Dear Am HaYam family,

I wanted to follow-up my initial response to last Saturday’s brutal attacks on Israel. As you know the attacks came not only on Shabbat, but on the holy day of Sh’mini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

At the time of writing this (Wednesday evening) more than 1,200 Israelis have been killed and more than 2,700 wounded. Apparently some 1,200 Hamas terrorists and Palestinian citizens of Gaza have been killed, with some 5,000 wounded. Twenty-two (22) Americans have been killed, with some 17 unaccounted for.

 

Please plan to join our local community rally on Sunday at Temple Beth Torah at 1 p.m. I will not be able to attend, as I will be at a family gathering this weekend on the East Coast, but I have been involved in the planning, as has Brenda. There will be a link provided for those who cannot attend in person. Whether live or by live stream, please attend. [ We hope for a robust attendance, so if you are attending in person, please try to arrive early to park and get situated.]

We at Congregation Am HaYam are also planning a weekly Israel update/check-in gathering to share, sing and pray, beginning next Wednesday afternoon. This gathering will be jointly planned with Temple Beth Torah and Congregation Beth Shalom (our sister congregation in Palm Desert). Please stay tuned for more information.

 

1) We all stand united with Israel.

Let’s stay focused on Israel and her needs for the foreseeable future. Ongoing concerns include:

• getting any remaining terrorists out of Israel,
• ongoing rocket and other attacks on Israel from Hamas and, in the north, from Hezbollah
• neutralizing Hamas in Gaza to ensure that this does not happen again
• the toll that operations in Gaza might exact
• the well-being of the hostages, and bringing them home safely
• psychological support for all Israelis, but especially those who have lost family members, survivors of the attacks, and children.

Some Israelis may be questioning how this happened, if intelligence missed or dismissed clues or warnings. Israelis are entitled to ask this, but I do not think we are. Our role right now is to provide hope and undivided support; not add to dissension or despair.

 

2) We are proud of and united behind President Biden’s strong show of support for Israel.

However one feels about the current Administration on any other issue, we Jews must be grateful that our government stands side-by-side with Israel. President Biden has struck the right tone, and made the right moves. I have watched the news on three different TV stations and a number of websites. Every Israeli from every ideological background has expressed appreciation. Please see for yourself by checking out the following:

• Video of President Biden’s address to the nation on the attacks (10/9)
• Transcript of President Biden’s address (10/9)
• Michael Oren breaks down Biden’s ‘remarkable,’ ‘extraordinary,’ ‘historic’ speech on Israel
• Readout of President Biden’s call with Prime Minister Netanyahu (10/9)
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan
• Virtual On-the-Record Gaggle by National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby on Hamas Terrorist Attacks in Israel
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III’s Call With Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant
• Press Statement regarding Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s Travel to Israel and Jordan

 

3) Our Conservative Movement has been actively engaged

Our Conservative Movement has produced this list of Israel Resources. Please look at this!

The Movement has been actively supporting the government and the people of Israel. We have also been offering support to individual congregations and to the professionals of our movement. Here are some letters that might be of interest:

• Letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Herzog
• Letter to President Joe Biden
• Statement by Israeli RA and Masorti Israel (in Hebrew)

 

4) Additional Places When Considering Where to Donate

• Jewish Federations of North America (Sorry I was not clear enough about this in my previous Email; I am grateful to our local Federation professional Cheri Dekovsky for pointing this out to me)
• List of trustworthy places, gathered by the Jewish Funders Network
• The Masorti (Conservative) Movement in Israel (our Movement has identified four areas that will need ongoing attention throughout, and beyond, this crisis)

 

5) Additional Prayer Resources

The Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center invites all of us to daven/pray with them daily at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Please click here to register for the link.

Of course we all pray for peace. Here is a prayer from our Siddur Sim Shalom, p. 149:

 

May War and Bloodshed Cease

May we see the day when war and bloodshed cease,

When a great peace will embrace the whole world.

 

Then nation will not threaten nation,

And humanity will not again know war.

 

For all who live on earth shall realize

We have not come into being to hate or to destroy.

 

We have come into being

to praise, to labor, and to love.

 

Compassionate God, bless the leaders of all nations

with the power of compassion.

 

Fulfill the promise conveyed in Scripture:

I will bring peace to the Land,

 

And you shall lie down,

and no one shall terrify you.

 

I will rid the Land of vicious beasts

and it shall not be ravaged by war.

 

Let love and justice flow like a mighty stream.

 

Let peace fill the earth as the waters fill the sea.

 

And let us say: Amen.

 

Here are additional resources for your personal prayers:

●     A Prayer for Israel in this Time of War by Rabbi Naomi Levy

• Prayer during this war from Rabbi Gil Nativ
• Prayer from Temple Sinai
• Prayer for Kidnapped Israelis
• Poem by Eric Cytryn

 

5) List of California Leaders Who Have Issued Statements of Support for Israel (list from the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles)

State Elected Leaders

Governor Gavin Newsom

Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis

CA Legislative Black Caucus

CA Legislative Jewish Caucus

CA AAPI Legislative Caucus

CA California Latino Legislative Caucus

California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus

CA Native American Legislative Caucus

CA Legislative Diversity Caucus

Attorney General Rob Bonta

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas

Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins

Senate President pro-Tempore Designate Mike McGuire

Superintendent Tony Thurmond

Senator Ben Allen

Senator Bob Archuleta

Senator Wendy Carillo

Senator Caroline Menjivar

Senator Anthony Portantino

Senator Susan Rubio

Senator Scott Wilk

Assemblymember Isaac G. Bryan

Assemblymember Mike Fong

Assemblymember Laura Friedman

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel

Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo

Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva

Assemblywoman Luz Rivas

Assemblymember Blanca Rubio

Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur

 

 6) Talking points about Israel (from Jewish Federations of North America) for use in discussions with family, friends, and acquaintances

In talking about Israel, it is worth noting that (finally) many are not talking about Hamas as representatives of the Palestinians. After all, only about 31% of Palestinians themselves state that Hamas has any business representing them. [I suspect that number would be lower if Hamas did not rule over them with an iron fist. Moreover, their charter is not about governance of a future Palestinian state, but one that calls not only for the elimination of Israel, but the murder of every Jew. Read this analysis from Rob Eshman of The Forward.

 So let’s call Hamas what our government has called them since 1997–a terrorist group. That is why it’s important that many are now comparing them to ISIS.

Because of this, we should not let people speak about Hamas actions and Israeli actions as if they are equivalent. Hamas is supported by Iran and Russia, which is why all three hate Israel, Ukraine, and the U.S. Here’s a blog on how not all deaths are morally equal. And President Zelensky of the Ukraine just announced a desire to visit Israel in solidarity with her.

Here is Nicholas Kristof’s article on “Finding a Moral Compass in the War on Gaza” in the New York Times (10/11). We all need such clarity.

Finally, Fran graciously sent me the video of a musical program of songs for peace. Here is the link. You might listen to the whole thing at once, or several selections at a time every day.

O.K. I leave early tomorrow morning for a plane flight to the East Coast.

I look forward to hearing about Sunday’s gathering and updating you next week.

Meanwhile, let’s pray for Israel, even as we prepare for Shabbat.

Shalom al Yisrael.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Sacks