Rabbi's Corner

Message from the Rabbi

 With these words I began my talk to my son and daughter in law under the chuppah htis past Sunday.
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If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand wither;
let my tongue stick to my palate
if I cease to think of you,
if I do not keep Jerusalem in memory
even at my happiest hour.   Psalm 137

Jews have been singing this song at weddings.  On a day that is really all about celebrating you - remember you are part of something much bigger, something eternal. Today, you realize that there will be times of celebration and days of suffering. Our prayer for you is to share in your joys and sorrows together.  Joy can quickly turn to sadness and today I say we must with all of our power turn the sadness into joy because the two of you deserve this day. 

Israelis teach us that life must go on. Living in sadness is part of living but setting it aside is a victory for us not them. We have all seen the many weddings on army bases in Israel.  We all must compartmentalize.

The name of the Jewish national anthem is Hatikvah, translated as The Hope.   Our imagination is a national superpower that gives birth to hope.  In every moment of our people’s struggle to survive we have understood that this too will pass.  Hope is a creative endeavor.

And with these words I closed my advice.

Today you stand under this chuppah while so many in Israel rush to safe rooms.  Both provide shelter.  This chuppah is extraordinary in the support it provides.  Constructed of my father’s tallis, and both of your grandfathers’ tallisim.  As we are all able to look into this chuppah and you can feel everyone here, we hope you will always feel the safety of knowing that everyone here is invested in you and you can always count on us. 

​​​​​​​“Please join us for an Interfaith Vigil for Peace tomorrow, Wednesday, October 25 at 7.00pm on the front lawn at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 15 N Broadway, Irvington. All are welcome.”