Shabbat Shalom, Chag Sameach and a message of hope
We are entering a crowded month of both mourning and celebration. It's a time to reflect on what unites us in a time of deep division.
Dear Friends,
I write these words on the eve of Shabbat and Passover, ushering in a crowded month of momentous days in Jewish history, past and present.
Passover, the most-celebrated of Jewish holidays, takes us back to the foundation story of the Jewish People: the Exodus from Egypt that ultimately results in a return to the Promised Land, and the ultimate gift of the Torah to every generation of Jews until the end of time.
The miracle of Jewish survival over the centuries is reflected in the Haggadah narrative that is both timely and timeless. Its message of redemption is not just the story of our ancestors’ emancipation but an inspiration and challenge for each of us, as individuals and as part of a society that prides itself as a beacon of freedom.
Following the Festival of Freedom, the Jewish calendar moves swiftly to mark the recent past, recalling our people’s deepest suffering and miraculous triumphs.
Some refer to this time as the season of “The Yoms,” beginning with Yom HaShoah (April 7 in the evening, and April 8), commemorating the murder of six million Jews during World War II. The following week brings Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day for its fallen soldiers and victims of terror) on April 13-14), followed immediately by Yom Ha’aztzmaut (Israel Independence Day), April 14 in the evening, and April 15.
This sudden shift of emotions – from a national moment of silence throughout Israel on its somber memorial day to joyous celebrations a day later – seem both jarring and yet in keeping with who we are as a people of memory. Particularly at this one-year anniversary of the Covid pandemic, we mourn the losses we’ve suffered and take pride in our resilience and ultimate optimism.
At a time of deep and dangerous division in our society and, sadly, among our own people, we have the opportunity to reflect on what unites us: the legacy of a people that has survived and flourished against all odds, that gave the world the concept of inherent holiness in each human being, and the belief that the future we strive for is in our reach.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach.