Rabbi Jaech's Blog

The problems of our world seem so large, and we are so small.  Where do we find the hope that the future can be better?  

I felt that hope when, at the end of June, Temple Israel hosted two speakers from an organization called Roots.  Roots is in the West Bank, in the state of Israel. This is an area long marked by distrust and marred by violence.  Jewish communities live in close physical proximity to their Palestinian neighbors, but they may as well be worlds apart. Jews and Palestinians don’t know each other.  Often, they fear each other.

Shadi Abu Awwad comes from a Palestinian family active in the first intifada and whose uncle was killed by an Israeli soldier. Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger is a self-described “ardent Zionist and Orthodox Jew.”  They met through Roots, a group that brings together Israelis and Palestinians so that they can begin to know each other and build relationships grounded in mutual respect and trust.

We were honored to host them here and inspired to hear them speak of their work together. Their work is not easy.  In their words, “they are working within a broken reality without accepting it.”  But by engaging in this difficult work, they are nurturing the possibility for a future that is different than the present, one relationship at a time.  This gives me hope. And it reminds me that I have the power to do the same.

Note:  On Sunday, November 3rd, Shadi and Hanan will be returning to the area to speak at Woodlands Community Temple in White Plains at 2 PM.  If you could not meet them in June, or if you’d like to see them again, please plan to attend.  If you would like to learn more about Roots and how you can support this work, I encourage you to visit their website:  Friends of Roots