Dear Friends,
This past Sunday afternoon, a number of Jewish organizations I follow and admire, including T’ruah and the New Israel Fund, held a gathering at the White House to cry for an end to the war, feed the hungry in Gaza, and free the hostages. I would have gone, but I was getting ready for our community’s Shavuot gathering that evening. My father was planning to attend, and wanted to bring my seven-year-old child, Julius. Julius has been more and more interested in current events lately, and it seemed like a meaningful place for him to be. My spouse and I were a bit worried about safety, but decided that we can’t live in fear, and we were confident that security would be high given the events of the week prior. Ultimately, Julius decided not to go (I think he was tired), but my dad went. Our former student rabbi, Rabbi Jenna Shaw, who now works with T’ruah, spoke powerfully. Many Hill Havurah members were there.
At the exact same time on Sunday afternoon, Jews in Boulder, Colorado were walking to raise awareness of the plight of the Israeli hostages. Twelve people were injured. Countless were traumatized. The attacker has been charged with attempted murder; thank god none of his victims have died. But those victims pretty much made the same plans that our community members made for this past Sunday afternoon. Again, it just hits really close to home.
As I write this message Monday evening, I’m disturbed by the many media outlets that still haven’t covered this attack. As I write this message, I’m noticing my own fear around writing it. As a Jew, when I lift up the attempted murder of other Jews, am I acting as a chauvinist? Am I engaging in Jewish supremacy? I yearn for Israel to end the war against Gaza. I yearn for Gazans to receive abundant humanitarian aid; enough for every Palestinian to receive the sustenance that all human beings deserve. Do I have to mention that yearning for my horror at Sunday afternoon’s attack to feel ethically kosher?
There’s a tension in our tradition: We have reverence for Jewish community and we see it as special. The Talmud teaches, “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh – all the Jewish people are responsible for one another.” We want our kids to grow up feeling at home in Jewish community. We want them to feel connected to it.
At the same time, the Torah teaches us that every human being is created b’tzelem Elohim – in the image of God. Jewish or not. Ally or not. Local or not. We value one another’s humanity as sacred. We want our kids to care about other people – no matter who they are, period.
It’s a balance. To paraphrase Hillel, if we aren’t for ourselves, who will be for us? If we’re only for ourselves, who are? And, truly, if we don’t really live into each of those values now – here, now, in the middle of 2026 – when could it possibly be more important? We have to remember that we are not the center of the universe – and yet, when terror strikes our people, we have to be able to speak out.
May the survivors of the Boulder fire attack experience refuah shleimah – complete healing of mind, body, and spirit. And may all of these horrors – in the States, in Gaza, and all over – end swiftly and in our day. May we have the courage to categorically reject all forms of violence, everywhere. And may we feel valid, held, and holy in our anger about all of it. What the actual hell.
But breathe – Shabbat is coming. You deserve rest, and you deserve peace.
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Hannah