Dear Congregants and Friends of The Actors’ Temple:
Shalom. We are all saddened by the vicious attack of Israel by Hamas, launched from Gaza. As American Jews, we feel that attack personally and stand by, hoping the war will be over soon with as few casualties as possible, and hoping and praying for peace.
What can we possibly do at this time?
Of course we can donate to Israel, for all that they will need: to support our brothers and sisters and to repair the great damage done to lives and structures.
Here are two links that we can use to help:
UJA Federation of NY https://www.ujafedny.org/israel-emergency-fund
Jewish Federations of North America https://form.jotform.com/232792945496978
The second thing we can do is to envision Israel and its surrounding territories and countries living in happiness, prosperity, and peace.
Those who join us for services know that in our current Misheberach prayer, together we envision those to whom we want to bring healing as healed, healthy, and happy. This is something that we can do for Israel: a Misheberach for its people and its land.
How can this possibly be of help? Thoughts, emotions, and images have more power than we know. Words have power, attitudes have power.
Seeing the world as we want to see it does more than simply make us feel better. It helps to bring about that better world. Every new innovation was first an idea, then a vision, then a reality. Scientific research has shown that a group of people meditating together for peace about a certain area actually has a measurable effect on that place, with the number of violent acts going down.
If we pray, perhaps we can pray a prayer similar to one that I once wrote for everyone with whom we share this earth:
A PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLE
By
Rabbi Jill Hausman
Eternal God, as you are The One who gives life to all,
We pray for all our brothers and sisters,
Of every race, religion, nation, and neighborhood.
Help us to see you in every human face;
To feel you in the warmth of every human heart.
Teach us to love and to heal each other;
To make peace and to respond to each others’ needs.
As we inhabit one Earth, we are one human family,
With one Divine Parent.
As you send blessings to us,
Please bless all of our brothers and sisters,
With good health, prosperity, insight, wisdom, and joy,
And help us to be a blessing.
If we have a vision of a time of peace and harmony,
Surely we and You, Eternal One,
Have dreamed it together.
With Love to All of You,
Rabbi Jill
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