The Long Journey Home

 

Dear JCCP/CBT family,

On Thursday, December 4, after several years of efforts, the first of several thousand Ethiopian Jews arrived in Israel, joining the 140,000 Ethiopian Jews who now call Israel their home. I want the members of our community to be aware of this wonderful event.

Israel faces tremendous challenges at this time. As in our own nation, COVID-19 cases have spiked recently, challenging Israel’s healthcare system. While we rejoice in Israel’s amazing diplomatic achievements, establishing diplomatic relations with the UAE and Bahrain, Israel continues to face great challenges on its northern border. The political situation is similarly challenging, and there is talk about the possibility of new elections as confidence in Prime Minister Netanyahu declines.

Which makes yesterday’s event so important. Amidst the myriad of challenges and even potential danger Israel faces, the work of bringing Jews from distressed communities around the world continues. For this we should be grateful, and put aside our differences to support the state of Israel in any way we can.

For a video of the ceremony welcoming these new immigrants to Israel at Ben-Gurion airport, please click here.  

For more news about this event, please click here.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Arthur Weiner

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Post Election Wisdom From Harold and Kumar

If you didn't get the reference to Harold and Kumar in the title, this Shabbat message may not work. But if you did get the reference, or are still willing to give it a shot, it will make sense in a few paragraphs from now. Like you, I have been following the reporting about the election results, and the reactions of different groups and organizations. The American people have made their choice, and in perhaps the greatest political comeback in our nation’s history, Donald Trump will be the 47th president of the United States. Some are elated, and others are devastated. Wall Street seems quite happy, our NATO allies decidedly less so. What will be is anyone's guess. As they say in the world of finance "past performance is not an indicator of future results." Considering our nation is still divided over President Trump's first term in office, I will leave an analysis of what the future might bring to others more qualified to speculate. What I will say is that giv...
Read more

Farewell, Cantor Weiss

After 26 years as Cantor of the JCCP/CBT, and having been named Cantor Emeritus at his retirement last June in recognition of his unique contributions to our synagogue, Cantor Sam and Raisy Weiss will leave the community and relocate to New York City next week.   Before they go, I would like to offer one last tribute. The role of a Cantor is a unique one. Sometimes that role is to be a teacher, other times a scholar or a mentor, all while striving to create an experience of communal prayer that is enriching to all. Whether it was through his beautiful davening , his training of hundreds of B’nai Mitzvah , the esteem he enjoys among his colleagues, or his mastery of the Jewish tradition, Cantor Weiss found ways to help us give expression to the voices in our own Jewish hearts. For 26 years in our congregation, he set high standards for himself, and for our congregation, always striving to find the right blend between the old and the new, between traditional nusach and mel...
Read more

Some Thoughts About The Crisis On Our College Campuses

I just finished watching President Biden's remarks on the ongoing demonstrations at dozens of American universities and colleges. While I appreciate the President's measured words condemning the antisemitism and lawlessness which have characterized so many of these protests, we didn't need him to tell us the obvious. We've got a full-blown crisis on our hands that shows no signs of stopping any time soon. I spoke about this issue at our recent Yizkor services. As many of the readers of my weekly Shabbat message know, the JCCP/CBT has a tradition that at our Yizkor observances on Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot, we make an appeal for a worthy and important Jewish organization or charity. At our Yizkor services for Passover earlier this week, I made an appeal for two organizations, Hillel and Stand With Us that are doing outstanding work with Jews on college campuses. This is especially important now as so many Jewish college students are feeling threatened and aban...
Read more