“A Tunnel of Hate and What Can We Do?,” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Sermon/Shabbat Awakenings

August 23, 2024 | 19 Av 5784

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection as we move toward Shabbat. You can listen to it as a podcast here.

If you happened upon the plaza at Government Center last Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, you might have wondered what the yellow balloons were on a fence encircling some kind of exhibit. If you drew closer, you might have noticed police scattered around the area, but without anyone protesting. If you looked inside the enclosed area, you wouldn’t have seen people smiling or jovial. You would have begun to feel a seriousness and sadness on people’s faces and body movements.

They were there because 119 people taken hostage by Hamas in their heinous attack on Israel on the traumatic and violence filled day of October 7 could not be there. Eight of those hostages are Americans.

The exhibit planted and planned by devoted volunteers told the frightful story of ravaged bodies and crying children captured from their homes and taken into the miles of tunnels underneath Gaza. One part of the display was a shipping container transformed into an immersive experience of entering into the horrendous sights and sounds of what freed hostages described and what Hamas themselves videoed and recorded. It is all of our worst nightmare to imagine family, friends, children, parents, old and young being in the cold dark cave like tunnels. And yet, it is all too real.

Emerging from the tunnel of hate into the light, one can still feel the darkness. Those of us from Temple Israel who experienced it this past Sunday also had the honor of hearing from Hagit and Ruby Chen whose son was taken. They shared with us his story and also the sad news that they had been informed that he is no longer alive even though he still remains in captivity. They told us they are in limbo until they know for sure and have not been able to sit shiva or even say Kaddish. Their pain was very real. I was able to share with them that their son’s picture hangs along with all the other captives taken on October 7 th on our Wyner Museum wall.

As we processed in a tight circle to the side of the exhibit what we had seen and heard, we kept repeating the same questions, “What can we do?” and “How do not feel immobilized?” The families of the hostages are determined not to let them be forgotten or ignored. One way is to pay attention. Please come into the museum when you are at Temple Israel. There is more information about the hostages with poems and prayers there, too.

Another way is to gather and consider what can be possible. Cantor Alicia Stillman is leading our effort to gather those interested in our Temple Israel community to figure out how we can respond and what we can do. Please click on her name to email her to let her know you want to be included.

There is a blessing that we offer that turns to the Holy One of Blessing as the redeemer of captives. ברוך אתה ײַ מתיר אסורים. Baruch Atah Adonai, matir asurim.

It is not God alone by any means, because the task is upon us as a sacred partnership to ensure freedom and release for all those taken, alive and deceased.

Shabbat Shalom. שבת שלום

 

I continue to value the many comments you exchange with me through these Shabbat Awakenings. Share with me what you think here. Your email goes directly to me!

Rabbi Elaine Zecher