A Message from Rabbi Zemel

January 21, 2025

Dear Friends,

There are times when history seems to come at us in waves.

On Sunday, we wept with joy as Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher went from captivity to freedom. We watched families reunited. The words we teach, that saving a life is the equivalent of saving an entire world, echoed within each of us with a new truth. Three precious lives redeemed. The ceasefire was, for now anyhow, real. We anticipate this coming Shabbat when more are scheduled to be released. Yehuda Ha-Levi’s poem echoes through us, “Our hearts are in the East.” Also our hopes.

On Monday, history came at us again.

At noon, as Donald Trump took the oath of office, we returned after eight years to an old, but new, reality.

Many of us have asked ourselves, “How will we go forward?” We all hear people say they are numb and exhausted by the effort of defending liberalism.

Yesterday, in a letter, Micah friend and colleague, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah, reminded us of the enslaved Israelites in Egypt who the Torah describes as suffering from “kotzer ruach,” a lack of spirit. They are a tired, enslaved people. Rabbi Jacobs writes, “Weariness is not evidence they have lost the fight; it is simply a reality of their long journey.” Rabbi Jacobs then responds to the cry, “We are tired.” She writes,

“Our kotzer ruach is not a sign that we should give up. It cannot be…We refuse to allow our exhaustion to stop us from fighting policies that threaten the lives and the dignity of…our family members, community members, and neighbors.”

As Jews, I truly believe that we are each called to be God’s partner in our covenantal mandate to be voices of justice and mercy. Rabbi Jacobs reminds us that we are capable of loving both America and Israel and holding each to the highest standards of ethical decency and compassion. We cannot be Jews of silence. This is no time to be tired. Too much is at stake.

In interpreting the story of Israel’s redemption at the shores of the sea, Dara Horn wrote, “You were convinced that it could never happen, that nothing would change, that your despair would overtake you and drive you into the sea. But one day, today, you held your breath and decided to leap forward. And then the waters parted and your feet found dry land.”

This is living Judaism. We go forward.

We rejoice at the redemption of hostages.

We stand up for justice and compassion no matter the challenges before us.

I urge you to come to Micah, where we continue to be a safe and welcoming space for all. Experience Judaism’s power to inspire and give thanks. Shabbat is when we discover the wells of strength that lie within. This is how we find the courage to leap forward and create a better future, together.

Shalom,

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Rabbi Daniel G. Zemel

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