Life is a very narrow bridge; the essential thing is not to let yourself be ruled by fear. (Rav Nachman of Bratslav)
As you may have heard, this morning during a ZOOM bat mitzvah, a terrorist entered a small Reform synagogue in Colleyville, Texas and took those leading the service hostage. After hours of stand-off and negotiations with the FBI and local police, the man released one hostage unharmed. Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker is among those being held at this synagogue north of Fort Worth. As I am writing this, there are reports of all the hostages being released. Baruch HaShem.
But as we feel the relief of their safety, let’s also notice the sense of fear, intimidation, sadness and anger these events creates in us. In many ways the goal of the attacker is already accomplished. Antisemitism and other forms of oppression function in part by keeping those it targets afraid and aware they might be attacked unexpectedly at any time, especially at community celebrations and houses of worship. The feelings we internalize time after time, generation after generation are part of what it means to be Jewish in the world; sadly, it is part of what we share as a community. So let us notice it for what it is and what it does to us.
These moments are also why we have learned to hold each other in community, to do our best not to let these events intimidate us or cause us to hide.
It is also worth noting that today was Shabbat Shirah, the day we read the Song of the Sea, a song of victory and joy at being free (and the shabbat of Judy Alexander’s bat mitzvah). Tomorrow night is Tu BiShevat, the Jewish New Year for Trees and the celebration of nature and creation. The joy of freedom and the wonder of creation are also central to being Jewish. We are commanded to be joyful in the face of these lives we are blessed with, in full knowledge that pain, unfairness and loss are always woven into the fabric of human lives. We are commanded to choose life.
This could have been us. Next Saturday morning, we will have Elaine Punia’s bat mitzvah by ZOOM. I hope many of you will join us as an act of solidarity and support. I will let you know about services or gatherings in the community as they develop.