SAN DIEGO — This Shabbat marks the one year anniversary of the massacre at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when eleven Jews were murdered during the Morning Prayer service.
The act of violence and hate that was supposed to instill fear in Jews had a somewhat opposite effect. Instead of staying away, the next weekend, millions of people, from all different faiths and backgrounds “Showed Up For Shabbat.” Synagogues were packed in what was a beautiful, comforting, and inspiring statement of solidarity and love for Jews, Judaism, and Jewish community, around the world.
On the one year anniversary, once again, the American Jewish Committee in encouraging us to Show up for Shabbat, to remind ourselves and the world, how thankful and grateful we are to live in a country where we can.
This weekend, at Tifereth Israel we will be celebrating a Bat Mitzvah on Friday night, and on Saturday morning, we will be celebrating newly converted members of the Jewish community. We will also be saying “L’Hitraot” (Goodbye/See you again) to Cantor Hanan Leberman. Cantor Leberman has inspired us throughout the holiday season with his music and ruach (spirit). He will be heading back to Israel, but will be returning to San Diego in just about a month and a half for a few weeks.
The New York Times Op Ed Staff writer Barry Wiess, wrote that the only way to fight anti-Semitism, is to be a proud Jew. She wrote “In these trying times, our best strategy is to build, without shame, Judaism, a Jewish people, and a Jewish state that are not only safe and resilient, but also generative, humane, joyful and life-affirming. A Judaism capable of lighting a fire in every Jewish soul — and in the souls of everyone who throws in his or her lot with ours.” I think she is absolutely right.
This Shabbat, there are lots of causes for joy, lots of reasons to be proud, and lots of reasons to Show up for Shabbat. May the memories of Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger be for a blessing.
Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom.
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Rabbi Dorsch is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue. He may be contacted via joshua.dorsch@sdjewishworld.com