Blog

Since October 7th, I’ve had a really hard time talking about anything other than Israel and antisemitism. Like many of you, I am consumed by the details, the intensity and the sadness of it all. 

Over the course of the past 5 months, when I have diverted my attention from Israel to other topics of conversation, I have felt as though I am betraying my people.  I have felt that given the world’s reaction to October 7th, it is my responsibility to focus ONLY on the issues specifically related to the Jewish people, and the rest of the world can take care of all other societal problems. 

While I am doubling down on my support for Israel and Am Yisrael, and my sense of particularism is stronger than ever, I do know deep down that I must respond to the other tragedies occurring in our world. Which is why I am proud that this Shabbat we will welcome to our bima, Merrill Zack, the Vice President for Community Engagement at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS).  

HIAS was established more than 100 years ago to support Jews fleeing persecution in Eastern Europe and has helped generations of Jews find safety amidst a violent world. Over the years, HIAS evolved from solely supporting Jewish refugees to supporting refugees of all faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds. 

So join us, this Friday, as we commemorate our annual Refugee Relief Shabbat and the accomplishments of Janie Fishman,  Leslie Walden and their amazing Refugee Relief Committee. Together we will explore the role Israel plays for HIAS in the big picture, the organization’s  10/7 response, and other issues that HIAS is currently confronting across the globe. 

As I continue to wrestle with questions of particularism and universalism, for the time being, I have come to the realization that helping ourselves and helping others are not mutually exclusive. However, we do have to be cautious when choosing the organizations and causes we align ourselves with. And hopefully with the right partners, we can build a world that is filled with more love and more peace. 

Shabbat Shalom