I wanted to express gratitude for the Charlson family sharing their mother and grandmother with us BAI’ers last night. Mindelle Pierce, author of Love with No Tomorrow, was movingly interviewed by her grandchildren Zev and Hannah, and she shared with us intense stories of pain, fear, hope, love and joy.
I want to thank all that shared the names and lives – and light – of their loved ones who perished, who were unwilling martyrs.
I want to thank Alan for sharing the light – and darkness – and “debt, obligation, gratitude” – of being a survivor and child of a survivor.
I want to thank our clergy for holding us with calm, with prayer, with music in every stage of our Jewish year and in our Jewish memorial days. In this day.
I want to thank Lori for holding the zoom duties allowing us to be inclusive beyond our sanctuary walls.
I want to thank in this moment – for that moment – where we sang Hatikvah (the Israeli national anthem). It is hope. It is reclaiming. It is the sounds of a free and sovereign nation. It is is Israel. It is Beth Am Israel. We are here now. Thankfully. Freely. Presently safely.
Thank you each for journeying with other Beth Am’ers, here at this sanctuary of your choice, now, today, tomorrow, because we can and we must. We have an obligation. And it is a deeply loving one.
With gratitude,
Jackie
