Yom HaShoah Benediction in the Senate Chambers 5785
It was an honor to be invited by Romana Strochlitz-Primus to deliver the benediction at the Yom HaShoah Commemoration last Friday in the Connecticut State Chamber. As I reflect back upon the program, it was most memorable.
This week, we commemorated Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial Day) and celebrated Yom Haatzmaout (Israel Independence Day). Yom HaShoah and October 7, 2023 will always be a reminder to us as to why the State of Israel is so integral to our Jewish present, our future and our security. Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel) and Medinat Yisrael (the State of Israel) are our homeland and our safe haven, even more so after 10/7. And it will always remain our spiritual center of connection to our Jewish identity. It is for that reason that in the Kabbalat Shabbat service we pause to sing “Romemu” which is at the end of Psalm 99: “Exalt Hashem, our God, and bow down at God’s holy mountain…” referring to Jerusalem. For many of us, we grew up hearing “Yerushalayim shel Zahav.” More often than not we use this as the melody for part of the “kedushah,” which on Shabbat morning brings us to the Kotel. This past Shabbat I changed the melody to that of “Al Kol Eyla.” The lyrics reflect upon the truth that to be a Jew and/or to live in Israel, we understand, so very well, the reality of the sweetness of the honey and the sting of the bee at the same time.
It is for that reason that I believe that the words of my benediction a week ago are just as important to be heard this week, not only by those who were present, but by those who were not in attendance. And so as we prepare for Shabbat, instead of teaching Torah to you related to our double Torah portions Tazria and Metzorah and the lessons related to one who is diagnosed with leprosy or any contagious illness, or one who speaks ill of another, I am sharing with you the words of my benediction as my words of Torah for this Shabbat.
A Closing Prayer
Based on prayers by Rabbi Diane Cohen z”l, Rabbi Naomi Levy,
Pope Francis of blessed memory and Rabbi Earl Kideckel
זכור - Zachor
At this moment
we remember
and we mourn.
But remembrance is not for us alone.
It is not enough that we remember.
The world must remember.
And God must remember.
We remember the innocents
whose blood was shed
simply because they were who they were.
Their cries are forever carried on the winds.
Pope Francis of blessed memory stated: “The memory of the Shoah and its atrocious violence….should be a constant warning for all of us of an obligation to reconciliation, of reciprocal comprehension and love toward our ‘elder brothers,’ the Jews.”
He provides us with the appropriate words of prayer to reflect upon in this moment:
“All-powerful God, great and mighty…
Pour out upon us the power of Your love,
that we may protect life and its beauty.
Fill us with peace, and settle peace upon us
that we may live as brothers and sisters,
harming no one….
Teach us to discover
the divine worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature, as we journey
towards Your infinite light….
Encourage us, we pray,
to do Your will with a whole heart
to pursue righteousness in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.”
Adon Ha’olam, God of our world, Your world,
Fill us with the capacity to end war
In Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, and all over the world.
Let there be peace
Peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
We cry out: Bring them home now!!!
Help us to put an end to antisemitism
To prejudice, to racism, discrimination and to hate.
Teach us to see one another, to hear one another,
To overcome the polarization that is tearing us apart.
Let us pray for the leaders of our world to take upon themselves
the responsibility and courage necessary to heal our world,
not just for today, but for our children’s tomorrow.
Let us find the strength, the courage, and the faith, to keep that promise.
May it be God’s will and ours.
Amen.
Bring them home now!!!
Am Yisrael Chai!!!
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi K.