Dear Am HaYam Family:

We have all been in agony since hearing the news of the coordinated Hamas terror attacks on Israel on the holy day of Sh’mini Atzeret/Simchat Torah. While we celebrated both days on Shabbat, for many Jews outside of Israel, the holy day period actually ended Sunday night after sundown. Hamas and antisemites have a wish to wipe Jewish life off the face of the earth and therefore, love to disrupt our holy days. So out of these considerations, I waited until after sundown Sunday to write these thoughts to you.

First, I want to report to you that Maayan Lev, our Student Rabbi for the previous two years is safe in Jerusalem. He is well, and classes resume tomorrow (Monday).

And as I write this, over 700 Israelis have been killed and over 2,000 injured. In addition, many Israelis were taken hostage, perhaps over 100, including youngsters, some elderly, and some disabled citizens. It is suspected that they will be used as “human shields” in the days ahead.

Some 400 Palestinians have been killed and over 2,200 injured in Gaza. These numbers will surely change, as fighting continues inside of Israel and in Gaza.

Let us be clear: The terrorist attacks were not designed to hit military installations–they were designed to terrorize average citizens of Israel. So, for example, some 260 people celebrating the holiday by attending the Nova Music Festival were brutally gun downed.

Several things we should take in:

• Our hearts are with the people of Israel during this very difficult time.
• Our support of Israel is firm and unshakeable.
• While we grieve for our losses, we will not despair.

As a reading in our Siddur Sim Shalom prayer book (p. 388) states, at least in part:

Do Not Despair

(Rabbi Jules Harlow, adapted by Rabbi J.B. Sacks)

In the Warsaw ghetto,

Jews added an eleventh commandment:
Gevalt, Jews! You shall not despair

            Never say that we have come to our journey’s end

            when days are dark and clouds descend.

We believe that justice and peace will eventually reign.

We believe G!d’s splendor will then be seen in all humanity.

            We believe in the sun even when it is not shining.

            We believe in G!d even when G!d appears silent.

Though we walk in a valley that currently is overshadowed by

death and terror, we shall fear nothing. We shall not despair.

            Those who dwell in darkness will be bathed in light.

            Ruthlessness and arrogance shall cease to be.

 The upright will rejoice; the pious will celebrate.

Peace will reign within our walls, serenity within our homes.

 Hope in HaShem and be strong.

Take courage–hope in HaShem.

What can we do, and what should we consider?

1) Stay informed. It’s important not only to get the overall sense of what’s happening but to listen to the human stories that have been emerging. I suggest checking at least two news sources with some regularity.

2) Give to Israel. Israel will have many needs; please try to support them. There are any number of ways to give to Israel. Three worthy ones are:

• Magen David Adom is Israel’s medical emergency system and gives lifesaving aid via Israel’s paramedics and EMT system.
• Jewish National Fund helps with daily necessities in the hardest hit areas.
• World ORT provides emergency assistance to victims and their families

Steven and I have contributed to the Jewish Federations of North America (our local Jewish Federation is part of this) through this portal. If you support an Israeli social service organization the needs will be tremendous well beyond the end of fighting. Please consider a monthly donation, even if it is $ 3.60 (double chai) each month. In addition to helping our sisters and brothers in some small way, it will be an ongoing source of connection to our homeland and our people.

3) Pray for Israel. While “thoughts and prayers” are never sufficient in and of themselves, we Jews believe that prayer has power and purpose. It calms and soothes; it motivates us and energizes us; it helps remind us that we belong to something larger than ourselves. Here are some prayers you might consider using:

• Prayer for Peace in Israel during Wartime by Rabbi Ron Aigen
• Today’s Shema: For the Victims of Terrorist Attacks in Israel by Cyd Weissman
• Beyond Stones & Hearts: Prayer for Peace in the Land of Israel by Devon Spier
• Prayer for Peace in Israel by Ha-avodah She-balev

4) Be grateful our country remains Israel’s strongest ally. Obviously not every country supports Israel. No country supports Israel as the U.S. does. In recent days you may be interested in:

●     Statement from President Joe Biden Condemning Terrorist Attacks in Israel

• President Biden’s tweet on hearing of the attacks.
• Tweet from Vice President Kamala Harris
• Statement from National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson
• State Department Press Release
• Tweet from Secretary of State Anthony Blinken
• Statement from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III
• Tweet from the US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield

While every American government, and both major parties, have always supported Israel, some prominent American figures are currently drawing attention to themselves by blaming President Biden for Hamas’ terror attack. It seems to me that American leadership needs to show we can rise above politics and personal ambition to show a unified face in supporting the State of Israel, a strong democracy and close friend to the U.S.

The hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have been protesting the Netanyahu government for many months, and every Israeli politician from every party, including Benny Gantz, have drawn together in solidarity with the Netanyahu government in the face of these attacks. Yet some Americans are acting outside the bounds of the unity that this moment calls for. Whatever they think they are accomplishing, it is clear that their focus is not on helping Israel weather this crisis, because offering up divisiveness is never helpful.

There is another reason to be supportive of this Administration’s support of Israel: Congress cannot be supportive at this time. Currently, there is no Speaker of the House and without one, Congress cannot draft or vote on any emergency appropriations to help Israel. Only the Executive Branch can currently help Israel.

5) So, do not be drawn into sideshows, blame games, or other distractions. Stay focused on being on ohev/ohevet Yisrael, a lover of Israel, who is focused on Israel’s well-being during this time. This can be tough. It is natural to try to understand what happened here, but it is not your job or my job, and it is not helpful. Worse, it can play into the hands of antisemites by distracting us from supporting Israel, or dividing us as a people.

For example, some people are currently trying to pinpoint the lapse in Israel security or U.S. intelligence. It took the U.S. three years to carefully assess what happened on 9/11. Let’s not rush to judgments that are not within our expertise to make. Israel needs our support, not our accusations.

Another example: some people are trying to pinpoint what actions led Hamas to this. Again, this is not the right question to pursue. And, in fact, doing so implies that there was something justifiable to Hamas’ attacks. There is NO justification for terrorism.

Please stay out of partisan discussions, and stay focused on being a Jew in solidarity with Israel, and an American in solidarity with U.S. policy that supports a fellow democracy and long-time friendly state.

We, as an Am HaYam family and as a Jewish community, will do all in our power to show our solidarity with our people during this time and anytime when Israel needs us most!

May this wave of terrorism end.

May it never be repeated.

May Israel rebuild.

May Israel stay strong.

And may we be unwavering in our love and support of Israel.

Shalom al Yisrael! May peace be upon Israel!

Rabbi J.B. Sacks