“In a Time of Terror and War: Our Voice is Stronger Together” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings

June 20, 2025 | 24 Sivan 5785

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection, as we make our way toward Shabbat. You can also listen to it as a podcast.

In this time of terror and war, I share with you an important statement offered by the collective voice of the Jewish Leaders of Major Jewish organizations. These organizations represent many perspectives and opinions, yet in this moment, they show strength by joining together printed below.

I have been pondering the metaphor of a polluted river where the focus has been to try cleaning it up downstream by getting rid of the toxic debris. Yet, it is much more necessary to go upstream and confront that which is causing the deadly rubbish. For too long, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis have served as the proxy, the toxic terrorism of Iran. They have poisoned the allegorical rivers in which they have occupied. Israel made the crucial decision to go upstream and seek to debilitate the cause and the very real threat of unbound nuclear proliferation.

The situation is precarious. War and escalation confront safety and security. Fear abounds. In this week’s Torah portion, those designated to scout out the land of Canaan before the Israelites would enter, returned to report that the situation was dire. The people in the land seemed like giants and they, incapacitated by their dread, felt as small as grasshoppers. Two of the leaders, Caleb and Joshua experienced the reconnaissance effort differently and they urged the people. “Do not fear!”

How is it possible to instruct a feeling, especially when it has to do with what feels like a power or situation greater than oneself? Their fear was real. Yet, their interpretation of the circumstances differed from their leaders. The instruction of not to fear cannot stand alone.

Caleb and Joshua did not urge the people not to fear at first. Their response was an intention of encouragement about the attitude their fellow Israelites might consider. They invoked the idea by their choice of language that they could elevate themselves by lifting themselves up-alah עָלֹ֤ה נַעֲלֶה֙ and being able to do it-yachol– יָָכ֥וֹל נוּכַ֖ל

וַיַּ֧הַס כָּלֵ֛ב אֶת־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר עָלֹ֤ה נַעֲלֶה֙ … כִּֽי־ יָכ֥וֹל נוּכַ֖ל לָֽהּ׃
Caleb hushed the people before Moses and said, “Let us by all means go up…for we shall surely
overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30)

After more complaining by the Israelites, Caleb and Joshua then offered this exhortation:
אַל־תִּֽירְאוּ֙
Have no fear then of the people of the country
(Numbers 14:9)

Did their words dilute their fear and dread? It took God’s intervention, but I would argue that fear can be soothed with reassuring words.

What this document offers is a combined voice of Jewish leaders who often disagree, but, here their intention is to elevate and raise us up in our reaction. I hope you will read it and share it.

Our concern grows for the safety and peace in the Middle East, especially for Israel. We must lift
and hold one another up.

Joint Unity Statement by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations supporting Israel’s Defensive Actions Against the Iranian Nuclear and Regional Threat
June 18, 2025

New York, NY—The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and its member organizations—representing the broad mainstream of American Jewry—stand united in support of Israel’s defensive actions against Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure.
Iran’s ongoing violations of international agreements, rapid progress toward weaponizing nuclear capabilities, expansion of its ballistic missile arsenal, and deployment of terror proxies pose an existential threat to Israel and a grave danger to regional and global stability. These actions come in response to an unrelenting campaign of attacks backed and directed by the Iranian regime, including Iran’s direct sponsorship of the October 7 massacre—carried out by Hamas—and its continued aggression through the so-called “3-H” axis: Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. These coordinated assaults sustain a state of continual warfare against the Jewish state and threaten peace and stability across the Middle East and beyond.

The Iranian regime wages war against its own people—brutally repressing dissent, persecuting women and minorities, silencing opposition, and pouring resources into terror while neglecting the basic needs of its own citizens.

The Islamic Republic’s response—launching hundreds of missiles and drones at civilian targets in an unprecedented cross-border assault—underscores the severity of the threat and the urgency of strong, sustained international resolve.

We are deeply grateful to the United States government for its immediate and essential role in supporting Israel’s defense, including through joint missile interception and strategic coordination. We also commend the bipartisan support from Congress during this critical time. The actions taken by President Donald J. Trump and his administration during this crisis helps protect civilian lives, bolster deterrence, and reinforce Israel’s ability to confront one of the most serious threats it has ever faced. This partnership reflects not only a vital alliance between democracies but also a shared commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation and defending global security.

The stakes could not be higher. The world must not allow the most dangerous weapons to fall into the hands of this treacherous regime. The international community must hold Iran accountable for its continued defiance, aggression, incitement of antisemitism, fostering of global terrorism, and its declared intent to wipe Israel off the map. Iran’s actions also threaten American lives, American allies, and American national security. A regime that arms proxies from Gaza to Yemen cannot be trusted with the world’s most dangerous weapons.

The Conference of Presidents and the undersigned organizations reaffirm our solidarity with Israel. We support its right to self-defense, its long-term security, and the pursuit of peace and stability in the region.

Signed,
The undersigned member organizations of the
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
Alpha Epsilon Pi
American Friends of Likud
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Congress
American Sephardi Federation
American Zionist Movement
AMIT
Anti-Defamation League
Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA)
B’nai B’rith International
BZ Media
CAMERA
Emunah of America
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America
Hillel International
Iranian American Jewish Federation
Israeli-American Council
JCC Association of North America
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Federations of North America
Jewish Institute for the National Security of America
Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish National Fund – USA
Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Jewish Women International
Mercaz USA, Zionist Organization of the Conservative Movement
NA’AMAT USA
National Council of Young Israel
NCSEJ – National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry
ORT America, Inc.
Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbinical Council of America
Religious Zionists of America
UJA-Federation of New York
Union for Reform Judaism
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
WIZO
Women of Reform Judaism
Women’s League for Conservative Judaism
World Zionist Organization Executive – North America
Zionist Organization of America

 

Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום

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Rabbi Elaine Zecher