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On Tuesday of this week, we observed Israel’s 76th Day of Independence, Yom Ha’atzma’ut. Customarily a day of unbridled joy, especially in Israel, this year’s celebration was somewhat muted for the majority of Israelis who continue to wrestle with…. the realities of the prolonged war with Hamas along with a concern about escalating conflicts with Hezbollah, consuming worry about the fate of loved ones, friends and citizens still being held hostage in Gaza, an existential anxiety over Israel’s growing isolation throughout the world, waning confidence in the leadership of their government, or any/all of the above. The happiness of Yom Ha’atzma’ut was understandably tinged with sadness this year.

I also experienced the same sentiment of diminished joy on Tuesday while attending a citywide interfaith clergy luncheon hosted by Mayor Andre Dickens. As faith leaders of numerous traditions (Judaism, Baha’i, Sikhism, Buddhism, and others) ascended the dais during the program to offer blessings of hope and peace for the 400+ people in attendance, Rabbi Ellen Nemhauser understood that in addition to lifting up the joy of Yom Ha’atzma’ut, it was equally important to choose language that was inclusive and sensitive, even if it lessened the exuberance of Israel’s independence. I asked if I could share a segment of her thoughtful prayer:

“This gathering is a precious balm in a time when anger, heartache, blame, and grief pollute the institutions and communities of our country and our world. This is also precious because today is the day when Jewish communities around the world celebrate the 2000 year old dream of returning to our homeland. And, we are all too mindful of the fact that today we acknowledge the pain, and loss, and destruction this has meant for our neighbors... Some may see this gathering of diverse faith leaders as a way of making the world more sacred and whole – but it is not ‘a’ way, it is ‘THE’ way, the only way we can bring healing and peace, and find the fortitude to go beyond our borders and boundaries, to meet the challenges of our day…”

As a Jewish people, the ritual of stopping to give voice to times of difficulty and communal challenge, of sadness and loss - even at our moments of greatest joy - is not new to us. Whether breaking a glass at the end of a wedding ceremony to remind us of tragedies in Jewish history, or pausing to recite words of Mourner’s Kaddish before concluding a joyous Shabbat service, or diminishing the wine from our cups during the Seder as we recite the ten plagues brought upon Egypt, Judaism inherently recognizes and reminds us that the beauty and celebratory elements of life are also sadly informed by experiences to the contrary. Now, even Yom Ha’atzma’ut. 

And yet, the last thing Jewish tradition would have us do is refrain from celebrating! Even when anger, heartache, blame and grief seem to surround us, it remains imperative to seek out and identify the many blessings which still enrich our lives and allow them to buoy our spirits. May we recognize these blessings in the embrace of our family, in the joy of time shared with cherished friends, and in the invaluable, affirming and reassuring safety of our congregation and community!