatred. May we have energy
to always add light to the darkness. May
we offer each other messages of love and support when we are feeling shaken,
messages that will dispel whatever ugliness others try to heap upon us. And may
we always strive to live with integrity, hate evil, and pursue a path of justice
and righteousness.
V’yishlach
bracha v’hatzlacha b’chol maasei yadeinu
And May G-d
bless us and prosper the work of our hands….
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment