Today is seven days, which is one week, of the omer
מלכות שבחסד
A day of leadership in a week of loving kindness
Today we finish a week of loving kindness, and look to the start a of week of strength.
We will need lots of strength.......
Today, six months ago, on this day, a gunman walked into a synagogue in Pittsburg, PA, on Shabbat, and opened fire --- killing eleven people, simply because they were Jewish. People murdered in their sacred space, some in prayer, some supporting those who pray, all killed because they were Jewish.
Six weeks ago, a gunman walked into two mosques in Christchurch, NZ, during Jumu'ah, Friday prayers, and opened fire --- killing 50 people, simply because they were Muslim. People murdered in their sacred space, some in prayer, some supporting those who pray, all killed because they were Muslim.
Today, a gunman walked into a synagogue in Poway, CA, on Shabbat, on the eighth day of Pesach, on a day when, as Jews, we honor and remember those who are now gone, and opened fire --- killing one person, simply because she was Jewish. A woman murdered in her sacred space, in prayer, killed because she was Jewish.
After the shooting and murders in Pittsburgh, I decided to wear a kippah all the time when out in the world. After the shooting and murders in Christchurch, I decided to remember the name of a victim each day as I count the omer. After today's shooting and murder......I don't know what to do.
Pittsburgh, Christchurch, the black church fires in Louisiana, Sri Lanka, and now Poway --- the attacks on people in their sacred spaces continues. My heart is broken...I admit to despair.
We live in a world gone mad.........
