Am Achad 2025

Chanukah, Bondi Beach, Brown University, Sandy Hook, Am Achad 2025

What an extraordinary and meaningful Shabbat this weekend promises to be. We are traditionally scheduled to read from three Torah scrolls that underscore the powerful themes of the season:

Parashat Miketz: The first scroll continues the captivating story of Joseph in Egypt—a narrative of family disunity, mistrust, testing, and ultimate reconciliation. It is a timeless lesson in coming to terms with reality and witnessing the fulfillment of dreams, even through immense hardship.

Rosh Chodesh Tevet: The second scroll marks the beginning of the new Hebrew month, reminding us of renewal embedded in the Jewish calendar.

Chanukah: The third scroll is dedicated to the Festival of Lights, celebrating the Maccabean victory of light over darkness and hope over despair.

We sincerely hope this encourages you to join us on Shabbat morning to celebrate Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, and Chanukah together in a spiritually meaningful way.

The emotional reality faced by Joseph and his brothers—of testing and trauma—feels acutely present this past week, as our world has once again witnessed senseless acts of terror and violence.

Our hearts ache over the tragic assault at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. It is horrifying to know that members of the Sydney community were attacked while gathering to celebrate the lighting of the first Chanukah candle. This incident, alongside the news of the attack at Brown University and the solemn anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy thirteen years ago, leaves us grappling with sadness, fear, and a deep need for security.

A Heightened Focus on Security

We want to assure you that your safety remains our highest priority.

• This past Tuesday, I joined other synagogue leaders to hear from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Ronnell Higgins and the leadership of the Connecticut Intelligence Center and State Police. While much of the information was not new, it is clear that our state emergency services and police are operating with a heightened awareness and alert for our protection.
• Our security chairperson keeps diligently informed and connected.
• Our congregation has contacted the Waterford Police Department, and they will maintain a heightened presence during our programs and services.
• They, along with our own professional hired security, have been fully informed about our Chanukah program. Furthermore, we have deliberately not broadcast the details of the event to the greater community, a step we have taken to enhance security.

Knowing that these dedicated professionals are standing with us offers a measure of reassurance as we continue to join together for services, programs and meetings.

Rather than focus on this week's Torah readings, I want to bring our attention to a powerful moment of unity from the Book of Exodus, as the Children of Israel arrive at Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments.

The Torah states: “Israel encamped in front of the mountain.” (Exodus 19:2)

Rashi, citing the Midrashic commentary of the Mechilta, offers a profound insight here, an insight that brings this week's painful events into sharp focus. Rashi writes that they encamped "as one man and with one mind — but all their other encampments were made in a murmuring spirit and in a spirit of dissension.”

I take this statement to heart. All too often, our Jewish community is fractured—divided by differing religious, political, and sociological ideologies. Yet, when tragedy strikes, we become Am Echad, one nation, one people, unified and brought together as one encampment.

I take this statement to heart. All too often we find our Jewish community divided, separated by thoughts, religious, sociological and political ideologies that are not in sync with one another. But this past Sunday evening, it was not a particular branch of Judaism that was targeted in Sydney; it was the Jewish community of Sydney. When tragedy strikes, we become am achad, one nation, one people, unified and brought together in body and in spirit as one encampment.

How overwhelmingly touching it was to see the Jewish community and others around the globe rally to finance the medical bills of the hero, Ahmed al Ahmed, who disarmed one of the terrorists without concern for his own welfare. This transcends the immediate tragedy and reminds us that our unity extends beyond our walls.

Loving our neighbor as ourself goes beyond the pages of Torah and Talmud. Our hearts and actions must extend to all who have become victims, whether in our Jewish community, at Brown University, or in the ongoing shadow of Sandy Hook.

The message of Chanukah and the Maccabees remain quite bright:

We will not allow a couple of deranged individuals or terrorist organizations like ISIS and Hamas to instill emotional fear that stops us from celebrating the festival of Chanukah—the festival of hope and light.

Our light will not be dampened. Instead, these challenges will bring us closer as one people, reminding us of the Maccabees’ courage. We stand together against those who attempt to "put out the light"—not only of Jewish tradition, but of our fundamental human connection to hope.

As Peter, Paul and Mary remind us in their famous song:

Light one candle for the Maccabee children
Give thanks that their light didn't die
Light one candle for the pain they endured
When their right to exist was denied

 Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice
Justice and freedom demand
And light one candle for the wisdom to know
When the peacemaker's time is at hand

 Don't let the light go out!
It's lasted for so many years
Don't let the light go out!
Let it shine through our love and our tears

 Light one candle for the strength that we need
To never become our own foe
And light one candle for those who are suff'ring
Pain we learned so long ago

 Light one candle for all we believe in
Let anger not tear us apart!
Light one candle to bind us together
With peace as the song in our heart

We look forward to bringing out Shabbat with Havdalah, more candle lighting, delicious kosher Chinese food from Boston, and a compelling Jewish storyteller in the evening.

Am Yisrael Chai! (The People of Israel Live!)

Chag Urim Sameach (Happy Chanukah)

Chodesh Tov (A greeting, in honor of the new month of Tevet, that it be a month of good and goodness)

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi K