Chaverim y'karim - dear friends,

 

As the war continues with Iran, concerns deepen every day ... for Israelis, Iranians, Palestinians ... the 50 remaining hostages.

 

Our hearts can only hold so much.

 

So I pray fervently for an end to the bombing and violence and wish more than anything for life to be able to build up and be reconstituted rather than a constant war-reality. It's a dream, a prayer, a hope, and halavai a new reality before long.

 

Last night, Amy and I were in touch with an Israeli friend's son who is working at a Jewish summer camp in North Carolina this summer. Needless to say it is difficult for him to be away from his family and friends in Israel. I fear as well for how he is treated in a Jewish setting where far too many of our own people are opposed to this most recent bombing and attacking of Iran by Israel and the United States.

 

I am a peacenik through and through. "Make love, not war" was literally in the air when I was born just across the Bay from San Francisco and just down the road from Berkeley (when Otis Redding released "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay in 1968).

 

My peacenik friends in Israel are entirely behind this war - not only because their sons and daughters are in the army but because they are literally being fired upon and have known about the Iranian threat for many years. I urge you to consider during these days that Israel's Left and Right are behind this attack - both of Israel and the U.S. You can be opposed to Netanyahu (and Trump) and still be very much in favor of eliminating the existential, millennialist threat of Islamic Republic of Iran. Yossi Klein Halevi has a critically important piece in The Times of Israel today, which I encourage you to read, "This Had to Be Done." For the podcast-listeners among us, you might want to listen to Yossi with Rabbi Donniel Hartman, "A New Era?" and/or Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal who are, as always, excellent on Dan Senor's Call Me Back, "America Strikes Iran." And lastly, give Mijal Bitton a read in her teaching from last week's Torah portion, "We Were Grasshoppers. It is Time to Be Lions." Lastly, in an effort to think about where prayer and God fall in this, consider Roberta Kwall's piece, "Praying during wartime." All of those pieces have run in the last several days.

 

Had the weekend developed differently, here is where I would have started my column today:

 

We had a lovely Kabbalat Shabbat - who knew having an annual meeting with wine & cheese would be such a draw!? Many thanks to Sandy Singco who set up such a delicious oneg, to Jay Adler, our Temple President, for his leadership, spirit, and presence, Maurene Grey and Lori Winterfelt for their work on the website, and of course, the board as a whole for their volunteerism and willingness to jump in and help sustain our congregation!

 

I spoke during the meeting about the powerful line from last week's torah reading "yachol nuchal - we shall surely be able!" as a charge and inspiration for us, as the Jewish People, as we face the many challenging fronts during these days as Israel is at war and we, in America, face antisemitism in so many spheres. I used that phrase as well for us locally as we work to preserve and develop, imagine and create a meaningful and relevant second Jewish home for those in search of Jewish community in our quiet corner of Connecticut. I'm happy to share my comments during the meeting and if you are interested to hear my blessing to the board during the Torah reading service (roughly starting minute 47:15).

 

And so ... it was a lovely Shabbes, but the war which effects our people remains front and center.

 

Lastly, while the numbers hardly tell the whole story, I want to share what Israel has faced following its preemptive strikes on Iran to target its nuclear program on June 14 (from ynet.co.il):

 

Places in Israel affected by the war

 

• Wounded: 2,595

• Civilians killed: 25

• Areas hit: 62

• Drones launched at Israel: 1,150

• Missiles launched at Israel: 525

• Civilians moved out of their homes: 15,000

• Sirens sounded: 10,636

 

Attacks in Iran

 

• Nuclear scientists eliminated: 16

• Senior leaders eliminated: 13

• Nuclear weapons sites attacked: 9

• Targets attacked: 300

 

Read those numbers once more. Israel, in terms of square mileage, is about the size of New Jersey - though the majority of the country lives in an area about the size of Rhode Island. This war is not sustainable - neither the one in Gaza nor the fighting with Iran. I pray fervently that all parties will come to the table with reason and intelligence to bring about a new Middle East which allows for freedom not just for Israel but for men and women in all the countries. The peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan - as well as the Abraham Accords' countries - are all holding. May they be a model for what is possible.

 

I'll include resources below for you to read, listen, and watch. As always, I am interested to hear your opinion and reflections. Stay in touch and reach out if you to talk - whether you agree or disagree, are confused or have better resources, or just seek clarification ... I'm happy to hear from you. May all of our loved ones - friends and family in Israel - be as safe and secure as possible.

 

L'shalom, 

 

Rabbi Mark Cohn, 23 June 2025