Rabbi's Message

This Saturday night and Sunday is Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the month of Av, the saddest day in the Jewish calendar.  On Tisha B’Av we mourn the destruction of the First and Second Temples, as well as countless other tragedies throughout Jewish history, reflecting on times when our community was fractured by exile, hatred, and division. The central lesson that emerges is the dangers of sinat hinam—baseless hatred—that tore Jewish society apart.

The Second Temple was destroyed nearly 2,000 years ago, but let’s face it, we are living through a time when sinat hinam again threatens our unity. Hatred and division are growing in our country.  Antisemitism appears to almost be in vogue.  And there is great disagreement and disdain when it comes to Israel; not just from outside the Jewish community, but also from within.  

I am concerned about Jewish unity.  More and more, we find ourselves at odds with one another.  Recently, I felt compelled to turn off the comments on a Facebook post about Israel.  Not because of any vitriol directed at me, but perhaps worse, horrible things people were saying to one another based on their feelings about Israel and the current war in Gaza.  On the one hand I understand.  People are hurting.  We are hurting.  I thought to myself, this is what Hamas wants.  This is part of evil’s agenda; to turn us against one another.  We cannot succumb to evil.  Now, perhaps more than ever, we in the Jewish community need to embrace one another, rather than distancing ourselves based on our differences.

We need a model for this.  A model for community.  A model for leadership.  A model for hope.  A model for unity.  One model that I have found this summer is camp, specifically our Jewish summer camps. Of course, we have our fabulous Camp Keshet here at TBS, where I get to see the smiles of our children every day.  And both Rabbi Peltz and Cantor Cohen have visited our many TBS campers and staff up at Ramah Poconos.

And this week, I have had the privilege of serving as the Rabbi-In-Residence at the JCC Camps at Medford.  The JCC Camps at Medford is the largest Jewish day camp in North America. How fortunate are we to have such an amazing camp in our community.  Accompanied by our Membership Engagement Coordinator, Michele Hasit Waxman, it has been awesome visiting with our many, many campers and staff and witnessing the work of the camp team, led by new Director and TBS’ own, Jared Kaufman. The camp is in good hands.  No, GREAT hands. Tomorrow, Michele and I will be joined by Cantor Cohen and Alex Weinberg to celebrate Shabbat with camp.  It is always a highlight of my summer.  But something that struck me this week at Medford is that each division in camp starts the day at the flagpole.  Announcements are made and then everyone recites the Pledge of Allegiance, sings Hatikvah, and then sings and dances to the camp song.  It is a tremendous few moments of unity.  Our children, each with their differences, yet arm in arm, showing respect and love for both America and Israel.  Some are excited for sports, others for dancing, others for art, others for swimming, and others for a different activity altogether. They are all about to go their separate ways throughout camp.  And yet, at that moment, they are all together and are unified.

As we prepare to turn to Tisha B’Av, this year, may we learn from our children. May our world learn from our children.

Shabbat Shalom