Rabbi's Blog

I know it's been painful, that on top of the attacks on Israel, many Jews around the country felt abandoned when they didn't hear from non-Jewish friends or allies as they grieved. I'm grateful the Seaside Jewish community has received many heartening messages of support from local churches and other local leaders. I am sharing excerpts from those messages here.

From Local Faith Communities (Alphabetically by Congregation)

• We are reaching out to you to ask how we can best pray for you in light of what's going on in Israel. If there is any way we can serve you we would love to do so.

- Pastor Nate Graham, Berean Community Church in Milford

• Our hearts break with yours over the recent Hamas terrorist attack and continuing violence in Israel. The brutality and randomness of the violence stretches our ability to comprehend. We know that the trauma of the Holocaust adds pain to any current violence. We also realize some of you have family and friends who live in Israel, complicating your grief with fear.

We hope that you know that you are not alone. Epworth considers you to be our family and we stand ready to support you in whatever ways we can. We thank God for our relationship, which serves as a witness to the world that peace remains possible through God, who shall “grant peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one shall make you afraid.” (Leviticus 26:6 in the Christian translation)

We have been praying for you using the words of Psalm 46. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble…The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

In the stillness of your hearts, may you know that God remains with you. And so do we. May the God who promises that the wolf will live with the lamb and that nothing will hurt or destroy on God’s holy mountain bring about the peace on earth we long to see. Shalom and peace.

- Rev. Dr. Vicki Gordy-Stith, Lead Pastor Epworth UMC—Rehoboth Beach

• While it is difficult in a time like this to find comfort in knowing that “God is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” [Psalm 34:18] but find it we must.  For people of faith there is no other option.   To our friends at Seaside who have family and friends in Israel, please know that you and yours are not alone, you are in our thoughts prayers as we look for ways to assist organizations on the ground in Israel helping those suffering and displaced by this conflict.

-The Congregation of Groome Church

• On behalf of the entire faith community of St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church, I want to express our deepest sorrow at the recent barbaric and inhumane atrocities in Israel. It is unimaginable pain that has once again been perpetrated on The Jewish people. You and your entire community are in our prayers. Please let me know if you need anything. Please let your flock know of our unwavering support and prayers.

-Fr.  Cocco. Saint Edmond Catholic Church

The Religious school children of Saint Edmonds sent handmade cards with messages of support for us, for Israel, and prayers for peace. Thank you! Our Religious School kids made cards to thank them. 

• Standing with you and yours in the shock, anger, dread, and pain that comes with this horror. I have no words of wisdom, not even of comfort, that make any sense. Just presence.  I am present in commitment.  I am committed to peace, hard as that is to find. I am committed to remember and change the world so that wrongs are not repeated. I am committed to the hope to end all forms of violence death and degradation.  Love to the whole community at Seaside.

-Father Mark Harris, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Lewes

• I want to convey the support of my community to the Jewish community in view of the Hamas attack on Israel.

-Rev. Robert E. Coine, St. Michael, The Archangel/ Mother of Peace Parish, Georgetown, DE

• This is simply a note to share that I am thinking about you and your congregation, and have been throughout this week.  I continue to hope that it will resolve quickly and peacefully. In the meantime, I just wanted you to know I've been thinking about you and yours, and if there is anything that I or the UUs can do to be of support, please let me know.

-Rev.  Heather Rion Starr, Minister, Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware

From around the community (also alphabetically)

• I just wanted to reach out on behalf of Senator Carper and our entire team to see how you and your congregation are doing. We share your sadness and outrage, and can only imagine the grief and fear of your congregation and all of your brothers and sister in Israel. Please do not hesitate to contact me if there is any way we can offer support. Our constituent services team has been assisting some Americans trying to get themselves and/or family members back to the United States from that region. Wishing you peace and strength!             

  -Sussex County Office of Senator Tom Carper

• I am reaching out to offer support in these tragic and difficult days.  What can we do to support you and the Seaside Jewish Community?

- Kim Leisey, PhD Executive Director, CAMP Rehoboth Community Center

• As we watch the horrific terrorist attack on Israel unfold, we must all commit ourselves to the condemnation of hate.  Whether the unacceptable and inexcusable hate is occurring in other lands or here in our local community, it must be made clear that it will not be tolerated in any form.

I stand with Israel and condemn the cowardly terrorist.  I don't except hate directed at our local diverse population, individual life styles, religious beliefs or ethnicity of our citizens. I abhor it and encourage everyone to proclaim the same disdain for the cowards who express and act on hate based beliefs.

I have made my position clear over decades of service and unyielding support of Israel, our Jewish brothers and sisters, the less fortunate in our shelters or neighborhoods like West Rehoboth. I have been vocal in my support of the Net Reel, and my condemnation of the Confederate Flag.  There is no confusion that I stand on equality for all.

I pray that we, as a community, will find the courage during this time of tragedy in Israel to proclaim our allegiance with Israel and refuse to accept hate no matter where it occurs.

 - Mark G. Schaeffer Sussex County Councilman 3rd District, to us and the Cape Gazette (Note: when the paper would not print this as a letter on the grounds that it was not local news, he published it as a paid ad)

• I have spent the last week watching the atrocities unfold in Israel and Gaza. I sit here powerless to do anything, but I wanted to reach out to a local Jewish community to express my deepest sadness for the unspeakable tragedies that are occurring.  Please be safe and know I am praying for Jewish communities near and far.  Your friend in peace and love. - Eileen Smith, a local resident who reached out to express her support

Image: The Shalom counted cross stitch at the top of this post was gifted to Seaside by Mary King Macowski, Vice-President of the Lewes-Rehoboth Association of Congregations.