Rabbi Merle E. Singer | Words with Merle

This past week, we faced an unfathomable reality. The situation happening in Israel is complex. Our hearts are in the West while we remain in the East, trying to comprehend the inhumane destruction of our people. We sit here in confusion, sadness, and anger; some may feel hopeless. 

While I always allude to hope and prayers, today, your voice and support for Israel is paramount. Education fosters understanding and counters hate, so join me in continuing to educate the community and beyond. With an open mind and an open heart, individuals will appreciate fact-based sentiments…the principles perpetuating kindness, equality, and connection.

Talk to your friends, family, and neighbors, and remember, silence is the opposite of advocacy. Silence speaks volumes and amplifies the acts of hatred against Israel and the Jewish people. The Jewish community depends on the support of our non-Jewish allies to help us stand up against hate impacting Jews in America, Israel, and around the world. Anyone reading this can make a difference, big or small. Your voice is your power.

As a Rabbi, I aim to offer comfort and support to my community, friends, family, and anyone in need. Often, my words reflect kindness and compassion, and today, there is no better time to extend the very acts of kind-heartedness.

As Jews, we understand our struggle and our fear, but I urge you to hold fast to your commitment to be Jewish leaders in your home, your community, and in the greater society. Our response to Jewish survival is the magic of our ability to thrive.

To be a Jew is to live the impossible

dream, but we must not give up.