A Message from Rabbi Bellows

September 1, 2024/28 Av 5784 

Updated on Sunday morning 9/1:

Our People and nation are devastated by the news of the murder of six of our hostages. We will say their names as one family this Friday night at Shabbat worship. Our hearts are broken, the loss of life immeasurable. We held out hope, now also lost.

For a brief yet informative summary of what happened, the current hostage situation, and what is currently happening in Gaza and the West Bank, click here to listen to the Times of Israel Daily Briefing podcast on Apple podcasts. You can also listen to the episode- Day 331 – Israel shattered as 6 murdered hostages’ bodies recovered wherever you get your podcasts.

May the families of these six beautiful souls be comforted with all the mourners in Zion and Jerusalem.

The hostages were Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Ori Danino, 25, Alex Lubnov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, and Almog Sarusi, 27

Dear Friends,

The Hebrew month of Elul, the month of introspection and teshuva, returning to our best selves, begins on Monday night. This year, on each day of Elul, I will post a quote for the day that might inspire one to look inward in preparation for the High Holidays. I will post the quote on our Facebook pages, our Instagram, and my own Facebook page. You are welcome to share these quotes if it might encourage others during the month of Elul to search inward and offer Teshuva, returning.

Additionally, on Friday nights of Elul, we will pray from the Elul prayerbook (it has a gold cover) called Mishkan HaLev. If you attend Friday night services on Zoom, you might want to purchase a copy to use at home.

I being my Elul practice by reading Rabbi Rachel Barenblatt’s poem for Elul 2021, Anew. I hope you find it meaningful too.

Anew

Here’s the thing: the year begins anew 

even in the worst of times. The leaves

will turn and fall and then they’ll grow again.

And sometimes we’re afraid, and we can’t know

what choice to make to keep anyone safe. 

Uncertainty’s a bear. All we can do

is seek out sweetness everywhere we may

and work to fix what brokenness we find.

The good news is we’re not in this alone. 

We’ll help each other hope when light seems dim

and lift the sparks that darker days reveal.

We’ll love each other fiercely: in the end 

there is no greater work that we can do.

We who survive will help each other heal.

~Rabbi Rachel Barenblat, 2021

B’Shalom, 

Rabbi Lisa Bellows