Reflecting on the Marathon Tragedy

Friends,

In the wake of yesterday’s tragic events, I wanted to reach out and say that I am thinking of all of you through this scary time.  If anyone you love was in Boston at the time of the explosions, please let me know.  And, if you or your kids want to talk, I am here for you.

To put words to some of my feelings, I want to share a brief story my friend Rabbi Steven Lewis told me.  Steven lived for many years in San Francisco, and was present during a significant earthquake.  He said that even though he and everyone he knew were unharmed, he realized that he no longer trusted that the ground was solid.  For weeks after the earthquake, he walked tentatively, aware that the earth might split open when he least expected it.

I think that is how it is for me, grateful to be okay, praying for those who were hurt, and feeling just how fragile the world around us can be.

Today is also Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Israeli Independence Day.  Though normally I come to this holiday with mixed feelings – pride, frustration, hope for peace, today I mainly feel connected to Israelis, who live with the reality of terror on a daily basis that we experienced yesterday.

I think if we can learn one thing from Israelis, it is how to be resilient in the face of fear.  When I lived in Israel during Operation Cast Lead in 2009, I was inspired by how people tended to the wounded, mourned the dead, and came together as a community to affirm life in the face of death.

That means that, even we feel like my friend Steven, and want to tip toe around for fear that the ground will split, or explode, we also have to keep going.   We have to work harder to create a world where everyone has enough, where we care for people in pain before they resort to terror.

May we all be able to trust the universe again soon, be grateful for our blessings, and soon live in a world of peace and abundance for all.

Rabbi Margie