A Message from Rabbi Steven Lindemann: This week we make the transition from the Book of Numbers to the Book of Words (Devarim). Over the last few weeks, the numbers that have concerned us have been troubling -- over 1200 Palestinian lives lost in Gaza, over 50 Israelis killed. Words, too, have been troubling -- anti-Semitic slogans shouted at demonstrations in France and elsewhere in Europe, media reports accusing Israel of disproportionate response or targeting civilians, UN statements condemning Israel without saying one word about Hamas rockets and tunnels. In the midst of all this, I received an e-mail from Rabbi David Golinkin, a professor at the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem, which trains Masorti Rabbis for our Movement. He had attended the funeral of an IDFi Soldier, Second Lieutenant Yuval Heiman, and was moved to send these words, written some time ago by 13 year old, Shlomit Grossberg, from Jerusalem: What shall I ask You for, God? I have everything. Theres nothing I lack. I ask only for one thing, And not for myself alone; Its for many mothers, and children, and fathers -- Not just in this land, but in many lands hostile to each other. Id like to ask for Peace. Yes, its Peace I want, And You, You wont deny the single wish of a child. You created the Land of Peace, Where stands the City of Peace, Where stood the Temple of Peace, But where still there is no Peace... What shall I ask You for, God? I have everything. Peace is what I ask for, Only Peace. To those words, I can only say Amen. Shabbat Shalom.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 09:07:20 +0000
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