Cantor Azi Schwartz shares a ballad to his homeland that I share with you on this Shabbat.
“This song is dedicated to my country. Not the one that was here a week ago, the one we will rebuild when all this is over.” Hanan Ben Ari, October 16, 2023.
Shabbat Shalom
Mattisyahu shares with soldiers from the Golani Brigade.
One Day…
Wishing Shabbat Shalom to all.
The incomparable Neshama Carlebach shares her beautiful rendition of Yehi Shalom.
Wishing everyone Shabbat Shalom, and may peace come soon to all.
Bring Them Home
This is the mantra we need to keep repeating in every conversation. Our people must be brought home as the basis for any negotiation.
Many hostages have perished, all have endured unspeakable suffering, and we presume those still alive continue to be abused. This is the moral basis for the continued war on Hamas.
Although Hamas does not care about the killing and destruction inflicted on the Palestinian people and crudely, cynically positions the hostages and the Palestinians as bargaining chips in political maneuvering, we care about them and will continue to fight against the forces of barbarism until our people come home.
I pray for peace, and I pray for the end to the pain and suffering. Bring them home, and then we can take steps toward ending hostilities.
We welcome Shabbat as we experience the heartbreak of war.
May we find some peace this Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom
In our welcome of Shabbat, we share Ana BeKoach, a prayer asking we be released from the spiritual, emotional, and physical things that bind us. It invokes the power of God’s name through Jewish mysticism. In this troubling time, may we be freed.
Shir Appeal shares its acapella rendition with us here.
Shabbat Shalom
As 2023 ends, I pray for the hostages to come home and we can find a way to peace.
To a better 2024.
Chanukah has finished, and almost Shabbat is here.
The Maccabeats share a great song to take us into Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom