In this very binary world, many of us struggle to live very non-binary lives. We struggle to live beyond the black and white, beyond the either/or because a lot of what we experience in life is not either/or but both/and. For me- this seems to be very prominently that both/and kind of a week, and I will do my best to share that with you today.
This week, based on the Hebrew calendar, our Jewish siblings are celebrating New Year with worship and festivities and so we celebrate with them and wish them a happy year ahead.
This week also marks one year of the continued and unnecessary genocide of our Palestinian siblings and the witness to their resilience and resistance amid the dispossession and displacement they are experiencing. There are many actions being organized throughout the world in support of our Palestinian siblings this weekend, so I will share with you a couple that I am aware of- one where we simply need to send a message to our elected officials, and the other needs us to show up-
Jewish Voice for Peace invites us to write to congress demanding an arms embargo and an end to military funding to Israel NOW, because our current ‘administration has facilitated this genocide by continuously sending weapons and funding to the Israeli military, despite mass opposition from the American people.’
Code Pink lists many actions around the world, including one in Chicago on Saturday, Oct 5th from 2pm-5pm at the Water Tower Park, 180 E Pearson St, Chicago, IL 60611.
Beloveds, I remind us of the tension of both/and that many of us live in. I hope we can approach this with the same openness and remember that we are against violence of any kind and on anyone. I invite us to some of the work of Rabbi Brent Rosen’s work towards solidarity with the Palestinian people.
I believe the struggle we see all around the world is rooted in ‘religious nationalism’ another event we are hosting TODAY at Broadway, starting at 7pm, titled, “Responding to the Global Rise of Religious Nationalism.” I hope several of you will be able to attend and engage in this conversation- because it is timely and necessary for our world today.
Beloveds, I invite us to be mindful of all these challenges our world faces today and the need we all have for peace in our world- and in that spirit I invite us to prepare our hearts for this Sunday which is observed in the Christian world as World Communion Sunday. Let us be prepared to break bread together and in solidarity with all our siblings around the globe and pray for peace to prevail and wars to end!
Beloveds, let us continue to do all we can to leave a better and peaceful world for our children and the future generations. And, I hope to see you in church soon,
