Show Up for Shabbat ~ This Friday & Saturday
Many of you call it shul. Some may call it a temple. Others name it as synagogue or a center. Whatever it goes by in our cultural nomenclature, its Hebrew name, beit k’nesset, is most apt as it describes that space as a house of gathering. That’s what we do as Jews. We come together as a community. Maybe you go because you love it. Or perhaps your presence is somewhat reluctant as a friend or parent dragged you in. Poll anyone on a random Shabbat morning and you’ll get as many responses as people in the room. Yet, this coming Shabbat is no random shabbat.
When a terrorist came in last Shabbat to Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, in an act of virulent anti-semitism, he wanted to foment fear and make it so that Jews would be afraid to be Jewish. This Shabbat, we will defiantly say no to that. We will come to gather in our gathering place with our people because we know that amidst our tears and sadness, forming a small sanctuary of people in our larger sanctuary building is an act of holiness in and of itself. This will be done in the name of #showupforshabbat, an initiative of AJC that you can read more about below. If you usually come on Shabbat morning, come then and one more service on Friday night or Saturday afternoon. If you don’t usually come at all, come sing, pray, and cry with all of us as we continue the process of memorializing those holy ones who lost their lives last week.
—Rabbi Adir Yolkut
“Hate will not defeat us. If Jews are targeted in Pittsburgh, we are all Jews.
And as Americans, we stand as one. No one can divide us.”
—AJC CEO David Harris
Our hearts are heavy as we continue to mourn the senseless loss of life during the attack at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh this past Shabbat. May the memories of those who were murdered always be a blessing:
Joyce Feinberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Rose Mallinger, 97; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; Cecil Rosenthal, 59; David Rosenthal, 54; Bernice Simon, 84; Sylvan Simon, 86; Daniel Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 88; Irving Younger, 69.
In response to this horrific attack, AJC has launched a global campaign, #ShowUpForShabbat. We hope that Jews and Non-Jews will join communities across the U.S. and around the world by filling our synagogues this coming Friday night and Saturday morning. Show the world that we are not afraid—and that we are not alone.
Read the article in USA Today about this initiative, and
add your name to the growing global list of people who are confronting and defeating hate with solidarity and determination. If you need help finding a location, just reply to this e-mail.
