[CBI] From Rabbi Bayar // Support a Safe Israel

Fri Aug 1 12:10:31 EDT 2014

cid:515063515 at 24072014-1802

Dear Friends:

Numbers don't lie – but they can be misinterpreted.  As I write this, there
is yet another broken truce, another kidnapped IDF soldier, more
Palestinians killed in Gaza and the struggle continues.  Some of you have
spoken to me (quietly) about your concerns that we are becoming a one issue
community:  Israel, Israel, Israel.  Some of you have suggested that there
might have been other strategies, other methods of handling this protracted
conflict.  These views are correct.  We have become a one issue community
and there were other strategies that could have been used. 

As I said, numbers don't lie.  We are a one issue community - but that issue
is not "Israel" it is "Judaism."  Make no mistake, the health and continued
existence of the State of Israel is inextricably connected to us.  There
isn't one Rabbi or Cantor who has not studied in Israel.  There are few
teachers who have not visited Israel and there are almost no leaders of the
Jewish community who have not been affected by the existence of the Jewish
State.  There isn't one experience you have as a Jew that didn't originate
or be affected by Israel.

And we now see the virulence of anti-Semitism which has broken through the
superficial façade of France and other countries.  We now experience some
people we knew as friends – who are only concerned with the superficial
morality they have suddenly assumed – without thought as to the deeper moral
issues at hand.

Yet, for all this – we also have found true friends and support, for there
is much support for the destruction of Hamas.

Whether we wish to admit it or not, this conflict affects us all – and being
active in support of Israel's efforts is necessary.

Numbers don't lie – if we want Judaism to thrive – we must have a safe
Israel.

This coming week we will commemorate the fast of the 9th of Av – when
Jerusalem was destroyed.  According to the tradition, the Romans destroyed
Jerusalem because of senseless dissention from within the Jewish community.
Let us not allow history to repeat itself.  As a congregation and a
community, we have shown you many ways to be involved in supporting Israel –
I urge you to please use them.

Rabbi Danny Allen has just returned a two week stay in Israel and will be
speaking about the current situation tomorrow morning at Shabbat services.
Rabbi Daniel R. Allen is a member of CBI and serves as the Executive Vice
Chairman of United Israel Appeal (UIA) and Senior Vice President of
Supplemental Giving/Israel Education Fund (IEF) of The Jewish Federations of
North America.  Please come and hear.

Jewish tradition urges each and every Jew to "Pray for the Peace of
Jerusalem."  May it always be so.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Steven Bayar

Congregation B’nai Israel

160 Millburn Avenue

Millburn, NJ 07041

973-379-3811

 <mailto:mainoffice at cbi-nj.org> mainoffice at cbi-nj.org

 <http://www.cbi-nj.org> www.cbi-nj.org

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