You may have noticed that I haven’t been doing much with this site in recent years, but the recent terrible election news here in the US has inspired me to reach out a little more than I have been doing. I’ve started by doing a little housekeeping here on my website, particularly to reflect the fact that I am now serving at a new congregation. Here is a message I sent out to my congregants at Temple Concord the day after the election. I hope it will also have some meaning and comfort for you:

My dear friends,

I know that many of you are hurting right now. I know that many of you are scared about what comes next. I feel that way too. I am not going to tell you that everything is going to be alright, because I have no way of knowing whether things will be alright. In any case I feel that saying such things tends to minimize the stark reality of the situation we are all facing, particularly those who are most directly targets of hateful rhetoric and discriminatory legislation (for my trans siblings, and for all others who have been a particular target this year: I see you).  

What I will tell you is that we have been through this before, and while contemplating that fact may be utterly exhausting and disheartening, it can also help us by reminding us what we have to do: We have to hold on to our fundamental values and stand up for them, no matter how others try to bully, mock, or scare us into letting them go. We need to reach out and look for allies. We need to find ways to help those who are most under threat. We need to take care of ourselves and others. And through it all, we need to pray for the strength, the courage, and the wisdom to do the work of repairing a world as broken and hurting as our own hearts. Karov HaShem l’nishberei lev — God is close to the brokenhearted.

With great love and prayers for our country and the world,

Rabbi Leiah