About a week ago, we learned about the execution of the six hostages in Gaza: Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino.
While I didn't know any of them personally, like so many of us, their names and stories have touched every one of us. I've sat, wrestling with the heartbreak for those families, and our people as a whole, and the tremendous suffering of so many.
Every few hours, against the backdrop of my eyelids, I see Rachel Goldberg-Polin's face as she stood at the DNC and stared into the camera, saying to her son, "We love you. Stay strong. Survive." Every time it passes through my thoughts, my chest squeezes.
Yet, it is hard to find any more powerful Torah these days. It speaks so deeply to what so many of us need right now.
To encourage ourselves to hold the grief and the love, and to survive and look ahead to the days when this will be over. For the sake of everyone, I hope it will be soon.
Last week, on Sunday morning, as I read the news, I sat at my desk and found myself writing. A desperate attempt to get some of the overwhelm out of my mind and body. A prayer came out.
I've called it: "A Prayer of Tears and Mourning, Our People Will Endure."
I debated about sending it out, thinking myself selfish for wanting to share it. But in the end, as I've ruminated on it and found solace in it, I hope you might too.
I hope an end to this war can be found and a plea that it will happen soon.
And never forget: with Torah and love, we can change the world. A little bit at a time, each and every one of us.
Jeremy
PS. I also created a source sheet version on Sefaria, if that's your jam.
