Joy and Sorrow

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow morning, I hope you will join together with my family and the entire Temple community at 10:15 A.M. when our daughter Sarah will lead services and become a Bat Mitzvah. Truly, our “cup runneth over” with happiness and joy as our family, friends and community come together to celebrate. I am so grateful for the support that Temple Sinai and its leadership are giving us to make this a truly freilich (joyful) simchah for the whole community. Special thanks to Ilene Wechter who, along with a host of volunteers from Sisterhood, Brotherhood and Renaissance, are baking wonderful desserts for the Kiddush lunch tomorrow, as well as putting together a special oneg for this evening.

While we celebrate our simchah, our tradition reminds us that we cannot ignore the word around us. Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the tragic events still unfolding in Boston. As I write, the city of Boston is still on lockdown and the remaining suspect still at large. We pray that law enforcement quickly locates their suspect and that this disturbing episode will soon come to an end. First responder and law enforcement officials worked valiantly over the past week. We are grateful for their courage and bravery.

In times like this we seek comfort with our community and find solace in prayer. Tonight, at our Shabbat evening services at 8:00 p.m. we will be including special prayers for those who have been killed and injured, for the families of the victims, and for the safety and security of all Americans. In case you are unable to join us I share this one prayer written shortly after the terror attack on Monday:

Author of life
Source and Creator,
Grant a perfect rest under your tabernacle of peace
To the victims of the bombings in Boston,
Whose lives were cut off by a calculated act of violence
Striking at a moment of celebration,
Striking at the joy in sport and competition,
Striking in the city of liberty and freedom.

G-d of justice and mercy,
Watch over the wounded and injured.
Restore them with Your healing power.
Grant them endurance to survive,
Strength to rebuild and
Courage to heal.
Remember the survivors of this attack,
The victims and bystanders,
Their families and friends,
The witnesses of shock, horror and dismay.
Ease their suffering and release their trauma.
Grant them shelter and solace,
Comfort and consolation,
Blessing and renewal.

Heavenly Guide,
Hand of love and shelter,
Put an end to anger and fear,
Hatred and brutality,
Cruelty and bloodshed,
And lead us to a time when no one will suffer at the hand of another.
Grant the people of the United States Your protection
And the people of Boston Your wholeness and peace.
(© 2013 Alden Solovy and www.tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.)

Oseh shalom bimromav hu ya'aseh shalom aleynu v'al kol yisrael v’al kol yoshvei tevel, v’imru: Amen.
May the one who makes peace in the high heavens bring peace to us, to all Israel and all the world. Amen.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Jordan Millstein