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Dear Friends,
We, like you, are shocked, horrified and at times numbed, by the depraved terror attacks last weekend. We have seen the face of pure, unmitigated evil. We cannot help but think of the Shoah. Hamas, may the named be blotted out, must be eradicated.
I, Rabbi Finley, offered my first reaction last Shabbat morning, October 7th. We hope you were at that talk. If not, here is the YouTube recording.
I gave that talk at 9 AM Pacific Time Shabbat October 7th, 7 PM Israel Time. By that time, the extent of Hamas’s terror was mostly contained. The Israeli army was responding in force, working to clear out the terrorists from the 22 places that suffered the assaults. During this week, we, like you, have become sickeningly aware of the nature of the attacks through reports, images, and videos. We have attended briefings and have absorbed as much analysis as we can. We go through waves of terrible grief and fury.
Many of you have asked about our families. Our children are ok. Meirav’s family is safe and well in a Tel Aviv suburb with a nephew serving on the front lines in the south. As many of you know, our daughter Shuli is with us. She was in Canada with a friend, and came down to surprise Meirav for her birthday, October 7th. Since then, we three have been constantly at work with citizen initiatives to help the bereaved and suffering in Israel. Our daughter Avigayil is in Tel Aviv, consoling the bereaved and attending funerals. My son Levi Yitzchak lives in a small city in the north, far away from any border.
Many people and congregants have asked me for my understanding of what happened, what is happening now, and what I think is next. This Shabbat, I can offer my synthesis of what we have learned from many sources, including the Israeli press, briefings I have attended, and private discussion with Israeli sources.
This Friday evening and Saturday morning will be two special broadcasts on Israel. I will be sharing my views. We will have a time to gather and grieve together. Specific issues I will cover are:
Our current understanding of Israeli unpreparedness; what the goal of Hamas was in the continuing rocket attacks and the massacres of innocents, the Israeli response, and the disinformation campaign against Israel, including the myth of a blockade (there has not been a blockade), the myth of the “suffocating outdoor prison of Gaza,” – an image created by Israel’s enemies – and other familiar tropes and lies of the haters of Israel. Some of the misinformation is fueled by ignorance, some by moral confusion, and some is motivated by evil – the desire to murder Jews, especially Israeli Jews.
All are invited to these sessions. I will take brief, pointed questions, but there will not be a debate.
We intend to provide many more sources online in the next few days.
Some of you have asked which institutions to support. Of course, the good causes are plentiful and in need of support. We recommend Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva, the closest hospital to the front lines. In addition, we are in contact with many individual Israelis with various kinds of needs. If you make a “directed donation” to Ohr HaTorah for Israel, we will forward your donation immediately to those in need on our list, and share with you what information we can.
Thank you for your support of Israel and participation in the struggle for Israel’s safety during this time of need.
Rabbi Mordecai and Meirav Finley
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