In case you have not heard, just a short time ago, shots rang out again in a synagogue just north of San Diego. Hearing this news, brings out feelings of sadness, frustration, concern and dismay. I am sure I am not alone.
Yet, my heart remembers the meaning of Passover: Freedom. Freedom from oppression and bigotry, hatred and violence, racism and anti-Semitism. And with Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) coming this week, my heart also calls out for the message of that day: Never Again. We must never again allow such actions to happen not only to our people, but all peoples.
So as I sit writing this initial response to yet another shooting, I am listening to my heart. It tells me to continue to work to free ourselves from the hatred of the world. And it is also telling me not to let the terrorists win. We must further our work of connecting with our faith and heritage, and at the same time we must continue to let our ancestors know that Judaism lives on in our commitments to the Jewish people, the synagogue and our families. Through internalizing the messages of Passover and Yom Hashoah, perhaps we can move forward from another anti-Semitic attack.
Please consider joining us at Yom Hashoah services on on Thursday evening, May 2nd, at 7:30pm. As expected, we will have Yorktown Police doing patrols more often during our programming beginning tomorrow morning.
