As a person who feels deep love and responsibility for Israel, this past week has been difficult.
On Sunday, two Israeli civilians were shot and murdered in an act of terror near the Palestinian village of Hawara. In response, sections of Hawara were set on fire in an act of arson by vigilante settlers. These fires raged through homes and at least one Palestinian was killed. The following day, an Israeli-American was murdered in a terror shooting.
His name was Elan Ganeles.
Elan belonged to our synagogue when we lived in West Hartford. During services, his family sat in the row directly in front of us. His mom was our son’s pediatrician. His brother was active in my work with Jewish teenagers. This horror couldn't have struck a finer family. Elan was a kind, gentle soul, fiercely idealistic and gifted with a strong sense of humor. It is unfathomable to comprehend the loss for this family. The loss to all the families.
The loss is difficult to understand because our tradition prioritizes life. We don’t celebrate wars and their victories, but rather focus on perpetuating life.
On Chanukkah, we focus not on the incredible military victory, but rather on the religious freedoms and rededication of the Temple.
On Passover, we spill wine from our glasses when recounting the ten plagues because we acknowledge that our own joy is lessened because our redemption was the result of human punishment.
All week, my newsfeed, email and phone have been filled with messages of grief of Elan’s death. And a common thread that intertwines these messages, repeated over and over again, was how Elan was a connector, a uniter. Someone who brought people together.
This was apparent at his funeral, where his friends and family were joined by complete strangers. Thousands of people came together for the memorial. The Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Doron Almog shared, “we stood together in the crowd – right wing, leftists, religious and secular. The Israeli society, the Jewish people in all their diversity… Elan’s light will stay with us. The ability to see beyond the differences, beyond the separator and divider. We are all brethren. Only love will prevail.”
Only love will prevail.
This Shabbat that precedes the holiday of Purim is known as Shabbat Zachor, the Sabbath of Remembrance. We read in the Torah about how Amalek attacked the Israelites as they were leaving Egypt, targeting the weakest members. The text commands us to remember what Amalek did to us and blot him out. And while Amalek no longer exists, this command implores us to this day to commit to fighting the ideology of Amalek - the ideology of hate and terror.
These are heavy words this Shabbat.
But at the same time, Purim just days later empowers us to spread joy and unity throughout our communities. By dressing up and giving mishloach manot gifts to our friends and matanot l'evyonim gifts to help those facing challenging times, we bring more light into the world.
This Shabbat, I pray that the perpetrators be brought to justice and the ideology of Amalek be blotted out. May the families be comforted and consoled. And above all, please God, may we see that love, friendship and unity will prevail.
Shabbat Shalom,
Eric Maurer
Executive Director
emaurer@ujcvp.org
