A Message from Rabbi London

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At the end of July,

I returned from a month sabbatical in Israel. I received a fellowship to be part of a group of thirty rabbis from all denominations to study with scholars at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. I was privileged to learn with an amazing group of rabbis and to grapple with difficult issues about the state of Israeli society today. This is a precarious and scary time for Israel and for everyone who lives in the region. The ongoing war in Gaza continues to cause untold death and destruction, and Israelis are experiencing trauma because of the brutality of the October 7 attack, the concern for the fate of the 115 hostages still being held in Gaza, the fear that Iran may strike Israel and the fighting throughout the region might intensify; and the displacement of tens of thousands of people from the Gaza border area as a result of October 7 and from the north because of the ongoing bombardment by Hezbollah. There are protests happening regularly all over Israel, calling for an end to the war and a return of the hostages.

During my time in Israel, Danny and I visited members of Kibbutz Kissufim, who were evacuated on October 7 and are still living in a hotel by the Dead Sea.

Eighteen people were murdered on Kissufim, and one member of the kibbutz is still being held hostage in Gaza.

They hope to move soon to temporary housing that the Israeli government is building in the town of Omer, just east of Be’er Sheva.

(These are pictures of the neighborhood that is being built for Kissufim residents in the town of Omer.)

As most of you know, in an effort to ease some of the pain and misery in Israel, Beth Emet has been raising money for Kibbutz Kissufim members to support mental health services and to help them with their move to Omer. Please consider making a donation.

Seven members of the kibbutz will be coming to Beth Emet for the beginning of Sukkot. This is an opportunity to give them a break from the difficult circumstances under which they are living and for us to get to know them and better understand what’s happening in Israel and the region. As their visit nears, we will give you more details so you can meet them.

(Rabbi London and Danny meeting with members of Kissufim at the Dead Sea.)

On Monday night and Tuesday this week,

we observed the most tragic day on the Jewish calendar—Tisha B’Av, the day commemorating the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem and other calamities that have befallen the Jewish people. In Jewish tradition, after we rise from the ashes of destruction on Tisha B’Av, we read seven passages from the book of Isaiah, one on each Shabbat as we approach Rosh Hashanah. These readings are known as the Haftarot of Consolation. In these difficult days, we pray for comfort, a return of the hostages and an end to the fighting and suffering. May the new year be filled with joy and more peaceful days.