From Rabbi Steom

From Rabbi Peter W. Stein
May 22, 2025

When I first lived in Israel, among our first vocabulary lessons were the words for an unattended or suspicious object...and an introduction to the security apparatus created to protect and defend the population.

For many years, these things seemed far removed from our American Jewish life.

Sadly, there has been a change over the years. If you look in my cell phone, I have direct contacts for the police chief, the community security advisor, the state police and others.

If you come to my welcoming and inclusive congregation, the doors are locked. We've erected security barriers around the entirety of the building. And most of the day, there is a police car right outside my window.

Each year, I am inspired by the speeches our confirmation students deliver on Capitol Hill as part of the L'taken Social Justice seminar. This year, I was heartbroken as I listened to two of our students...reflecting on their experience as student teachers having to explain to their students why we put special locks on the doors of the classrooms.

I find myself in Washington DC several times a year for Jewish, Israeli, and social justice events. Events just like the one at the museum last night. There has, naturally, been an increase in security measures through the years.

All of this is a long preamble to express my sadness and anger at the murder of two Israeli embassy staff members...a young couple just starting their life together. When I was contacted by the media this morning, I was only able to offer something simple about mourning the tragedy and praying for peace.

I'll be a little more pointed now. When a man from Chicago stands on the street and shoots a woman from Kansas, shouting a political slogan, it is not just a tragedy but a crisis. Every single one of us needs to stand up and say, "NO!"

Yes, there is a crisis and a tragedy in Israel, in Palestine, and in Gaza. Yes, we need to take action to end the war and somehow find a way for everyone to live in peace.

But in this moment, I set that aside and simply mourn that things have become so polarized and toxic that Jews are gunned down in the street. It's not fear--it's anger.

And I want to turn that anger into something positive. I really want to conclude this message with a concrete and constructive idea. However, I'm not there yet.

I look forward to exploring the possibilities with you. For now, I pray for Yaron and Sarah's families and I pray for an end to antisemitism and all forms of hatred.

May God, the Source of Peace, inspire us to find a path to peace.