Rabbi's Week in Review Blog

This may be getting redundant (I think it was last week that I was talking about emotional stress), but I cannot remember a more stressful week for myself or many congregants in our Kol Ami family. While we hear about the great divisions in our country, we also have a country in which our citizens are highly vested in its future. Wherever you land on the political spectrum, the waiting this past week has been a little slice of torture.

Regardless of whether you got the desired outcome (I think the outcomes were mixed), let’s take a moment to breathe. Afford yourself some time to separate from the onslaught of news and find places of peace and joy. Everyone deserves that.

Then we go back to work. This past week, we endured the worst week of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. The isolation and emotional challenges that have accompanied the pandemic remain. Please continue to take care of one another.

The work for justice also goes on — the work that began long before 2016 and will continue throughout our lifetimes. We have an opportunity to begin the work again. This Thursday, November 12, from 5 to 6 p.m. at Waddell Park (83rd and State Line), there will be a rally to fight white supremacy and hate. This is a threat to our entire country, but we as Jews have reason to possess even greater concern. Pursuing justice, fighting hate and injustice, not only is our obligation as Jews but also is a way to give meaning to our lives and preserve our sanity.