We are in this Together

Dear Friends,

As many of you have, I have watched the news unfold this week with a mixture of sadness, anger, and fear.  Different things impact each of us more deeply. But whether it's the loss of jobs in the DC area, the breakdown of our rights here in the United States, the continuing horror in Israel, or the increase of hate incidents around the world, it is safe to say that's been a challenging week all around.  

I was speaking with an acquaintance and we were commiserating together and talking about the stress and sadness. I said, "At least we are all in this together. It makes it easier."  It was not empty words.  I meant it - the state of things is difficult.  But having a community to go through it makes it so much easier.  I read one report about the hostages that have been released.  The freed hostages who were held together are having a much easier time emotionally than the hostages who were isolated from others. Community and companionship do truly matter.  

We read in the book of Ecclesiastes, "Two are better off than one. . . For should they fall, one person can raise the other; but woe to he who is alone and falls with no companion to raise him!"  Let's lean on each other and be one another support.   

Shabbat Shalom, 

Rabbi Debbie Cohen