December 8th, 2017 20 Kislev, 5778 Libi bmizrach vanokhi bsof maarav My heart is in the East, and I am at the end of the West. Many of us have felt very far away from our spiritual homeland this week.
December 8th, 2017 20 Kislev, 5778
לִבִּי בְמִזְרָח וְאָנֹכִי בְּסוֹף מַעֲרָב Libi b’mizrach v’anokhi b’sof maarav My heart is in the East, and I am at the end of the West.
Many of us have felt very far away from our spiritual homeland this week. In anticipation of and following President Trump’s announcement about Jerusalem, I’ve had conversations with many people in our community who are feeling a range of emotions: pride in love for Israel, affirmation of connection to Jerusalem, grateful for the US’s alliance, fear of violence that might ensue, concern about international relations. I want to acknowledge all of these emotions and share some brief reflections with you.
Jerusalem has always been the religious heartbeat of the Land of Israel. On a personal level, most of my most profound and transformative moments in Israel have happened throughout the streets of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is, without a doubt, a city with paramount status and the central experience of our relationship to Israel for time immemorial. In the heart of the Jewish people, it is and always has been our capital city.
I pray, I hope along with all of you, that a move of the American embassy to Jerusalem does not bring with it unrest, increased violence, and further distancing from engaging in the peace process. I pray that we will do our best to protect all citizens of Jerusalem, all of those that consider it a holy city. I pray that this move will prove to be one that contributes to peace and that enables Israel to attain peace.
In this week’s Torah portion, we are told that Joseph’s brothers hated him, and because of that, they couldn’t speak to him with peace. We know what their grave mistake led to: they degraded him, sold him as a slave, forgot about his very existence. Let’s learn from their experience: when we disagree with someone, we must still speak to them with peace. We will stand as one community, in our support and love for Israel, as we speak with peace. In community with people of all different political perspectives, what will bring us towards peace is the ability to speak with peace.
עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו, הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵיֽנוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִמְרוּ : אָמֵן. May the One who causes peace to reign in the high heavens bring peace upon us and on all Israel, and let us say: Amen.
