From our Rabbi: Summer of birth, loss, and conflict
By Rabbi Dr. Julie Hilton Danan
Shalom! It is great to be back at CBI after a slightly longer summer vacation. I used a week from my Sabbatical and was able to work on a special project, a website that will be a kind of “virtual Jewish retreat center” (details to follow!). This summer was also a special one for our family, as our second grandson was born in New York City and the family gathered for his Brit Milah. I also got to take our other grandson and three of my kids to visit my mother’s Uncle Jay in New Jersey, who is nearly 100 years old.
On a sad note, this summer also saw the passing of my Rebbe and spiritual father, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, known as Reb Zalman. He died in his home in Boulder, Colorado on June 3, and was buried on the Fourth of July. Reb Zalman was just shy of his 90th birthday, and a big Shabbaton and party were planned for August 15-17 in the Boulder area. It has now become a memorial gathering and tribute to his life. I am honored that I will be giving a Devar Torah in his honor at one of the meals there. I’m also so grateful that 10 CBI members and I were able to attend the Shabbaton in Ashland this May, which turned out to be one of Reb Zalman’s final public appearances.
All of these personal experiences have taken place against the background of a tumultuous summer for the Jewish people, with the kidnappings and murders of three Israeli teens and then a Palestinian teen, the rocket attacks by Hamas and the Israeli response, the acrimonious debates in the press and social media, and the rise of anti-Semitism in many countries. With an Israeli husband, I hear the news reports in Hebrew from Israel every day (in addition to talking to family there), and like many of my friends I became a nail-biting news and op-ed addict. I will publish more of my thoughts on current events in coming blog posts and discuss at services.
These two events -- Reb Zalman’s passing and the situation in Israel -- have prompted my two major goals for the year: 1) Making Reb Zalman’s teaching the focus of my Shabbat class and other educational programs; and 2) Convening a group to conduct more positive and broad-based Israel programming, advocacy, dialogue and learning in our community, including sharing different opinions and viewpoints. I hope to make this a major focus and kick-off during the upcoming holidays.
As we come back to school and back to Shul, I look forward to speaking with you and, most importantly, listening to you and hearing your thoughts and feelings on these and other subjects.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Julie
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