From the Rabbi2021-06-17T18:51:17-04:00

From Rabbi Gadi Capela

“The Sin of War”

Every time I read the name Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, I behold the embodiment of the sin of war. Sin and war are also the two words that make up his name. Like Haman in ancient Persia, who plotted to annihilate a nation, Hamas today holds the same agenda, only by a different name. Gaza has submitted to the sin of war in the underground of Hamas’ state of death. When death kidnapped life into evil underground tunnels, Hamas turned the plowshares into swords — thousands dead, 240 kidnapped, many of them now also dead. Ironically, Sinwar’s first name, Yahya, means life. Such a choice in one man, between death and life. For Jews, we always choose life.

Before Purim, we observe the Fast of Esther and believe in Venahafokhu — that things will flip in our favor. On the day of Purim, we give money to the Temple, offer gifts to the homebound and poor, exchange food with friends, and enjoy a festive meal. To win against Haman is to be kind to each other. So much so, that we even dress as the other.

On the holiday of Purim, we read “the whole Megillah” of Esther. Our Rabbis tell us that Purim is the time that, as a nation, we accepted the mitzvot fully, striving for life, and making faith and freedom the law of the land. According to Rabbi Jacob Neusner, “The stories of the Scroll of Esther are important, not because of their portrayal of actual events, but because they speak to the situation of Jews in times of crisis.” Thus, the holiday never loses its meaning for the Jewish people. Haman, the Agagite, and Mordechai, the descendent of King Saul, continue to battle through the generations.

What is the war about?  Eli Wiesel and Primo Levi both write that antisemitism is a war against memory. Professor Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi in his seminal book, Zakhor: Jewish History and Jewish Memory, writes that, “…ancient Israel knows God from what he has done in history. And if that is so, then memory has become crucial to its faith and, ultimately, to its very existence.” It reminds us that we have enemies, often masquerading.

On this Shabbat Zakhor — the Shabbat of Remembrance immediately preceding Purim, we are obligated to remember what Amalek did to us when we left Egypt, when he attacked us from behind, when we were most vulnerable.  We will not forget them, those who are still kidnapped. We should speak in a loud voice for those who are in the silent tunnels.

Many families around the world leave an empty chair for the kidnapped at their tables. Our synagogue has adopted two brothers — Eitan Horn (37), and Iair Horn (45), taken from their home on Oct. 7. At our Model Seder and at our Passover Seder, we will place in Elijah’s chair a poster that pictures the two of them, a symbol of hope that they will return to us with Elijah.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto — “In God is our trust”

—Francis Scott Key

“The Star Spangled Banner”

I hope you had a miraculous and happy Purim.

—Rabbi Gadi Capela

Help bring the hostages home: https://freedomtags.org/

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