Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

What do you say when your friends are hurting? At least ‘say something!’ Dr. Martin Luther King said “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” When I read of the recent tragedy in Israel, I immediately thought of you and wanted you to know that “Israel Matters To Me, My Family & Community.”

Over the past few years, my knowledge, love and concern for Israel and those closely connected to it has increased significantly. This feeling of connection and compassion is now spreading through my congregation/community in amazing and tangible ways. Our communities are talking together, working together and in times like these should be standing together with one voice against all vicious and barbaric acts of violence. Terrorism in any form should not be tolerated anywhere and the voice of the international community should be heard in solidarity when perpetrators choose to commit such atrocities.

In my opinion, saying something is good but doing something is even better. My community stands poised and ready to do whatever we can do to send a strong message that ‘you are not alone.’ We look to you to educate us on how we can best be of service to heal the wounds and know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and those (directly/indirectly) affected by this recent tragedy.