Dear Rodeph Sholom Family,
The festival of Purim reminds us that there are always evil persons or groups quick to identify the Other in our communities in order to isolate, vilify, and too often attack them. As pretense to genocide, Haman branded the Jews as separate people with different laws and loyalties. Esther and Mordechai raised their voices, and tragedy was averted.
The Purim message resonates strongly today. We stood together with people of all faiths when the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre devastated all of us. Today we stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters all over the world in shock and horror over the attacks on two mosques in New Zealand. The loss of life is heartbreaking. We feel these deaths deeply and personally. We will do all we can to help. Esther and Mordechai remind us we cannot be silent. We will not.
This Sunday at 2:00 PM, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Comptroller Scott Stringer and numerous other political, religious, and community leaders will rally against Anti-Semitism and hatred of all kinds in response to the graffiti that was scrawled last week in the Asphalt Green facilities. CRS clergy and members will attend and you are invited to join. Information is included below.
We stand together against anti-Semitism and bigotry of all kinds.
May God bless all those who work together to search for harmonious co-existence.
Shabbat Shalom,
Robert N. Levine, D.D.
Senior Rabbi
