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Challenging Times

July 2nd, 2025

Dear Friends,

We are experiencing challenging times. The Jewish state remains at war, and although there have been awesome successes, Israeli hostages languish in brutal captivity. And war is war. There has been so much suffering. People – civilians included – have died horrific deaths.

We also face antisemitism. Spaces that should be completely comfortable – Pride marches, concerts, and campuses, for instance – have at times become fraught for Jews. Not always, of course, but we should never feel uncomfortable in any of those situations.  

It’s not just here in the United States. A friend in Australia sent me a brief message: “Difficult times for us.”  

I wrestle with how to respond to all that is happening. Like most of us, part of me tries to become an armchair expert on military strategy and geopolitics. Another part of me prays. Another part of me just wants to immerse myself in something – anything – else: exercising, music, books.  

But I also strongly feel that we Jews should respond to external challenges with internal strengthening. We need to double down on being Jewish in all the ways that make us a unique people, a people with a moral code and a mission, a people with a land and a Book.  For me, this means sharing my love of Jewish literature, from our ancient and ever-new Torah to the creative output of our young artists today.

My weekly classes will soon be suspended for the summer. When they resume, I hope you will join these classes. Gathering to learn is an excellent response to hard times. It is affirmative and ennobling, reminding us of what makes us uniquely Jewish. Yes, we must respond in every possible way to threats from the outside. But let’s prioritize the positive and delve ever deeper into the majesty of Jewish learning.

L'Shalom,

Rabbi Jeffrey Weill 

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