Shabbat Gathering: Fight or Flight?

Gud Shabbos Khaveyrim, as is our custom, we will gather tonight at 5.45p ct to welcome Shabbat. These are the coordinates:

Zoom
Meeting ID: 883 8469 4181
Password: 822665
Phone: +1 312 626 6799

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Here we go.

The world news is unrelentingly horrific: Australia, Mississippi, Minneapolis, and the list goes on and on. Everyday brings with it something to remind us of just how bad things are. The notion of a safe space is rubbish. We're been told all our lives that a threat prompts a fight or flight response. And so here we are making a choice.

A really good friend of mine is moving his family to Ireland in a couple of weeks. He doesn't feel safe in the US anymore. Flight. That’s a perfectly rational choice. But for some of us, flight is not an option. Maybe our social position gives us privilege so we don’t have to worry as much. Or maybe some of us are members of communities we don’t want to leave so we're left with the fight.

Madison is blessed with social action groups of almost every imaginable type. Almost an embarrassment of riches. But maybe there seems to be too many to choose from. Our synagogue’s Social Action group helps us focus on issues close to our community. One of the many things the Social Action group does is publish a calendar for our congregates that lists and describes different social action activities to consider.

I’m especially proud of the Social Action group and our congregation as a whole. We have chosen good fights to fight. Rebbe Nachman of Breslov wrote, “It is forbidden to despair.” I have trouble with that sometimes, but when I am low, I know it’s time to do something as an antidote to despair. As one of my bosses told me, “Busy hands are happy hands.” May it be so.

And may it be for all of us a blessing.

See you tonight!
Mit vareme grusn,
(With warm regards,)

All my love,
brian.

Notice: Lori / Leah is in need of some support, specifically, meals. If you are interested in helping her, you can go here.

PS

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