The leadership of Central Reform Temple (CRT) and Emmanuel Church (the Board and the
Vestry) have been engaged in conversations together over the last several weeks about the
horrific events of October 7th and the subsequent war in the Middle East. This has given us the opportunity to express our love, care, and support for one another as covenant partners, and our anguish for the wider human family, as well as consider how we might engage
together at this time.
Our covenant relationship provides a deep foundation for us to talk about our thoughts,
feelings, and concerns about the people of Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, rising anti-
Semitism here in the US and around the world, rising Islamophobia, and the impact on our
communities. These thoughtful conversations have enabled us to examine our values, spiritual disciplines, and what we might consider our religious responsibilities as communities of faith.
To that end, it is our desire to widen the conversation to our whole community about possible
programs, educational courses, volunteer and advocacy opportunities, and the varied ways
that CRT and Emmanuel can work and pray separately and together. We believe that our
criteria for advocacy must be to support those seeking a resolution to this conflict between
peoples, highlighting peacemakers and assisting those bringing humanitarian aid and
sustenance to all who have been affected in the region. This will be how we prioritize our
choices about our learning and action.
Our first program was ‘Music Speaks’ highlighting the work of the Jerusalem Youth Chorus, a
combined Israeli and Palestinian choir and their work to build bridges between High School
Youth of conflicted communities which was attended by close to 100 people last week.
We hope that as we begin to post information in our weekly e-newsletters and on the bulletin
board in the lobby, you will find a project, program, course, organization to support, or place
to volunteer that is meaningful to you.
