Message from Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum in response to terrorism this week. https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?age...

November 19, 2015 / 7 Kislev 5776

Dear CBST Extended Community,

These are terrifying and confusing times. We are full of grief and outrage and fear.

In recent weeks terrorist attacks around the world have made their intended traumatic impact on all of us. Last Thursday, two suicide bombers killed 43 people and injured an additional 239 in Beirut, Lebanon. On Friday, three coordinated attacks in Paris claimed the lives of at least 128 people and left another 180 injured. On , all 224 passengers and crew of Metrojet Flight 9268 from , , destined for St. Petersburg, died. A on board is the presumed cause, and the terrorist organization ISIL claimed responsibility for those murders. On Tuesday, another attack in the city of Yola, Nigeria killed 49 people and wounded 80 more, carried out by , an Islamic Extremist group which has pledged its allegiance to ISIL.

We weep for the victims of these attacks; may their souls be guarded by God. May the families and friends of those killed be surrounded with love. May the injured be healed. May those first responders and health care workers be safe and be surrounded by God's love and strength. We bless God, the Judge of Truth, whose strength and wisdom can withstand the horrors that leave us speechless.

Even from a distance, such horror tests our spirits. We seek comfort and desire justice, peace, and hope. Instinctively we crave security for ourselves and those most dear to us, but merely our own safety is not enough. As a Jewish congregation whose membership includes people of many faiths, races, ethnicities, gender identities, and sexual orientations, CBST prays for the good of all humanity. We affirm that every human is created in the image of the Divine.

Many are choosing these terrible events to demand we as a country close our gates to the refugees who have known and are fleeing the violence of ISIL terrorists in their homes ( read Deputy Assistant to the President for Homeland Security Amy Pope's take on this ). We also encourage you to listen to Rabbi Kleinbaum's Yom Kippur drash about refugees . Do you agree with her position? Did you agree then but with these events find yourself changing your mind? Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society is leading a call to keep the gates open, if you would like to get involved here is the link: http://www.hias.org/ .

There are serious political debates to have; let's engage in them with care. Let's breathe deeply. Let's set intentions and continue to exemplify a community of vigorous, respectful, open, and thoughtful debate about serious issues. Every tragedy demands a response, and how we respond determines so much. Let us not become the people the terrorists would like us to be.

1 of 2 11/19/2015 11:09 AM Message from Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum in response to terrorism this week. https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?age...

Sometimes music is the most profound response. Before the Saturday matinee of Tosca , the Metropolitan Opera Chorus sang La Marseillaise in front of the sold out audience which shouted "Viva La France" afterwards. Here is the video: The Metropolitan Opera Singing France's National Anthem. As more balm for the soul, here Ella Fitzgerald sings I love Paris.

We join with all people of the world, of all religions - Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Pagan, Atheist or any other tradition - who share values of mercy, coexistence, and respect for life above all.

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum Rabbi Rachel Weiss Rabbi David Dunn Bauer

Yolanda Potasinski Nathan E. Goldstein Executive Director Board President

Congregation Beit Simchat Torah 57 Bethune Street, New York, New York 10014 tel 212.929.9498 | fax 212.620.3154 | [email protected] | www.cbst.org

Forward email

This email was sent to [email protected] by [email protected] | Update Profile/Email Address | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe ™ | About our service provider .

Congregation Beit Simchat Torah | 57 Bethune Street | New York | NY | 10014

2 of 2 11/19/2015 11:09 AM