Rabbi's Blog

We are all part of Am Yisrael, the Jewish people around the world. Today, we can shed tears of joy as the remaining living 20 hostages are finally embraced by their loved ones after two long years in captivity.

This Simchat Torah we will mark this historic moment as we dance with the Torah, celebrate and remember together with Jews around the world.  Every letter in the Torah represents a Jewish soul, and as we unroll the scroll, we hold one another up as a community.

To paraphrase the righteous and courageous Rachel Goldberg-Polin, mother of slain hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) wrote of “a time for every purpose under heaven.” But at this moment, all of the times collide. We rejoice and dance for the returned, even as we mourn and cry for the terrible losses of October 7 and the ensuing war, for those who lost loved ones at home and in battle, and also for the innocent families in Gaza who have suffered terribly and must be helped to rebuild a better life. We witness all of it, and dance even with tears in our eyes.

I am grateful to everyone who made this day a reality. I pray and dedicate myself to the work ahead, of creating a brighter future for all the children of the region and the world.