blogs/rabbi-joshua-hoffman

From Israel, With Love

Today was a trifecta of joy for our community. First, MAZAL TOV to Liza and Marc Ginsberg and Michelle and Cantor Phil Baron on the birth of a new son and grandson! Today we also celebrate with the Schreier Family as their eldest child, Ethan, led his family and community in prayer, study and chanting from the Torah at the Wall in Jerusalem. And today, as the sun sets on the Jerusalem hills David Derin joyfully wed Sarit Forman under the huppah. Today is one of those days to remember that life's greatest joys are heightened and its sorrows softened in the midst of community.

Surely there are sorrows on this day we cannot ignore. News broke today about a  thirteen year old girl in Israel needlessly and brutally killed by an assailant. Our religious cousins voted to censure and virtually ostracize the Jewish State. There's plenty of sorrow to go around. Just flip the page.

But, life and every ounce of joy we can squeeze from the joys of life still remains.  And for us, this joy must be the end of the sentence. As the the summer begins, my prayer for our community is to rejoice in our lives, to share them with each other unapologetically and proudly. Our summer is a time of healing and renewal so we may confront the challenges and sorrows in our midst with dignity, strength and hope.

Sent from Israel, with love. Rabbi Joshua Hoffman