Rabbi Jaech's Blog

“Hi Rabbi, it’s Amy Hersh! How are you? Would you like me to come over and sing a song for you?”

I said yes, of course. I had been in my office, remembering a conversation I had with fifth graders on Sunday. I had been talking with them about Yom HaShoah, and one of the students in the room brought up the synagogue shooting in California. Just thinking about that conversation drained me. Why should fifth graders know about such things? I was drained just thinking about it.  It was as if the fog and drizzle outside my window had somehow permeated my heart.

Amy came over with her guitar. We sang “If I Had a Hammer,” “This Little Light of Mine,” “Here Comes the Sun,” and more. Other Temple staff heard and joined in. We sang together, and the fog cleared. Then we were ready to get back to work.