Dear Friends,
This week, we mourn. Again.
We grieve the loss of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky—two innocent souls taken in a senseless act of hatred and violence.
Once more, we find ourselves asking: How did we get here?
Once more, we are reminded of the harsh reality we face: two Israelis were shot at a Jewish event in Washington, D.C. It’s deeply disturbing. Over the past months, we’ve witnessed a rise in antisemitism that feels both surreal and painfully familiar, on college campuses, in the media, and even in everyday conversations with neighbors and colleagues.
It’s easy to feel disheartened, even numb.
But our response need not be fear or despair, it can be purpose.
in this week's Pirkei Avot, chapter 5, we are taught: “A wise person... concedes to the truth.” In a world filled with distortion and distraction, true wisdom lies not in shouting, but in standing firm, in living with integrity and clarity.
And the truth is this: the Jewish people are not only survivors, we are builders.
We build homes filled with light.
We build families rooted in faith.
We build communities that radiate kindness, compassion, and strength.
We seek to build up a world that is a world of kindness and goodness.
Yes, we care about all human life as Judaism teaches us to value each and every soul. But we must also recognize when we are being called to stand up, not just for our brothers and sisters in Israel, but for Jewish dignity and life everywhere.
Standing up doesn't mean shouting louder than the noise.
It means living louder.
Every mitzvah we do is an act of courage.
Every expression of Jewish pride is a victory.
Lighting Shabbat candles, studying Torah, putting on Tefillin, speaking kindly, showing up for each other—these are not small things. These are how we push back against darkness and confusion.
Let’s not be misled by narratives that distort reality.
Let’s be wise.
Let’s be proud.
Let’s be sources of light in a world that desperately needs it.
May we be blessed with strength, peace, and clarity—and may our actions help tip the world toward a world of kindness and goodness.
Wishing you a Good Shabbos & a Shabbat Shalom
Yisroel