My dear friends,
It has taken me a few days to think of what to write to you, and I will admit that it is because I am scared too. In the past few days, I have taken to heart the Jewish teaching to
"pray as if everything depends on God, but act as if everything depends on us."
We are doing everything to put first and foremost the safety of our congregants as our top priority, while still remaining present for each other and allowing, through the gifts of modern technology, ways for us to still pray together, learn together, and be connected as a community.
This week, which has thrown at our communities the new normal of quarantine and uncertainty, an earthquake, and a tragic loss of a father in our religious school, has shaken us to our core. This has been a week unlike any other in our lifetime.
It is important for us to look back at the thousands of years of history of our people. I am particularly reminded of when Miriam and Moses had squabbled and Miriam was stricken with leprosy and forced to quarantine herself. In this moment, Moses cried and prayed, letting go of any disagreement that he may have had out of fear for the safety of his beloved sister, who decades before had gone to extraordinary lengths to save Moses when Hebrew baby boys were being ordered killed by Pharaoh.
I am sure that in both of these moments there was fear and uncertainty about specific individuals as well as the future of our people. There would be more moments as well where fear would motivate our prayers, including after the destruction of the Temple, various exiles, the Spanish Inquisition, and the Holocaust to name a few; yet, after every calamity, we continued to survive. This phenomena has been explained by our resilience, our ability to be innovative and tackle new challenges, and also, our strong sense of community; these traits are ones that we have inherited.
Prior to this week, the most difficult week in my lifetime as an American Jew was after 9/11. I remember the fear, the uncertainty, and the despair. But one of the most striking memories for me was from one of my heroes, Mr. Fred Rogers, who spoke to the nation saying that when we experience fear we should,
"Look for the helpers. There will always be helpers." How very true.
This past week, our staff and community members have been reaching out, calling each other, and asking,
"How can we help?" We have a Jewish community because you all have chosen to support us, but support and community is a two-way street, so I ask now,
"How can we help you?" In the midst of all the change that we have experienced in the past week, a constant is that your community loves you, cares about you, and is here for you. Time and again, we have found ourselves in difficult moments as a people, and every time we have responded,
"Gam Zeh YaAvor, This Too, Shall Pass," and when it does, we have defiantly said,
"Am Yisrael Chai, The People of Israel Live." Our present circumstance is no different.
Please let me know how we can be present for you, but in the meantime, know that you are all in our hearts and prayers. You are not alone and you are loved.
— Rabbi Samuel L. Spector
