Jewish musings, Monday, May 20

[gazelle18]

What’s on your mind — how to make kugel? This week’s Torah reading? Life goals? Prayer? We are all engaged in weight loss/weight maintenance journeys and we are all Jewish or at least interested in Judaism. We like to eat, we like to discuss. It is our goal here to provide each other support on our journeys, to share experiences, to call on our rich cultural heritage and texts, and to help each other grow spiritually.

Some of us take weekly turns starting the thread:
Frieda (hopefully)?
Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy

And for those of you that stop by to read this thread without posting — you are welcome to, but you are also welcome to chime in. Don’t be shy!

[gazelle18]

On Friday afternoon, members of my synagogue received an email informing us that the home of one of our congregants had been the subject of an antisemitic act of vandalism. The home had an Israel flag draped on its railing, and a poster calling for the release of hostages on its from lawn. Both items were covered in red paint , as was a large portion of the front of the house. The rabbi called for members to gather at this home Sunday morning , to help with clean up and to cheer family whose home was attacked.

I was depressed much of the weekend about this event. But I resolved to bake some cookies and show up. When I got to the house, my heart was warmed to see a huge gathering of congregants, armed with a pressure washer, rags, soap, brushes, etc. the dining room table was overloaded with food, and the sideboard was heaped with gifts for the children on the house.

So in one weekend, I felt sadness, anguish, pride and happiness, all over the same incident. I fear this is the new reality of our lives as Jews.

The Rabbi wrote on Facebook: “The act of hate has been washed away. The memory of love and support will remain forever.”

Anything like this happening in your communities? Any thoughts about all of this ?

[louise]

Oh that's terrible/wonderful! What a moving experience on multiple fronts. I have not heard of anything so dramatic in our community but there are smaller things so the fear persists. It is sad that we have gotten used to having security at our synagogue pretty much anytime we are open. I am so glad your synagogue came through for the family. This is where our hope lies.

[lee058]

Good afternoon everybody. Hope you are all well and SAFE! Please pray for Israel.

Re today's topic: Here in NOVA, most of the acts of anti-Jewish activity have been in the schools. I haven't heard of anything as horrible as what gazelle18, talked about.

Have a peaceful day; stay strong; and stay hopeful. There are a lot more decent people than not.

Lee

[peachymom1]

Lynne's story makes me angry and glad at the same time. This is what community is.

My shul has very good security, and I'm grateful, though it's sobering that we need it. I find the current state of the world so disheartening that I want to crawl into bed and put a pillow over my head, but that doesn't help anyone, not even me. My rabbi says that the best reaction to anti-Semitism is to live as a Jew, "loud and proud."

[hollygail]

I haven't heard of similar acts in my area either, and I was as shocked as everyone else and as proud as everyone else of the congregants who pulled together to clean up the mess plus more.

The acts of antisemitism are escalating both in quantity and in quality. I fear the feelings of being "safe" in America are coming to an end.

[brgmsn]

My heart hurts every Wednesday when I pick my grandkids up from school and after coming here for a bit, take them to Hebrew School where a police officer opens the door for them. It's all they've ever known since starting Sunday School/Hebrew School and it makes me angry and sad. They think it's normal. It's not.