Beeri, by Adi Blechman Sofer (Translated by Adi Blechman, Heather Silverman, Michael Bohnen, Rachel Korazim)
Soon winter will be here,
Weeping clouds will water the earth,
Making red carpets grow.
The anemone will flower first,
Yet no one will come to admire its beauty.
The buttercup will bloom next,
And there will be no festival.
The poppy will flower last in silence,
Seen by none.
The protected flowers were already picked
In the fall.
Dear Friends,
As we enter Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, the final holidays of the season, we reflect on our ability to celebrate, contemplate, make amends, and spend time with family. This year, the holidays will take place from October 23-25. Last year, however, these sacred days coincided with a moment of unimaginable horror—on October 7, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah were marred, and our world was shattered by the brutal attack on Israelis—when so many were slaughtered and kidnapped, igniting the current war. The poignant question, “Where were you when it happened?” resonates deeply this year, and I’m sure each of us holds our own memory of that moment.
In many Jewish communities, the Yizkor (Remembrance) prayer for deceased relatives is recited, and this year it feels especially significant. Our CEO, Alan Scher, will participate in the Har Zion Temple event, reading the names of those killed on October 7th this evening, Wednesday, October 23 from 7-8:30pm. The event is open to the community, and we hope to see you there! See below or click here for more information.
I will pray for the soul of my childhood friend’s son, Captain Ittay Seif, of blessed memory, and for the many other soldiers and civilians who lost their lives on October 7th/Simchat Torah. I will also remember those who were wounded, both physically and spiritually—those with visible injuries and those whose scars remain hidden.
My heart goes out to the people of Israel, as they find the strength and courage to move forward, bring back the hostages, and end the war. I pray for Israel to flourish once again with both people and flowers. I pray for us to have the opportunity to visit Israel, to embrace our Jewish identity with pride, to celebrate who we are, and to work toward peace in the region.
To quote popular Israeli song, Shibolim, by Assi Stav:
The battlefield will turn to fields of wheat (Shibolim)
You will see, we will return and raise children
The battlefield will turn to fields of wheat
Beautiful people will dance on the paths
More poems will be written
And thousands of anemones (kalaniyot) will cover the stains.
I will conclude with the ancient words we recite in the Shmini Atzeret prayer:
For blessing and not for curse. Amen.
For life and not for death. Amen.
For plenty and not for scarcity. Amen.
May this time bring you moments of comfort, strength, and hope,
Rabbi Moriah SimonHazani
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