4 minute read
Reflections by a Member of Temple Koi Ami
December 2023
By Bonnie Shaw
When the news hit on October 7 about what happened to our brothers and sisters in Israel, I first sat stunned. A friend mentioned it to me at my daughter’s bridal shower, and she expressed her deep concern for the Israeli people. I had been so caught up in my morning that I had not checked the internet to see what was happening in the world. So, at first I didn’t believe what she had told me. My thoughts immediately went to my cousins who live outside the West Bank, and I started to panic. I reached out to my other cousins, and nobody had heard anything yet. Finally, I was able to speak with my cousin’s brother, who let me know that they were OK, but her middle son was called up and he was going to the border of Israel and Lebanon. This all felt surreal.
Then, all the stories started to come out, and we heard what these beautiful people experienced. I was unsure where to direct my feelings. After speaking with members of my congregation and family, I realized that I needed to speak honestly and kindly to those who did not understand what truly happened. Numerous friends of all faiths reached out to me. They expressed their genuine worry and concern. Our world is not evil, but people can be evil. Uneducated people who see only hate, that is evil. That is something that I cannot immediately change. I can embrace the beauty that we have as a people and show that to those around me. I can help people see our faith for what it is. We are a people of deep faith, deep kindness, and deep beauty. We choose to help and not hurt. We choose to protect when necessary. We choose to open our homes to those in need. That is who we are as Jewish people, and that is our job: to show our neighbors and friends who we are.
I encourage you all to show the world that the Jewish people are people of strength, perseverance, and love. When God chose us, He chose us to be models of goodness for the rest of the world. It is evident that we still have work to do. We have a giant task ahead! We must never forget the struggles of our ancestors and the battles we now face. Educating, not hating, is what will honor the memories of those senselessly lost.
Temple Kol Ami has always welcomed people of all denominations of Judaism through our doors. Please join us and see that we worship in a place that welcomes you and will show you care. We must remember that to fight evil, we must continue to create and embrace beauty. The beauty of who we are as Jewish people. One of the ways we are doing that at Temple Kol Ami is by welcoming our dear friend, Joe Buchanan, who will be joining us to share his Americana Shabbat at 7 p.m. on Dec. 8 at Temple Kol Ami. We are so excited to have Joe come to share his joy for Judaism with us, and we look forward to the way he can make song touch our hearts. This is the second time Joe will be with our congregation, and I invite you to join us. This service is free, of course, and we look forward to seeing you all in our sanctuary. Please also join us for our Chanukah Shabbat on Friday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. Bring your chanukiah, and we will light our candles as a community. One that understands the importance of keeping the light shining.
If you live in the York County or the Ballantyne area, Temple Kol Ami might be the place for you! We are a warm and inclusive congregation comprising Jews from diverse backgrounds. We have Friday night Shabbat services on the first and third Fridays of each month. For more information, check us out at www.templekolamisc.org.
