Rabbi's Blog

Dear OZ family,

The cataclysmic enormity that the Holocaust wrought upon the Jewish people, was soon followed by events not unprecedented in Jewish History. 210 years of Egyptian exile, genocide and slavery were soon followed by the creation of a nation, a Covenant at Sinai, and entering a Homeland. 70 years of Babylonian destruction and exile were soon followed by a re-entry into that Homeland, the construction of a new Temple, and the final stages of the completion of the Hebrew Bible. The Roman conquest, exile, and destruction of the Temple, were soon followed by the flowering of Jewish learning and jurisprudence that would develop into the Mishna, Jerusalem Talmud, Babylonian Talmud, and a treasure trove of Midrashic literature.

The Jews have always turned tragedy into triumph. And just three short years after suffering the greatest tragedy of our tear-drenched history, we returned to that Homeland once again, and rebuilt institutions of learning, prayer, and Chesed. The coming days commemorate much of these losses and gains as we observe Yom Hashoah this evening and tomorrow, and observe Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut next week, all during a time period of mourning for the tragic losses incurred during the lifetime of Rabbi Akiva. Yechezkel captures the essence of this history in a repeated quote that is found in the Haggadah, as well as across the front façade of Yad Vashem in Jerusalem : “I said to you in your blood you shall live” (Yechezkel 16:6). We have always risen form the ash heaps from which our enemies thought we would be eternally consigned.

The name, “Yad Vashem” is inspired by a prophecy of Yeshayahu, who consoled the losses of his people that they would have an everlasting name and memory (Yeshayahu 56:5). It is in this spirit that our JCC has, for the past 20 years, led the reading of the names of those who were murdered in the Shoah. These names have everlasting memory, and I invite members of the OZ family to join on the zoom link that has been distributed. Our slot is 6:30-7am tomorrow morning, and the reading of the names begins this evening at 10pm. In spite of all the bloodshed, let Yechezkel know that AM YISRAEL CHAI!

Be safe.  Be healthy.   Be excellent.

Rabbi Allen Schwartz